midterms air pollution Module based Flashcards
The ________, the atmospheric layer nearest the Earth’s surface, contains most of the planet’s air-the mixture of gases that people depend on to stay alive.
Troposphere
The ______________ is the mixture of gases that surround the Earth. It is made up of ________, the innermost two of which contain most of these gases.
Atmosphere : 5 layers
Troposphere is made up of _________________________________________
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% mixture of other gases like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, helium, and argon.
The ___________ is responsible for maintaining the conducive temperature of the earth, allowing various organisms to thrive.
Troposphere
The ________ is the Earth’s second layer of air.
Stratosphere
It contains much of the atmosphere’s ozone gas (O3), which lies in a
sub-layer of the lower stratosphere known as the ozone layer.
Stratosphere
This _____________serves as a sunscreen for the planet by filtering out about 95% of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation before it can reach the Earth’s surface.
stratospheric ozone gas
This stratospheric ozone gas serves as a sunscreen for the planet by filtering out about ____________________ before it can reach the Earth’s surface.
95% of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Four major problems involving the atmosphere
global warming, air pollution, acid deposition, and ozone depletion.
_______ refers to the accelerating rate in the increase of the average global temperature.
Global warming
Global warming due to the rapid increase in ________ found in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities.
greenhouse gases
Solar radiation that reaches the surface of the earth is absorbed and then re-emitted back by the heated surface as _______________
Infrared radiation (IR).
This is the heat that we feel if we touch a surface that has absorbed solar radiation.
Infrared radiation (IR).
T or F
The heat absorbing components of the atmosphere allows the IR from escaping,
False
prevent not allows
Origin of the word greenhouse effect.
the heat trapped in a farmer’s greenhouse,
Among the components of the atmosphere, ______ and _____ absorb little or no radiation.
nitrogen and oxygen
Among the components of the atmosphere, the minor components are the effective absorbers of IR, particularly ________ and _________.
carbon dioxide and water vapor
T or F
The Earth would be too cold for most life if it were not for the greenhouse effect.
T
Causes of Global Warming
- Burning of Fossil Fuel
- Deforestation
- Agriculture and Farming Practices
_________ is a greenhouse gas that is produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, such as animal wastes and dead plant materials, which is a natural process
Methane
_____________ absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Photosynthetic organisms
there are also the increased amounts of tiny particles in the lower atmosphere that scientists call ______________
‘black carbon’ (soot or smoke)
_______ are the largest photosynthetic organisms and responsible for absorbing the greatest amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Trees
Lungs of the earth
Amazon forest