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Meteorology > Final Exam > Flashcards

Final Exam Flashcards

1
Q

Pollutants

A

gases or particles (liquids or solids) that occur in sufficient concentrations as to endanger health, affect the well being of organisms, or disrupt the orderly functioning of the environment, affect the economy

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2
Q

Primary Pollutants

A

emitted directly by identifiable sources

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3
Q

Secondary Pollutants

A

result from chemical reactions in the atmosphere with primary pollutants

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4
Q

London, 1300

A

Coal-fire pollution - King bans fires inside city, bans end when king dies

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5
Q

Smog

A

(smoke +fog) 1905, Dr. Henry Antoine Des Voeux

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6
Q

Donora, PA Death Fog

A

October 1948, 6,000 ill, 20 fatalities, zinc smelter refused to stop production, temp inversion help pollution from zing smelter close to land surface

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7
Q

London smog

A

1952, temp inversion help in pollution, 4,000 fatalities in 5 days

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8
Q

Chattanooga, TN

A

Most polluted US city in 1969

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9
Q

Clean Air Act

A

Passed in 1970, signed by President Nixon

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10
Q

US Environmental Protection Agency

A

formed 1990, passed with bipartisan support, signed by President Bush

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11
Q

Point sources

A

includes factories and electric power plants

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12
Q

Mobil sources

A

Not only includes cars and trucks but also lawn movers, airplanes, and anything else that moves and pollutes the air

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13
Q

Biogenic sources

A

This category includes all nonanthropogenic (not human-generated) sources. Examples include trees and other vegetation, microbial activity, oil and gas seeps, etc.

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14
Q

Area sources

A

Small and individual sources such as dry cleaners and degreasing operations.

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15
Q

Non-point sources

A

Agriculture, lawns, golf courses, roads, construction; can be sources of particulates, pesticides, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and other pollutants

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16
Q

Vehicle emissions make up how much of CO2 emissions?

A

Nearly half

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17
Q

Particulate matter

A

small solid or liquid drops (

18
Q

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

A

colorless, corrosive gas, the results from burning of fossil fuels, smelting operations, and paper mills; forms SO3 in atmosphere, reacts with water to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4), major component of acid precipitation

19
Q

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

A

results from burning of fossil fuels forming NO and NO2; NO2 reacts with water in air to form nitric acid (HNO3), another component of acid precipitation; causes brown haze common in large cities

20
Q

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A

colorless, odorless poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of fossil fuels; reacts with hemoglobin in blood, depriving body of oxygen; can cause severe damage to central nervous system (brain) and death

21
Q

Lead (Pb)

A

additive to gasoline, banned in mid 1970’s; industrial sources; absorbed by tissues and bones; even low doses can cause damage to nervous system

22
Q

Ozone (O3)

A

Secondary pollutant, forms as primary pollutants react with sunlight (photochemical smog); irritates respiratory system, particularly for those with preexisting conditions like asthma and emphysema; can damage vegetation and crops

23
Q

Attainment areas

A

geographic locations that meet the standards

24
Q

Nonattainment areas

A

geographic areas that do not meet standards

25
Q

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

A

components of gasoline, pesticides, paints

26
Q

Mercury

A

results from burning of coal; toxic metal that can cause damage to nervous system; accumulates in aquatic organisms; fish consumption advisories-pregnant or nursing women, children

27
Q

Precipitation can…

A

remove pollutants, such as particulates; particulates serve as condensation nuclei and are washed from the air

28
Q

Temperature inversions…

A

hold in pollutants, making conditions worse at land surface

29
Q

Geographic features can…

A

affect distribution of pollutants

30
Q

Acid precipitation

A

Precipitation (rain) is naturally acidic from water reacting to CO2 in air, forming carbonic acid (H2CO3); pH ranges from 5.5=6.5

31
Q

Sulfuric and nitric acid in rain can…

A

lower pH to ranges 4.5-5.0

32
Q

Four spheres of the earth are…

A

1) Atmosphere - all the air and gases in and around the Earth
2) Biosphere - all life on Earth
3) Hydrosphere and cryosphere - all water (gas, liquid, and solid) on Earth
4) Solid Earth - crust, mantle, and core of Earth

33
Q

Early Earth climates

A

Snowball Earth, Hot House Earth (ice free), Ice Ages (at least 4), Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)

34
Q

Proxy data

A

climate date calculated from archives (alternate or indirect sources) - such as rocks, sea sediments, glacial ice, tree rings, fossil pollen from rocks or lake sediments, pack rat middens (nest of pack rats), historical data (diaries, paintings, newspapers, etc.)

35
Q

Greenhouse gases

A

Determined by John Tyndall (1859); gases include: CO2, Methane, Water vapor

36
Q

Natural causes of climate change

A

plate tectonics, volcanoes, Milankovitch cycles (orbit and axis tilt change), solar variability

37
Q

Milankovitch Cycles

A

Orbital eccentricity - every 90,000-100,000 years, orbit becomes more elliptical; incoming solar radiation is affected
Axis tilt - Earth’s axis changes tilt from 22.1-24.5 degrees and back every 41,000 years (currently 23.5 degrees)
Precession - Earth’s axis “wobbles” or rotates every 26,000 years

38
Q

Trace gases

A

Methane (cattle and rice), Nitrous oxide (fertilizers and fossil fuels), Chlorofluorocarbons (refrigerants)

39
Q

Positive feedback

A

Water vapor, melting ice, forests, methane hydrates

40
Q

Negative feedback

A

Water vapor and clouds

41
Q

Four Pillars of Denial

A

1) Models are inaccurate
2) Instrument data or biased or inaccurate
3) Other evidence contradicts warming
4) Warming is from natural causes

Meteorology (1 decks)

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