Lecture 4: Plant Responses To Air Pollutants

Question 1

Pollutants

Answer 1

A chemical that is in the wrong place at the wrong concentration and that has the potential to cause damage to the environment.

Question 2

Air pollutants

Answer 2

Chemicals that are emitted to the atmosphere which adversely affect physical and biological systems.

Question 3

Two types of air pollutants

Answer 3

• particulate air pollutants

- gaseous air pollutants

Question 4

Two types of gaseous air pollutants

Answer 4

Primary and secondary pollutants

Question 5

Primary pollutants

Answer 5

Chemicals that are emitted directly into the atmosphere (in the form of which it will have an adverse effect)

Question 6

Two primary pollutants

Answer 6

• Nitrogen monoxide (NO)

* Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Question 7

Secondary pollutants

Answer 7

Chemicals that are formed by the reactions in the atmosphere between primary pollutants and other agents (eg: light)

Question 8

Two secondary pollutants

Answer 8

• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

* Ozone (O3)

Question 9

Orgins of gaseous pollutants

2

Answer 9

Natural and anthropogenic emissions

Question 10

Natural emissions of gaseous pollutants

Answer 10

Volcanoes and swamps

Question 11

Anthropogenic emissions of gaseous pollutants

Answer 11

Domestic and industrial sources

Question 12

VOC

Answer 12

Volatile organic compounds

Question 13

Two types of depositiion of air pollutants

Answer 13

Wet and dry deposition

Question 14

Dry deposition of SO2 and NOx can cause

2

Answer 14

Inhibition of photosynthesis and inhibition of growth

Question 15

Why is inhibition of photosynthesis by dry deposition of SO2 and NOx greater in high light?

Answer 15

More stomata are open in high light so more pollutants enter the plant.

Question 16

Which reaction (s) in photosynthesis are affected by dry deposition of SO2 and NOx

Answer 16

Both light dependent and light independent reactions

Question 17

Wet deposition of SO2 and NOx causes

Answer 17

Acid rain

Question 18

Where is ‘good’ ozone found?

And what does it do?

Answer 18

The stratosphere - upper atmosphere

It filters out UV in solar radiation

Question 19

Where is ’bad’ ozone found?

And how is it formed?

Answer 19

Foudn in the troposphere - lower atmosphere.

Formed by complex photochemical rections between pollutants.

Question 20

Global warming

Answer 20

Global warming: an average increase in the Earth’s temperature that in turn causes changes in climate.

Question 21

Greenhouse effect

Answer 21

Greenhouse effects: trapping of IR radiation, produced when solar radiation is absorbed and then partially re-emitted, by the Earth’s atmosphere

Question 22

Greenhouse gases

Answer 22

Greenhouse gases: any gas that absorbs IR radiation in the atmosphere.

Question 23

Climate change

Answer 23

Climate change: changes in climate resulting from global warming.

Question 24

Is global warming an essential process?

Answer 24

The greenhouse effect is a natural process without which the Earth’s temperature would be -18 degrees C