Exam 2 Flashcards
Atmospheric layers include
Thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere
What is the percent breakdown of gases in the atmosphere?
78% N2, 21% O2, 1% Argon
Describe the troposphere
0-11km, temp decreases with altitude
Describe the stratosphere
11-50km, temp increases with altitude, contains the ozone layer
Describe the mesosphere
50-90km, temp decreases with altitude
Describe the thermosphere
90-500km, very thin air, very hot
What are the 7 major classes of air pollutants?
Particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon oxides, hydrocarbons, tropospheric O3, hazardous air pollutants (Pb)
NO2
Foul smelling red gas, from vehicle exhaust, industry, electricity pollution; contributes to smog and acid precipitation
SO2
Foul smelling colorless gas; from coal burning, contributes to acid precipitation
CO
Odorless colorless gas, from vehicle exhaust
CH4
Odorless colorless gas; main component of natural gas; from livestock and landfills
O3
Sharp smelling colorless gas; secondary pollutant from sunlight + heat + NO2/volatile hydrocarbons
Human sources of outside air pollution
Transportation, fuel combustion from other sources, industrial processes, misc
Natural sources of outdoor air pollution
Volcanoes, dust storms, fires
Gray air smog is composed of
Soot, sulfur, CO2, CO
Brown air smog is composed of
NO2, O3, volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
US Clean Energy Act
Enacted 1970, allows EPA to enforce limits on air pollutants
Two main types of indoor air pollution
Smoke and radon gas
What depletes ozone?
Mainly CFCs
When were CFCs banned in the US? Globally?
1978, 1987
What did the Montreal Protocol (1987) do?
Banned CFCs worldwide
What is the pH of rain in Statesboro?
4.8
How much has the temperature gone up in the last 50 years?
.5 degrees F
What is the IPCC?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The 2000s were the warmest decade in ____ years
1000 years
What are the 5 main greenhouse gases?
CO2, NO2, tropospheric O3, CH4, CFCs
CO2 has increased by what percent in the last 200 years?
33%
How many lbs of CO2 are added per gallon of gas burned?
191lbs of CO2
Since 1958, CO2 has increased from 315ppm to
400ppm
What greenhouse gas has seen the greatest increase?
CH4
How much has CH4 increased since 1750?
150%
How much is nitrous oxide up since 1750?
20%
How many inches have sea levels risen over the past century?
8 inches
What percentage of species do we stand to lose from global warming?
Up to 50%
What percentage of the US population lives in cities?
80%
