APES chap 19 air pollution

carbon oxides

(CO2 and CO) Sources include burning fossil fuels, incomplete combustion. Effects: CO binds to hemoglobin reducing bloods ability to carry O; CO2 contributes to global warming. Reduction accomplished by catalytic converters, oxygenated fuel, mass transit (reduction).

photochemical smog

Complex mixture of air pollutants produced in the lower atmosphere by the reaction of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides under the influence of sunlight. Especially harmful components include ozone, peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs), and various aldehydes.

greenhouse gases

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.

air pollution

One or more chemicals in high enough concentrations in the air to harm humans, other animals, vegetation, or materials. Excess heat is also considered a form of air pollution. Such chemicals or physical conditions are called air pollutants.

ozone layer

Protective layer in atmosphere that shields earth from UV radiation.

particulates

Small particles of dust released into the atmosphere by many natural processes and human activities

troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere

stratophere

The second layer of the atmosphere, which contains the ozone layer.

acid deposition

Tiny droplets of sulfuric acid and nitric acid form and return to Earth's surface

industrial smog

Type of air pollution consisting mostly of a mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid formed from some of the sulfur dioxide, and suspended solid particles.

Photochemical smog is formed when primary pollutants interact with ____.

UV radiation from the sun

voltaic organic compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds are organic chemicals that have a high vapour pressure at room temperature. High vapor pressure correlates with a low boiling point, which relates to the number of the sample's molecules in the surrounding air, a trait known as volatility

The UV filtering effect of the ozone layer is beneficial because it ____.

allows humans and other forms of life to exist on land

all the gas surrounding the earth

atmosphere

dominant pollutant responsible for global warming

carbon dioxide

Ozone depletion is caused by ____.

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the stratosphere

pollutant that destroys ozone

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the stratosphere

The stratosphere ____.

contains the ozone layer

Human sources of air pollution

factories, cars, urban areas, mines and power plants

temperature inversion

layer of dense, cool air trapped under a layer of warm dense air, pollution in trapped layer may build to harmful levels. Frequent in Los Angeles, California and Mexico City, Mexico.

indestructible and potent neurotoxin

lead

Temperature inversions ____.

make pollution problems worse

layer of air found above the stratosphere

mesosphere

primary component of photochemical smog

nitrogen oxides

keeps about 95% of the sun's harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth's surface

ozone layer

primary pollutants

pollutants that are put directly into the air by human or natural activity.

secondary pollutants

pollutants that form from chemical reactions that occur when primary pollutants come in contact with other primary pollutants or with naturally occuring substances, such as water vapor.

What term refers to harmful chemicals emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities at concentrations high enough to cause harm?

primary pollutants

Radioactive ____ gas is a product of uranium decay.

radon

layer of air between 11 and 30 miles above the earth's surface

stratosphere

pollutant responsible for acid deposition

sulfur dioxide

The atmosphere is divided into spherical layers based upon the ____ each layer.

temperature differences between

atmosphere

the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

lowest layer of air, just above the earth's surface

troposphere

What is the correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere from innermost to outermost?

troposphere-stratosphere-mesosphere-thermosphere

natural source of air pollution

wildfires, volcanos, wind dust, natural cycles like the carbon cycle.