Chapter 15 - Air Pollution and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Flashcards
Air pollution
The introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or microorganisms into the atmosphere at concentrations high enough to harm plants, animals, and materials such as buildings, or to alter ecosystems.
Ground Level Pollution
A secondary pollutant, harmful to children and people with respiratory problems. formed when NO2 and volatile compounds (VOCs) react with sunlight. Also, air pollution that occurs in the troposphere, the first 16 km (10 miles) above Earth’s surface
Tropospheric Ozone
A secondary pollutant contains smog ozone- toxic to humans, animals, and vegetation
Haze
Reduced visibility.
Photochemical smog
Smog that is dominated by oxidants such as ozone. Also known as Los Angeles–type smog; brown smog.
Gray smog
Smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds. Also known as London-type smog; gray smog; industrial smog.
Atmospheric Brown Cloud
Combination of PM and ozone which is brownish or black due to the carbon particles and/or NO2 it attracts; observed in cities and regions such as Asia
Primary pollutant
A polluting compound that comes directly out of a smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source.
Secondary pollutant
A primary pollutant that has undergone a transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Amendment of the EPA’s Clean Air Act which specifies concentration limits for pollutants and requires localities to improve air qualities to meet these limits
Stratospheric Ozone
The primary UV radiation screen that protects us
Clean Air Act
Set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants. Also, Monitors and controls the most important air pollutants - the act ultimately identified six pollutants that pose a significant threat to human well being and ecosystems.
Thermal Inversion
A situation in which a relatively warm layer of air at mid-altitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below.
Acid Deposition
Acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water.
Low Sulfur Coal
Best means of controlling air pollution but is more expensive
Fluidized bed combustion
Granulated coal is burned in close proximity to calcium carbonate, which absorbs the sulfur dioxide and reduces SO2 emissions
Catalytic converter
Removes emissions from cars. Catalyzes reactions to break down. It can create sulfur compounds.
Baghouse filters
Air pollution control device which removes particulate matter through a series of filter bags that physically filter out the particles
Scrubber
Air pollution control device where particles are “scrubbed”
from the exhaust stream by water droplets; the water-particle “sludge” is collected and processed for disposal; also used to reduce SO2 emissions, and sometimes ionizes particles to improve efficiency
Electrostatic precipitator
Air pollution control device which negatively charges particles, which are then attracted to a positively charged plate, where they are held until removal and disposal
Pollution Permits
When emitters are not allowed to emit sulfur than the amount for which they have permits for - helps regulate pollution control methods.
Ozone Layer hole
The depletion in ozone was dubbed the ozone hole. There is no actual hole in the ozone shield where all the ozone is depleted, rather the term describes the relative depletion in the concentration of ozone that occurs during the Antarctic spring.
Sick building syndrome
Occurs in new or renovated buildings that contain many products made with synthetic materials and flues that may not have fully dried out a significant amount of off gassing occurs which means the indoor levels of VOCS, hydrocarbons and toxic materials are high.
Montreal Protocol
One of the most effective environmental efforts. Amended to phase out ozone depleting chemicals in developed countries by 2000 and in developing by 2010. Originally agreed to scale back CFC production 50% by 2000.
