Unit 7 Flashcards
the four layers of the atmosphere
troposphere,stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere
how solar energy heats the atmosphere
heats the air which moves it around, influences weather and climate. Earth’s tilt causes uneven heating, with seasons and direct vs indirect heating
outdoor/ambient air pollution
gases and particulate matter added to the atmosphere by human activities. can harm climates and people.
Has decreased recently due to government policy and improved technologies, but developing countries and urban areas still have significant problems
point vs non point sources of pollution
point source: specific spots where large quantities of pollutants are discharged (ex power plants and factories)
Non point source: more diffuse, consisting of many small sources (automobiles)
primary and secondary pollutants
Primary pollutants: directly harmful and can react to form harmful substances (soot and carbon dioxide)
Secondary pollutants: form when primary pollutants interact or react with constituents or components of the atmosphere (tropospheric ozone and sulfuric acid)
Criteria pollutants: what are they
Pollutants judged to pose especially great threats to human health
Criteria pollutants: CO
A colorless odorless gas
Produced primarily by incomplete combustion of fuel
harmful even in small concentrations
Criteria pollutants: sulfur dioxide SO2
Colorless gas with a strong odor
From coal emissions from electricity generation and industry
Can form acid precipitation
Criteria pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOx)
highly reactive and foul smelling reddish brown gas
Occurs when nitrogen and oxygen react at high temperatures
also from vehicle engine and industrial combustion, electrical utilities
Contributes to smog and acid precipitation
Criteria pollutants: tropospheric ozone (O3)
A colorless gas with a strong odor
Results from interactions of sunlight, heat, nitrogen oxides, and volatile carbons (secondary pollutant)
A major component of smog
Poses a health risk as a result of its instability
Criteria pollutants: particulate matter
Solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere
Primary pollutants: dust and soot
secondary pollutants: sulfates and nitrates
Damages respiratory tissue when inhaled
Criteria pollutants: Lead
Particulate pollutant added to gas (used to be) and used in industrial metal smelting
Bioaccumulates and causes nervous system malfunction
Banned in gasoline in developed countries, but not in developing ones
Heavy metal remember its super bad
other toxic air pollutants
Usually causing cancer, reproductive defects, or problems with immune system respiration or neurological stuff
some can be produced natural (HSO2) but most produced by humans
usually not as tracked as criteria pollutants
general effects of air pollution
Climate impacts, ecosystem impacts, visual quality of the environment, vegetation animals and soil, water quality, natural and artificial structures
Industrial (grey) smog
an unhealthy mixture of pollutants usually from factories and stuff over urban areas. occurs in cooler and hilly areas and creates sulfuric acid. gov. regulations usually prevent this but not always
photochemical (brown) smog
Produced by a series of reactions in hot, sunny cities surrounded by mountains
Morning traffic exhaust releases pollutants, and they react with the light along with normal atmospheric compounds. This also occurs during the evening commute
Irritates eyes, noses and throats.
Vehicle inspection programs in the U.S. have decreased smog.
One of the key components is tropospheric ozone!!!
thermal inversion
Usually, tropospheric air temperature decreases as altitude increases. However, warm air tends to rise, causing vertical mixing
eventually, a layer of cool air forms beneath a layer of warm air
an inversion layer is the band of air in which temperatures rise with altitude instead of fall
Acid deposition
The deposition of acid, or acid forming pollutants from the atmosphere onto earth’s surface (acid rain is an example)
usually originates from burning fossil fuels, which react with water to form sulfuric/nitric acids
NOTE: the area which these pollutants were release may not be where the acid deposition falls
effects of acid deposition
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
- nutrients are leached from the topsoil, which leads to the death of many plants
- soil chemistry changed, ex metal ions (Al, ZN, +) are converted into soluble forms that pollute water
- affects surface water and kills fish
- kills plants again, especially agricultural
- erodes stone buildings, corrodes cars, and specifically anything calcium based like limestone
indoor air pollution
The average US citizen spends 90% of their time indoors
Thus, we are exposed to synthetic materials that have not been comprehensively tested (like cushioning)
To reduce heat loss and improve energy, windows have been sealed but that also keeps pollutants in
common sources of indoor pollution
Asbestos, biological aerosols, CO2, CO, Formaldehyde, Particulates, Inorganic particulates (ex NOx or SOx), metal particulates, NO2, O3, pesticides, radon!!!, SO2, VOCs
chimney effect / stack effect
Process whereby warmer air rises in buildings to upper levels and is replaced in the lower portion of the building by outdoor air drawn through a variety of openings, such as window doors or cracks in the foundation or walls
sick building syndrome
A condition associated with an indoor environment that appears to be unhealthy. Building occupants experience health effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific other cause can be identified
tobacco smoke and radon
Second hand smoke from cigarettes is especially dangerous. Contains over 4000 dangerous chemicals, cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, but this has gone down in developing nations because we know how bad it is
Second hand smoke from cigarettes is especially dangerous
Contains over 4000 dangerous chemicals, cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, but this has gone down in developing nations because we know how bad it is. Yikes!!!
VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
He most diverse group of indoor air pollutants.
Released by everything from plastics and oils to perfumes and paints. Also includes pesticides and formaldehyde
Most VOCs are released in very small amounts, but the health implications are unclear because of this
Clean air act of 1970, act of 1990
1970: Set standards for air quality, limits on emissions, provided funds for pollution-control research, allows citizens to sue parties violating the standards
1990: Strengthened standards for auto emissions, toxic air pollutants, acidic deposition, stratospheric ozone depletion. Also introduced emissions trading
methods of reducing air pollution (like devices)
Scrubbers: technologies that chemically convert or physically remove pollutants before they leave the smokestacks (see spray tower wet scrubber)
Vapor Recovery Nozzles: Device attached to gas pumps that reduce the amount of vapor that is released when you fill up your car
Catalytic Converters: A device in cars that converts harmful pollutants like CO or NOx and other hydrocarbons into less harmful ones (N2 O2 H2O or CO2)
they also phased out leaded gas which is cool fr
noise pollution
A sound that lacks and agreeable quality or is noticeably unpleasant or loud
sound measured in decibels (dB), but all species can hear and tolerate different levels
Sources are often traffic, construction, industrial sounds, domestic sounds (tv or lawnmowers), airports, loud music, fireworks, military or air gun sonar
health impacts of noise pollution (human and animal)
Chronic exposure to sound above 70 dB can lead to hearing loss
Acute exposure over 120 dB can cause immediate damage
can also cause hypertension, sleep disturbance, etc.
Even more harmful for other animals, because it causes stress, psychological or behavioral issues, running away or into danger, impairs communication and hunting, hearing loss of course
