Unit 5 Environmental Science

Explain what causes the seasons.

Seasons are caused by the Earth's tilt on its axis and the amount of sunlight parts of the Earth receive. When the North Pole is tilted away from the sun it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere and it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Describe the way smog forms.

Smog results from a chemical reaction with sunlight, air, automobile exhaust, and ozone.

Explain why different parts of Earth have different climates.

The most important factor which determines climate is the distance from the equator. also solar energy reaches different parts of the earth at different times. An example of this would be Seattle and Phoenix, they have two different climates because they are at different distances from the equator.

Describe the harmful effects that acid precipitation can have on plants, soils, and aquatic ecosystems.

-Acid precipitation can cause a drop in the pH of soil and water called acidification. This changes the balance of a soil's chemistry in several ways which can negatively affect plants by releasing toxic metals into the roots of plants. -Acid precipitation can effect aquatic ecosystems known as acid shock (rapid change in the water's pH). This phenomenon may kill large numbers of fish and affect the reproduction of fish and amphibians

Name 5 primary air pollutants, and give important source for each.

-Carbon Monoxide: vehicles and industries -Nitrogen Oxides: vehicles, power plants, and industries -Sulfur Dioxide: burning fossil fuels -Particulate Matter: agriculture, industries, and cars -Volitile Organic Compounds: burning fossil fuels

Describe 3 ways in which acid precipitation can affect humans.

-Decrease our food source -Effect out water source

Describe 2 ways in which indoor air pollution can be prevented.

-Good ventilation -Mixing outdoor air with indoor air

List 5 harmful effects that UV radiation could have on plants and animals as a result of the ozone thinning.

-Interference with photosynthesis -Reduced crop yields -Disruption of the food chain -Reduction in number of photosynthesisers -Death of phytoplankton in surface water

Identify 4 factors that determine climate.

-Latitude -Global air circulation -Oceanic circulation patterns -Topography

Describe some human health problems caused by noise pollution.

-Noise pollution is irritating and damages our hearing by destroying cells in our ears. -High-blood pressure, hearing loss, and stress

Define temperature inversion. Explain how temperature inversion traps pollutants near Earths surface.

-Temperature inversion occurs when air above is warmer than air below. -The warmer air above keeps the cooler air at the surface from moving upward. Pollutants are trapped below with the cool air.

Describe the long-term effects and short term effects of air pollution on health.

-The short term effects of air pollution on people's health include headache; nausea; irritation to the eyes, nose and throat; tightness in the chest; coughing; and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. -Long term effects on health that have been linked to air pollution include emphysema, lung cancer, and heart disease.

Describe several solutions to the energy waste associated with light pollution.

-Use time controls -Use low-pressure sodium sources

Name 2 major sources of air pollution in urban areas.

-Vehicles -Industries

Describe the process by which chlorofluorocarbons break down ozone molecules in the stratosphere.

High in the stratosphere CFC's break apart due to the powerful energy of the sun's UV radiation, which is absorbed. Once broken apart, chlorine atoms from the CFC molecules break down the ozone.

Explain why it will take years for the ozone to recover, even though the use of CFCs has declined significantly.

Molecules in CFC's remain active int the stratosphere for 60 to 120 years.

Explain ways in which noise pollution and light pollution are similar.

Noise and light pollution can cause similar human health problems. They also can interfere with animals as well.

Describe the process by which the ozone hole forms over Antarctica in spring.

Occurs because of the special atmospheric and chemical conditions that exist there and nowhere else on the globe. The very low winter temperatures in the Antarctic stratosphere cause polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) to form.

Explain how acid precipitation forms.

When fossil fuels are burned, they release oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. When the oxides combine with water in the atmosphere, they form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which fall as acid precipitation.

Explain the difference between weather and climate.

weather is daily atmospheric patterns; climate is long term atmospheric conditions