Escapes Unit 3 Vocab Flashcards
Temperature Inversion
When warmer air or atmospheric changes cause the air near the earth to be
cooler than air above
Clean Air Act
Set standards for 6 pollutants, enforced regulations, phased out CFC’s
Particulates
liquid or solid particles in the atmosphere
Troposphere
atmospheric layer closest to the earth that gets colder as you go up
Stratosphere
second lowest atmospheric layer with good “ozone” that gets warmer as you go u[p
Mesosphere
third lowest zone above the Earth’s surface at sea level that gets colder as you go up
Thermosphere
fourth and highest level of atmosphere where temperatures get hot
Exosphere
Transition zone between earth and space
Montreal Protocol
Stopped the use of CFC’s which contribute to ozone depletion
Primary Pollutant
Is a pollutant emitted directly from a source.
Secondary Pollutant
Is a pollutant not directly emitted from a source.
Ozone O3
form from reactions with nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. It is a UV blocker and Respiratory
Irritant
Chlorofluorocarbons CFC’s
known as Freon. Deplete ozone layer leading to more cancer
Biomass
the total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume
Biome
an area classified by the species that live there
Consumer
organisms that consume other organisms to obtain their energy
Habitat
place where an organism makes its home
Law of 10%
each trophic level transfers 10% of its energy to the level above them in the food chain
Tropic Level
steps in the pyramid where the transfer of food and energy happen
Macronutrients
large molecules of life
Nitrogen Fixation
the conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia by bacteria
Micronutrients
smaller molecules of life molybedum, iron, copper
Ammonification
the breakdown of dead organic matter by bacteria
Nitrification
the conversion of ammonia by bacteria into nitrites and nitrates
Assimilation
the incorporation and absorption of nitrogen compounds into plants
Dentrification
the conversion by bacteria of nitrogen compounds back to nitrogen gas
