Chapter 7: Atmosphere

Question 1

structure of atmosphere

Answer 1

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)

Question 2

composition of atmosphere

Answer 2

nitrogen
oxygen
argon
carbon dioxide
water vapour

Question 3

natural greenhouse effect

Answer 3

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

Question 4

causes of atmospheric pollution

Answer 4

smog
acid rain
ozone layer depletion
enhanced greenhouse effect

Question 5

causes of smog

Answer 5

coal emissions
volatile organic compound (VOC) from industry
vehicle emissions
forest fire
photochemical reactions
temperature inversions

Question 6

photochemical reactions

Answer 6

(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

Question 7

photochemical smog

Answer 7

accumulates due to temperature inversions

air next to surface is colder than air above
traps cold dense air
prevents it blowing away

Question 8

impact of smog

Answer 8

human health
burning of eyes
respiratory diseases
asthma attacks
heart attack
chest pain

Question 9

cause of acid rain

Answer 9

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

Question 10

impacts of acid rain

Answer 10

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)

Question 11

ozone layer depletion causes

Answer 11

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

Question 12

impact of ozone depletion

Answer 12

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

Question 13

enhanced greenhouse effect causes

Answer 13

greenhouse gases (co2, vapour and methane)
released into atmosphere
traps absorbs more outgoing solar radiation
warming of earths atmosphere

Question 14

impact of climate change

Answer 14

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

Question 15

managing atmospheric pollution

Answer 15

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

Question 16

reduce carbon footprint

Answer 16

use public transport
use less energy by not keeping sources on standby, switching to energy efficient sources
eating local produce
walk or cycle more

Question 17

reduce use of fossil fuels

Answer 17

replace with renewable energy
hydroelectric wind wave tidal solar power

Question 18

energy efficiency

Answer 18

install smart meters, new boilers, insulation or cooling building design

Question 19

carbon capture and storage

Answer 19

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

Question 20

transport policies

Answer 20

government
reduce vehicle emissions and smog
higher personal vehicle tax
efficient cheap rapid public transport

Question 21

international agreements and policies

Answer 21

limit global temperature increase
increase global adaptation to lower emissions
finance low greenhouse gas development
zero greenhouse gas emissions

Question 22

catalytic converters

Answer 22

cars fitted with converters
convert toxic pollutants from petrol to less toxic pollutants like co2 and water vapour
reduces carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides

Question 23

flue gas desulfurisation

Answer 23

remove sulfur dioxide from gases released
collected by scrubbing the gas in alkaline mixtures as being released

Question 24

taxation

Answer 24

governments impose green taxes
tax older more polluting cars
reduce tax on new efficient cars
reduce tax on public transport
taxing carbon emitting industries

Question 25

reforestation and afforestation

Answer 25

replanting forests as carbon sink
planting new forests
increases biodiversity
provides habitats
reduces floods as less surface run off and more infiltration of rain