The Atmosphere - Chapter 5: Air Pollution

Question 1

Give some examples of “natural” air pollution

Answer 1

ash from volcanic eruptions, salt particles from breaking waves, pollen and spores released by plants, smoke from forest and brush fires, windblown dust

Question 2

What is a natural consequence of clearing the land of its natural vegetative cover?

Answer 2

Soil is exposed and blown into the air

Question 3

5 examples of human created pollution

Answer 3

Combustion processes
Chemical processes
Nuclear or atomic processes
Roasting, heating, refining processes
Mining, quarrying, farming

Question 4

Airborne particles and gases that occur in concentrations that endanger the health and well being of organisms or disrupt the orderly functioning of the environment

Answer 4

Air pollutants

Question 5

Two types of pollutants

Answer 5

Primary

Secondary

Question 6

Primary pollutants are…

Answer 6

emitted directly from identifiable sources

Question 7

What is the great contributor to the primary pollutant category?

Answer 7

Vehicles

Question 8

What are secondary pollutants?

Answer 8

They are produced in the atmosphere when certain chemical reactions take place among the primary pollutants

Question 9

What is a good example of a secondary pollutant (H2SO4)?

Answer 9

Sulfuric acid

Question 10

When is sulfuric acid produced?

Answer 10

Sulfur dioxide combines with oxygen, yielding sulfer trioxide which then combines with water to form an irritating and corrosive acid

Question 11

Air pollution in urban and industrial areas

Answer 11

smog

Question 12

Term for when reactions that produce secondary pollutants are triggered by strong sunlight

Answer 12

photochemical reactions

Question 13

What is an example of a photochemical reaction?

Answer 13

When nitrogen oxides absorb solar radiation and initiate a chain of complex reactions

Question 14

The noxious mixture of gases and particles associated with photochemical reactions

Answer 14

Photochemical smog

Question 15

Ozone is formed by natural processes in the stratosphere and plays a vital role because….

Answer 15

its ability to absorb damaging ultraviolet radiation

Question 16

What are two factors associated with the likelihood that pollutants and the air that hold them will be dispersed?

Answer 16

Strength of the wind

stability of the air

Question 17

The vertical distance between the earth’s surface and the height to which convectional movements extend

Answer 17

Mixing depth

Question 18

This represents a situation in which the atmosphere is very stable and the mixing depth is significantly restricted

Answer 18

Temperature inversion

Question 19

What is a surface inversion?

Answer 19

It develops close to the ground on clear and relatively calm nights

Question 20

True or false: rain IS somewhat naturally acidic

Answer 20

True

Question 21

What do we call precipitation with heightened pH values?

Answer 21

Acid precipitation

Question 22

Acid precipitation’s compounds are introduced into the air as by-products of ____ and _____

Answer 22

combustion

industrial activity