CHEMISTRY C9: CHEMISTRY OF THE ATMOSPHERE Flashcards
what is the greenhouse effect?
- short wavelength infrared emitted by the sun toward the Earth’s surface
-earth absorbs some of the radiation but long wavelengths are are reflected back to the atmosphere
-greenhouse gases absorb the reflected long wavelength radiation
-the earth’s temp increases
what causes greenhouse gas concentrations to increase?
-burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide
-agriculture is where farm animals release methane during digestion
-landfill sites are increasing, more waste are being decomposed releasing methane
-deforestation means less carbon dioxide is being removed
why is Antarctica so cold?
it’s surface is white, meaning it will reflect the sun’s emissions very well
what is a sulfur impurity?
it is present in all fossil fuels, and when sulfur oxidises it release a toxic gas called sulfur dioxide
what is incomplete combustion?
it occurs when fuels are burned in insufficient oxygen, producing 2 problematic by-products:
-carbon monoxide (toxic)
-particulates containing carbon and unburnt fuel
what is internal combustion in car engines?
when fossil fuels are burned in a confined space the high temperatures will cause nitrogen and oxygen to react
what is a consequences of nitrogen oxides?
can cause respiratory problems
what is a consequence of carbon monoxide?
restricts the blood’s ability to transport around the body; it is odourless and colourless making it difficult to detect
what is a consequence of particulates?
they reflect incoming radiation back into space, causing global dimming
what is a consequence of sulfur dioxide?
it can react with water to form sulfuric acid which is a major component of acid rain
how can individuals reduce their carbon footprint?
-maximise efficiency of their energy use
-minimising their waste
-using renewable energy resources
what is a carbon footprint?
a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by a particular service, event or product
how can governments reduce their carbon footprints?
-emission based taxes
-emission caps
-emission licences up to a certain cap
what happens when carbon dioxide is captured?
it is captured and then stored deep underground
how can we compensate for emissions?
we can compensate by planting trees as the photosynthesise and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
what doesn’t change the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration?
carbon-neutral products
what factors can’t reduce carbon footprint?
-political
-economic
-social
-scientific
