Atmospheric systems and society

Question 1

What is the atmosphere made up of?

Answer 1

oxygen (21%) other gases (1%) nitrogen (78%)

Question 2

Distance of troposphere?

Answer 2

10km

Question 3

Distance of stratosphere?

Answer 3

10-40km?

Question 4

How does the greenhouse effect work?

Answer 4

Incoming solar radiation is mostly made up of visible light, ultraviolet light and infrared heat.
nearly 50% of this is absorbed, scattered or reflected by the atmosphere and clouds

Question 5

Identify the causes of stratospheric ozone depletion and photochemical smog

Answer 5

Usually halogenated gases are very stable. but UV radiation is able to liberate these atoms in the stratosphere. These react with monatomic oxygen, slowing the rate of ozone reformation. Pollutants of the ozone include CFCs which can be found in refrigerators and aerosols, HCFCs, halons and Noxs, sources include cars.
photochemical smog is a mixture of primary and secondary pollutants reacted by sunlight. Ozone is the main pollutant. The amount of smog is effected by the environment which it is in. For example melbourne has a lot of photochemical smog because it is a sunny city.

Question 6

Explain why some atmospheric pollution issues are regional in effect whereas others are global

Answer 6

acid deposition occurs regionally not globally due to local winds blowing pollutants from industrial areas before being deposited.
Global warming is global because greenhouse gases heat up the entire atmosphere because they are present in the entire atmosphere rather than a specific area. This could effect sea levels for example, on a large scare. Thermal expansion is also a global problem.

Question 7

Describe and evaluate pollution management strategies for either global warming or acid deposition

Answer 7

There are many strategies to manage global warming. They could be policy agreements between nations or they could be local initiatives to reduce energy spending. However, global warming is occuring at such a fast rate that at this point, although small initiatives should be encouraged, large scare management is more pertinent and necessary. Agreements should treat the carbon emissions of LEDCs differently, as the Paris agreement did, since they are still developing.
One strategy is to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This is beneficial, but may not be currently feasible on a large scale. Also oil companies have an immense amount of power in the market with strategies to slow down investment into renewables.
Small scale may be less effective, but it is easier to get people to make small changes to their life than to get huge policy changes by people who are less effected. People tend to follow by example, so the introduction of a solar panel in one neighbourhood is likely to spur neighbours to do the same.