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
Human activities that lead to the removal or destruction of vast amounts of trees is called
deforestation
the number one cause of methane release in the atmosphere
increased agricultural activities
Effects of Global Warming
Climate Change
is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have
come to define Earth’s local, regional, and global climates.
Climate Change
Due to ___________, the climatic patterns of the earth changed rapidly, especially for cold areas.
global warming
____________ is the presence of chemicals in the air, called air pollutants,
Air pollution
____________ include all chemicals that are emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities and that are build up to harmful levels.
Primary air pollutants
________ are harmful chemicals that form in the air by reacting with primary pollutants
Secondary air pollutants
Major Air Pollutants
Sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen oxide
Carbon monoxide
Ozone and Photochemical oxidants
Lead
Particulate matter
Mercury from coal
Causes and Sources of Air Pollution
- Indoor/household air pollution
- Outdoor ambient air pollution
any activity that involves burning releases pollutants in the atmosphere
Outdoor ambient air pollution
In Causes and Sources of Air Pollution
Kerosene for cooking or oil lamps release the pollutants ethylene, Sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide
Indoor/household air pollution
Effects of Air Pollution
- Formation of photochemical smog and acid rain
- Depletion of nutrients from soil and waterways
- Can harm forests and crops
- Damage cultural icons such as monuments and statues
- Respiratory and related health problems for animals, especially humans
Solutions to Air Pollution
- Air pollution cleanup strategies
- Pollution prevention
- Enacting laws against air pollution
Acid deposition, also called ____________
acid rain,
acid rain , also called_______________
Acid deposition
Refers to acidic particles and droplets falling from the air or washed out of the air by precipitation onto land and into aquatic systems.
Acid deposition or Acid rain
In acid deposition ,, Gravity and precipitation
eventually return the suspended particles and droplets to the earth’s surface in two forms. ___________ or ________ deposition
Wet deposition, Dry deposition
Wet deposition, which consists of
Dry deposition made up of
Wet deposition = acidic rain, snow, fog, and cloud vapor.
Dry deposition = acidic particles.
Effects of Acid Deposition
- Respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma
- Leaching of toxic metals such as lead and copper from water pipes into drinking water
- Damages statues, buildings, metals, and car finishes. Limestone and marble are
especially susceptible. - Increased acidity on aquatic ecosystems:
- Damage to crops (especially at when soil pH falls below 5.1)
- Prevents seed germination
- Leach essential plant nutrients such as calcium and magnesium
- Weaken trees and other plants so they become more susceptible to other types of
damage
Solutions to acid deposition
- Cleanup strategies
- Prevention
- Enacting laws against air pollution
the portion of the stratosphere where ozone molecules are present, mixed in among the other gases that comprise the atmosphere.
ozone layer
Near the ground, ______________ is an air pollutant that causes lung damage and asthma attacks.
ozone (O3)
The ozone layer is where about __________ of the ozone in the Earth system is found.
90%
________absorbs the most energetic wavelengths of ultraviolet light, known as UV-C and UV-B, wavelengths that harm living things.
Ozone
Together, ________________ molecules are able to absorb 95 to 99.9% of the ultraviolet radiation that gets to our planet.
ozone and oxygen
