Unit 7 Flashcards
Identify the air pollutants released as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels
Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter are some of the air pollutants released as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels.
Identify the air pollutants released into the air as a result of coal combustion
Burning coal releases a variety of air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and mercury.
Explain the relationship between ozone, formation of photochemical smog and acid rain
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, two pollutants that contribute to acid rain, also help to create photochemical smog, which can result in the creation of ozone.
Identify factors that can impact air quality
Transportation-related emissions, industrial emissions, power plant emissions, as well as emissions from other natural sources like wildfires and dust storms, can all have an impact on air quality. Air quality can be influenced by topography, weather patterns, urbanization, and human density.
Explain the Clean Air Act and how it has impacted the release of air pollutants
In order to control air pollution, the United States federal statute known as the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970. The act established national standards for air quality and mandated that each state create a plan to meet those criteria. Additionally, it gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permission to control pollutants coming from both stationary and mobile sources, such as factories, power plants, and automobiles. The Clean Air Act has significantly reduced air pollutants like lead, sulfur dioxide, and particle matter since it was passed.
Identify the difference between primary and secondary air pollutants.
Carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide are examples of primary air pollutants since they are released into the atmosphere directly. When primary air pollutants, such as ozone and particulate matter, react chemically with other elements in the atmosphere, secondary air pollutants, such as these, are created.
List environmental factors that affect the formation of photochemical smog and explain their impact
Sunlight, temperature, wind, and topography are all environmental elements that have an impact on the development of photochemical smog. The chemical reactions that result in photochemical smog need sunlight to proceed, and hotter temperatures can hasten these processes. Pollutants can be dispersed by wind, but they can also be moved from one place to another. With valleys and other low-lying locations frequently suffering higher amounts of smog than surrounding places, topography can have an impact on the concentration of pollutants in a particular area.
Explain the behavior of VOCs at room temperature
A class of molecules known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have a high vapor pressure at ambient temperature, which allows them to quickly evaporate into the atmosphere. Several things, such as paints, solvents, and cleaning supplies, might cause this evaporation. VOCs can have harmful health consequences when inhaled and can contribute to the creation of smog when they are discharged into the air.
List natural sources of VOCs
Forests, marshes, and oceans are all examples of natural sources of VOCs. These sources naturally release VOCs as a byproduct of their biological processes, and the amount of emissions varies depending on the temperature and humidity. For instance, terpenes, a kind of VOC, are released by forests, and these emissions might rise when the temperature is high and the humidity is low.
Describe how the normal temperature gradient in the atmosphere is altered as a result of a thermal inversion
A thermal inversion traps pollutants close to the ground by creating a layer of warm air above a layer of cool air. Health difficulties like breathing problems, headaches, and eye discomfort may result from this. Urban areas experience thermal inversions the most frequently.
Discuss the consequences of thermal inversion
Thermal inversions can affect the economy, modify weather patterns, and pollute the air. They pose a serious threat to the ecosystem.
