Effects On The Envrironment And Health Flashcards
Is this statement true or false : as we go up the temperature reduces by 7 degrees.
True
Where does the change in temperature gradient occur in the atmosphere ?
This occurs between the troposphere and tropopause.
What is the atmosphere made of?
It is made of 78% Nitrogen , 21% oxygen, 1% argon and the remaining percentage is combination of other gases like CO2, CH4, H2,Kr.
Emission and formation of air pollutants.
What are primary pollutants?
These are air pollutants that are directly emitted from exhausts eg. NO, SO2,soot.
These usually have a larger effect closer to the emission source.
Some of these have a long life span and spread over vast areas . eg. CO2, CH4,N2O,CFC(Chlorofluorocarbons).
What are secondary pollutants?
These are air pollutants that are formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere.eg. HNO3,H2SO4,Organic compounds, ozone, secondary organic aerosol.
They formed in larger regions around sources.
What are the relative space and time scales for some emissions.
NOx only lasts a couple of hours in the atmosphere but it can go through chemical reaction to become NO2 which lasts over a decade.
Some hydrocarbons only last an hour in the atmosphere.
Aerosols and SO2 lasts a couple of weeks.
O3 lasts a month
CO lasts a couple of months.
CH4 lasts a decade and CFCL3 lasts decades.
Obviously the longer you last in the atmosphere the farther you are able to travel.
What do temperature inversions cause?
It traps air filled with pollutants closer to the ground. During this inversion period the temperature of the atmosphere is altered the norm is that as you ascend it gets cooler but during inversions the temperature on the ground is much cooler . So then the hot air above act as as a lid for the cool air.
Normally fixed when wind disperses air that is trapped
What is atmospheric oxidation?
Almost all gases undergo oxidation in the atmosphere.
Oxidation cleans the air and makes the compounds more water soluble. O2 does not react with many compounds the reaction would be too slow. But the OH radical reacts readily with several compounds.
What do you know about the hydroxyl radical OH?
This radical is largely responsible for all oxidation in the atmosphere.
It largely influences concentration of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants in the atmosphere.
Have a very short life span because of how reactive they are (usually one second) , however thy are very abundant in the atmosphere.
Formation of this radical is dependent on sunlight.
What do you know about Ozone?
Highly reactive, green house gas, environmental impact, absorbs UV radiation, largely found in the stratosphere and a little bit in the troposphere.
What do you know about ozone formation in the troposphere ?
Ozone only forms in the troposphere when NOx,CO and VOCs react in the presence of sunlight through a chain reaction.
Is this statement meant true or false: NO emissions transforms into NO2 within minutes-hours .
True.
Is this statement meant true or false: NO2 absorbs visible light and contributes to yellowish brownish colour in polluted areas.
True.
What is Acid rain and what are the consequences of Acid rain?
Acid rain is usually formed when H2O chemically reacts with NO2 and SO2.
Has detrimental effects on human ,plant and animal health.
Also damages buildings and other properties.
Is this statement meant true or false: Sulfur can be deposited through acid rain and the deposition of sulfur is predicted to increase in coming years.
True
