Environmental Science Fall Final
the high concentration of ozone gas that absorbs the u.v. portion of energy from the sun and emits heat energy
the reason that temperature increases with altitude through most of the stratosphere is...
stratopause
the top of the stratosphere; a boundary
clean dry air
unpolluted air that does not contain water vapor
thermoshere
upper atmosphere; gases absorb UV and x-ray radiation; temperature increases
Water vapor
water in a gas state. up to 4% of total volume
it creates rainwater that can damage skin cells or cause cancer
what is an outcome that would result from acidic deposition?
Clean Air Act of 1970
what led to the creation of the EPA?
Argon
which gas in the atmosphere can be used to preserve priceless items such as The Declaration of Independence?
trophosphere
the lowest layer of the atmosphere; weather is here; the densest of all layers; contains 75% of the total mass; tropopause
4 layers of earth's atmosphere
1. troposphere 2. stratosphere 3. mesosphere 4. thermosphere
1- The stratosphere has nearly 1000x ozone concentration 2-and almost no water vapor
the mix of gases in the troposphere and stratosphere is generally similar with 2 main exceptions:
Nitrogen
the most common gas found in clean, dry air
generally contains a higher concentration of toxic pollutants than outdoor air
According to the World Health Organization and agencies such as the EPA, indoor air...
sulfur dioxide, particulate material, carbon monoxide, lead
Criteria Pollutant examples
1- The economy has continued to grow 2- Amount of energy consumed has increased 3- Even though vehicle miles traveled have increased
Criteria pollutants have decreased, while
is a secondary pollutant
Ground level Ozone is...
combustion of fossil fuels
the greatest human impact on the carbon cycle has been through...
increase in greenhouse gases that enhance the greenhouse effect
The main cause of global warming is...
Reservoirs
The physical locations that contain carbon in the different forms
ozone
a molecule in which 3 atoms are bonded together; relatively unstable; an air pollutants the troposphere; in stratosphere, it is essential for protecting life on earth
Argon
a non-reactive gas used in light bulbs, double-pane windows, and to preserve documents
Oxygen
a reactant of combustion
tropopause
a sharp boundary at the top of the troposphere that limits mixing between troposphere and other layers
mesosphere
above the stratosphere; no ozone molecules; oxygen and nitrogen become less dense with height; decrease in temperature
Ozone Layer
acts as a protective shield that protects life on Earth's surface by absorbing most of the harmful portions of UV radiation
atoms
all greenhouse gases are made up of at least three
O2 (oxygen)
all of the following are greenhouse gases except...
melting of sea ice
all of the following result in a rise in sea level except...
ozone hole
an area where the thickness of the ozone layer is reduced
Carbon Dioxide
an essential gas used by plants and other organisms to make food through photosynthesis. also prevents the escape of heat into outer space
milankovitch cycles.....
are changes in the Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun that may trigger climate variation
Nitrogen
dilutes oxygen and prevents rapid burning at Earth's surface
living organisms; air/atmosphere
during cellular respiration, the source of carbon is ______, whereas the sink is _____.
animals, fossil fuels, ocean, lithosphere, plants, atmosphere (air)
examples of reservoirs
stratosphere
the layer that extends from the tropopause; almost no water vapor; has nearly 1000x more ozone than troposphere; increase in temperature; stratopause; no mixing of gases
these do not occur naturally
greenhouse gases such as CFC, HFC, PFC,and suffer hexafluoride
UV-B
harmful UV type that reaches the earth's surface. absorbed by ozone
processes (fluxes)
help to transform and move carbon from one location to another
the air; photosynthesis
in the carbon cycle, plants take carbon from ______ during the process of ____
Earth's climate_____.
is changing as a result of natural and human processes
Oxygen
is used by all living thing stop make essential molecules
Nitrogen
is used to make protein
UV-A
least energetic and harmful of the UV types, but can cause damage to living cells (sunburns). not absorbed by ozone
combustion, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, dissolving and diffusion, decomposition
list of fluxes
in consumption, the source of carbon is ____, whereas the sink is____
living organisms; other living organisms
biotic
living things
UV-C
most energetic and harmful of the UV types, but is strongly absorbed in the thermosphere and stratosphere
soil, dust, wildfires, volcanic dust
natural sources of air pollution include...
abiotic
non-living things
Oceans; Lithosphere
the largest carbon reservoir is _____, followed by _____.
atmosphere
the layer of gases that surrounds Earth and is held place by gravity
is formed only in the presence of sunlight
photochemical smog differs from industrial smog in that it....
the montreal protocol _____
resulted in significant reduction in the production of CFC's by signatory nations
weather
short-lived and local patterns of temperature and moisture
Nitrogen
the atmosphere makes up a complex mix of gases. Which gas makes up the largest proportion?
troposphere
the continuous flow and swirling of air that redistributes heat and moisture around the globe resulting in weather patterns occurs in the ....