Chapter 17 Flashcards
A type of cyclonic storm in which funnel clouds pick up soil and objects, threatening life and doing great damage to property
Tornado
The thin layer of gases surrounding planet earth
Atmosphere
the bottommost layer of the atmosphere; it extends to 11 km above sea level
Troposphere
the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere; extends from 11 km to 50 km above sea level
Stratosphere
a portion of the stratosphere, roughly 17-30 km above sea level, hat contains most of the ozone in the atmosphere
Ozone Layer
the weight per unit area produced by a column of air
Atmospheric Pressure
the ratio of water vapor contained in a given volume of air to the maximum amount the air could contain, given the temperature
Relative Humidity
a circular current (of air, water, magma, etc) driven by temperature differences
Convective Circulation
A cyclonic storm that forms over the ocean but can do damage upon its arrival on land
Hurricane
the band of air in which temperature rises with altitude
inversion layer
One of a pair of cells convective circulation between the equator and 30 degrees north and south latitude that increase global climate patterns
Hadley Cell
One pair of cells of convective circulation between 30 and 60 degrees north and south latitude that influence global climate patterns
Ferrel Cells
One pair of cells of convective circulation between the poles and 60 degrees north and south latitude influence global climate patterns
Polar Cells
The apparent deflection of north-south air currents to a -party east-west direction, caused by the faster spin of regions near the quarter than regions near the poles as a result of earth’s rotation
Coriolis Effect
A departure from the normal temperature distribution in the atmosphere in which a pocket of relatively cold air occurs near the ground, with warmer air above it
Temperature Inversion
the boundary where a mass of warm air displaces a mass of colder air
Warm Front
The boundary between air masses that differ in temperature and moisture, and therefore, density
Front
The pattern of atmospheric conditions found across large geographic regions over long periods of time
Climate
The local physical properties of the troposphere, such as temperature, pressure, humidity, cloudiness, and wind; over relatively short amounts of time
Weather
An airmass in which air moves toward the low atmospheric pressure at the center of the system and spirals upward, typically bringing clouds and precipitation
Low-pressure System
An air mass with an elevated atmospheric pressure containing air that descends, typically bring fair weather
high-pressure system
the boundary where a mass of cold air displaces a mass of warm air
Cold Front
Gases and particulate material added to the atmosphere that can affect climate or harm people or other organisms
Air Pollutants
Air pollution that occurs outdoors
Outdoor (ambient) Air Pollution
Very fine liquid droplets or solid particles aloft in the atmosphere
Aerosols
A hazardous substance, such as soot or carbon monoxide, that is emitted into the troposphere in a form that is directly harmful
Primary Pollutants
A hazardous substance produced through the reaction of substances added to the atmosphere with chemicals normally found in the atmosphere
Secondary Pollutants
In the atmosphere, the amount of time a gas molecule or pollutant stays aloft
Residence Time
U.S. legislation that strengthened regulations pertaining to air quality standards, auto emissions, toxic air pollution, acid deposition, and depletion of the ozone layer, while also introducing market-based incentives to reduce pollution
Clean Air Act of 1990
Revision of prior U.S. legislation that set stricter standards for air quality, imposed limits on emissions from new stationary and mobile sources, provided new funds for pollution control research, and enabled citizens to sue parties violating these standards
Clean Air Act of 1970
One of a large group of potentially harmful organic chemicals used in industrial processes. 1 of 6 major pollutants whose emissions are monitored by the EPA and state agencies
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Solid or liquid particles small enough to be suspended in the atmosphere and able to damage respiratory tissues when inhaled. Includes primary pollutants, such as soot and dust, as well as secondary pollutants, like sulfates and nitrates. An EPA criteria pollutant.
Particulate Matter
A heavy metal that may be ingested through water or paint, or that may enter the atmosphere as a particulate pollutant through combustion of leaded gasoline or other processes
Lead
Technology to chemically treat gases produced in combustion in order to reduce smokestack emissions.
Scrubbers
six air pollutants for which the EPA has established maximum concentration allowance in ambient outdoor air because of the threat they pose to human health.
Criteria Pollutants
What are the SIX criteria pollutants?
- Carbon Monoxide
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Tropospheric Ozone
- Particulate Matter
- Lead
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Maximum allowable concentration of criteria pollutants in ambient outdoor air, set by the U.S. EPA
A foul smelling, reddish-brown gas that contributes to smog and acid deposition. It results when atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen react at the high temps created by the combustion engines
Nitrogen Dioxide
Ozone that occurs in the troposphere, where it is a secondary pollutant created by the interaction of sunlight, heat, nitrogen oxide, and carbon containing chemicals. A major component of smog, can injure living tissues and cause respiratory problems
Tropospheric Ozone
Air pollutant that is known to cause cancer, reproductive defects, or neurological, immune system, or respiratory issues in humans, and/or cause ecological harm by affecting the health of non-human animals and plants.
Toxic Air Pollutant
“Grey-air” smog caused by the incomplete combustion of coal or oil when burned
Industrial Smog
“Brown-air” smog caused by light-driven reactions of primary pollutants with normal atmospheric compounds that produce a mix of over 100 different chemicals
Photochemical Smog
Airborne chemicals, such as halocarbons, that destroy ozone molecules and the thin layer in the stratosphere
Ozone Depleting Substances
A class of human-made chemical compounds derived from simple hydrocarbons in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms (ex. bromine, fluorine, or chlorine)
Halocarbons
Type of halo-carbon with only chlorine, fluorine, and hydrogen, were used as refrigerants, fire extinguishers, and propellants for aerosol spray cans, cleaners for electronics, and for making polystyrene foam. Phased out under Montreal Protocol because they are ozone depleting.
Chlorofluorocarbon
Term used to describe the thinning of the ozone layer that occurs over Antarctica each year, as a result of ozone depleting services
Ozone Hole
International treaty ratified in 1987 , nations agreed to restrict production of CFCs in order to halt ozone depletion
Montreal Protocol
the setting of acidic or acid-forming pollutants from Earth’s surface
Acid Deposition
acid deposition that takes place through rain
Acid Rain
wet or dry deposition on the land of a wide variety of pollutants including mercury, nitrates, organic chlorides, and others
Atmospheric deposition
Air pollution that occurs indoors
Indoor (Ambient) Air Pollution
A building-related illness, produced by air pollution in which the specific cause is not identifiable
Sick Building Syndrome
