Energy resources and environmental pollution (L5) Flashcards
What are the main sources of smoke
Burning vegetation
Burning fossil fuels
Suspended particles from deforestation
Effect of smoke on the climate
Stay suspended for long periods (especially in stratosphere)
May lead to climate cooling (increased albedo)
May also deplete the ozone
What effect does smoke have on living organisms
Irritation and bronchitis
Kill cilia
Carcinogenic
Reduced photosynthesis if settle on leaves
Where are the most smoke related deaths globally
LEDCs where they can only afford fuels such as fuel wood which cause a lot of smoke
What effect does smoke have on non-living objects
Can cause surface damage on buildings
What is smog
Smoke + fog
Fog forms when moist air is cooled until it reaches its dew point and the vapour condenses as airborne droplets of water layer
What are the normal conditions in the troposphere
Temp drops as altitude increased
Warm pollutant gases are less dense, more buoyant then the cool air above
What is an temperature inversion
Occurs when there is a layer of unusually cold air near the ground
What happens during a temperature inversion
Gaseous pollutants in this layer are cooled, become more dense, less buoyant and disperse less
What are the conditions that make temperature inversions more likely
Valley
Clear night skies
Mist or fog during the day
Low wind speeds
How do valleys cause temperature inversions
Cool dense air may sink under warmer air
Sheltering effect of the valley may prevent winds from dispersing the colder air
How do clear night skies cause temperature inversions
Clouds act as an insulating layer reflecting the IR radiated upwards from the ground
If there are no clouds then the ground loses heat by radiation more easily
This cools the air above it
how does mist and fog during the day
Mist and fog reflect sunlight, which prevents the ground from warming up as quickly as it might otherwise
How do low wind speeds cause temperature inversions
Low wind speeds reduce the mixing of the layers or air
Reduces the chance of dispersing the cooler air below it
