Temperature inversions and suspended particle matter smogs

Question 1

what is smoke

Answer 1

smoke is made up of atmospheric particulates produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon based materials.

Question 2

what are the main causes of smoke

Answer 2

1) combustion of coal, diesel and other general combustible wastes
2) combustion of crop waste, wood fuel, grasslands

Question 3

why is particle size important

Answer 3

smaller particles remain in the atmosphere for longer so are more likely to be inhaled

Question 4

list some toxic chemical which can be found in smoke

Answer 4

1) fluorides
2) aluminium
3) lead
4) acids
5) organic compounds

Question 5

what are the effects of smoke pollution on humans

Answer 5

• respiratory disease i.e. asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer
• chemicals in the smoke may be carcinogenetic
• killed cilia in the bronchioles increasing risk of infection

Question 6

what are the effects of smoke pollution of living organisms

Answer 6

• reduced photosynthesis

- substances within smoke may be toxic ie heavy metals and acids

Question 7

what are the effects of smoke pollution of non-living objects

Answer 7

• smoke solvents can cause damage to buildings due to the chemicals and acids the contain
• cleaning dirty buildings in expensive

Question 8

what are the effects of smoke pollution on the climate

Answer 8

1) large releases can increase albedo so reduce temp
2) small smoke particles can remain in the atmosphere for long periods of time
3) smoke in the stratosphere can deplete the ozone layer

Question 9

what are smoke smogs

Answer 9

smoke + fog= smog

Question 10

describe how a temperature inversion is formed on calm and cool nights

Answer 10

1) the atmosphere is mostly heated by the earth’s surface emitting longwave radiation
2) usually the further from the surface the cooler the temps get
3) on calm and cool nights the surface loses heat very quickly cooling the air right above it. It cools faster than the air higher up
4) the air above this is warmer than the air below forming a radiation inversion

Question 11

describe how temperature inversions form with specific topography

Answer 11

1) cold air in higher regions of land is dense so sinks to lower regions
2) as it sinks the air starts to warm due to increases in pressure at lower elevations
3) sinking air becomes warmer than the air below it, so it is less dense and stops sinking
4) an upper air inversion is formed

Question 12

how is fog formed

Answer 12

when moist air cools until it reaches a dew point and water vapor condenses as airborne droplets of water

Question 13

what are the different forms of smog

Answer 13

1) suspended particle matter smog

2) photochemical smog

Question 14

how are suspended particle matter smog formed

Answer 14

• the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels releases coarse particles which become suspended in the air
• the ash from forest fires or the burning of wood fuels

Question 15

Describe the London smog of 1952

Answer 15

• London was positioned in a valley so atmospheric pollution increased as the city began to grow
• December 1952 anticyclonic weather conditions provided clear skies and low wind velocities forming a temp inversion
• atmospheric pollutant level rose as they couldn’t escape
• 12,000 deaths, of old, young, or individuals with respiratory diseases