Chapter 7: Atmosphere Flashcards
structure of atmosphere
lithosphere (upper mantle and crust)
troposphere (most dense, vapour, weather)
stratosphere (ozone layer absorbs and scatters solar, protects from uv radiation - sunburns)
mesosphere (coldest, ice clouds, meteors burn)
thermosphere (absorb solar energy, thin, freezing, ISS, aurora)
exosphere (little air, variable, satellites)
composition of atmosphere
nitrogen
oxygen
argon
carbon dioxide
water vapour
natural greenhouse effect
short-wave radiation from sun heats earths surface
earths surface radiates long-wave radiation into atmosphere
some radiation escapes
some radiation is retained by atmosphere
greenhouse gases in upper atmosphere absorb radiation and warm up earth
causes of atmospheric pollution
smog
acid rain
ozone layer depletion
enhanced greenhouse effect
causes of smog
coal emissions
volatile organic compound (VOC) from industry
vehicle emissions
forest fire
photochemical reactions
temperature inversions
photochemical reactions
(between sunlight, nitrogen oxides and VOCs)
nitrogen oxide emitted from vehicle exhausts, burning coal and industrial processes
VOCs enter air from petrol, paints and cleaning products
sunlight causes reaction and creation of ground level ozone
photochemical smog
accumulates due to temperature inversions
air next to surface is colder than air above
traps cold dense air
prevents it blowing away
impact of smog
human health
burning of eyes
respiratory diseases
asthma attacks
heart attack
chest pain
cause of acid rain
sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide
emitted by industries/ vehicles/ power plants
incorporated in clouds
falls as sulfuric acid and nitric acid
carried many miles from source due to prevailing winds
impacts of acid rain
conflict between countries
damage to buildings corrode metal stone paint
acidification of water bodies (ecosystems)
fish populations (fish eggs don’t hatch, kill fish)
damage to crops and vegetation (destroys soil nutrients, damages roots, soil acidification)
ozone layer depletion causes
ozone highly reactive
reacts and is broken down by chlorine
use of chlorofluorocarbons
aerosol cans and refrigerators
CFCs react with sunlight to form chlorine which destroys ozone
impact of ozone depletion
higher levels of uv radiation reaching earths surface
increased rates of skin cancer
increased rates of cataracts in eye (clouding)
damage to plant tissues and reduced growth
enhanced greenhouse effect causes
greenhouse gases (co2, vapour and methane)
released into atmosphere
traps absorbs more outgoing solar radiation
warming of earths atmosphere
impact of climate change
melting of ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost
rise of sea level
increased damage from flooding
loss of land
forced migration
loss of crop productivity
increased coral bleaching
increased wildfire risk
increased biodiversity extinction
managing atmospheric pollution
reduce carbon footprint
reduce use of fossil fuels
energy efficiency
carbon capture and storage
transport policies
international agreements and policies
CFC replacement
catalytic converter
flue- gas desulfurisation
taxation
reforestation and afforestation
reduce carbon footprint
use public transport
use less energy by not keeping sources on standby, switching to energy efficient sources
eating local produce
walk or cycle more
reduce use of fossil fuels
replace with renewable energy
hydroelectric wind wave tidal solar power
energy efficiency
install smart meters, new boilers, insulation or cooling building design
carbon capture and storage
coal fired carbon stations
captured carbon transported by pipelines to storage sites:
planting forests
inject into lakes with co2 decomposing bacteri deep aquifer
depleted oil gas reservoirs
transport policies
government
reduce vehicle emissions and smog
higher personal vehicle tax
efficient cheap rapid public transport
international agreements and policies
limit global temperature increase
increase global adaptation to lower emissions
finance low greenhouse gas development
zero greenhouse gas emissions
catalytic converters
cars fitted with converters
convert toxic pollutants from petrol to less toxic pollutants like co2 and water vapour
reduces carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides
flue gas desulfurisation
remove sulfur dioxide from gases released
collected by scrubbing the gas in alkaline mixtures as being released
taxation
governments impose green taxes
tax older more polluting cars
reduce tax on new efficient cars
reduce tax on public transport
taxing carbon emitting industries
