Ch. 13- Air Flashcards
atmosphere
the thin blanket of air surrounding Earth
layers of Earth’s atmosphere
- troposphere
- stratosphere
- mesosphere
- thermosphere
- exosphere
describe relationship between each atmospheric layers’ temperature & the altitude
- troposphere: temperature decreases as the altitude increases
- stratosphere: temperature increases as the altitude increases
- mesosphere: temperature decreases as the altitude increases
- thermosphere: temperature increases as the altitude increases
- exosphere: temperature is very hot, but to humans, feels cold
which gases make up Earth’s atmosphere & how much of each?
- nitrogen (N2): 78.08%
- oxygen (O2): 20.94%
- argon (Ar): 0.93%
- carbon dioxide (CO2): 0.04%
which layer contains the ozone layer?
stratosphere
how much (in ppm) CO2 is in our atmosphere & how much does it increase annually
in 2018 it was about 408 ppm, rising 2-3 ppm annually
range of altitude for each layer
- troposphere: ~0-11 km
- stratosphere: ~11-50 km
- mesosphere: ~50-85 km
- thermosphere: ~85-110km
- exosphere: ~110-blends with space
nitrogen fixation
a process that combines nitrogen with one or more other elements
nitrogen cycle
the various processes by which nitrogen is cycled among the atmosphere, soil, water, and living organisms
explanation of nitrogen cycle
Atmospheric nitrogen is fixed, or converted to water-soluble forms, both naturally and industrially. Animal wastes, and dead plants and animals are converted back to atmospheric nitrogen by certain bacteria
explanation of oxygen cycle
Animals and people use oxygen gas and produce carbon dioxide, different metals use oxygen to oxidize; Plants, in turn, consume the carbon dioxide, converting it to oxygen gas and glucose for food. In the stratosphere, atmospheric oxygen is involved in ozone production
temperature inversion
a warm layer of air above a cool, stagnant lower layer; causes smog
pollutant
a chemical that causes undesirable effects by being in the wrong place and/or in the wrong concentration
smog
a combination of smoke and other pollutants, forming a visible haze
industrial (sulfurous) smog
polluted air associated with industrial activities, characterized by sulfur oxides and particulate matter
industrial smog vs. photochemical smog
COPY PHOTO UNDER “TWO MAIN TYPES OF SMOG” IN NOTES FOR 13.3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aerosol
solid or liquid particles of 1mm diameter or less, dispersed in air
explain the chemistry of coal combustion
carbon (mainly) and sulfur oxidize as the coal burns, producing chemicals that are dangerous for respiratory systems; sulfur trioxide can react with water to form acid rain, which eventually forms aerosol (the most irritating to our lungs of all mentioned above)
explain the chemistry of coal combustion
carbon (mainly) and sulfur oxidize as the coal burns, producing chemicals that are dangerous for respiratory systems; sulfur trioxide can react with water to form acid rain, which eventually forms aerosol (the most irritating to our lungs of all mentioned above)
particulate matter (PM)
an air pollutant composed of solid and liquid particles whose size is greater than that of a molecule
electrostatic precipitator
a device that removes PM from smokestack gases by creating an electron charge on the particles, which are then removed by attraction to a surface of opposite charge
wet scrubber
a pollution-control device that uses water to remove pollutants from smokestack gases