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.