Unit 6

What class of compounds is responsible for stratospheric ozone depletion?

(page 425), chlorofluorocarbons CFCs, Halons, Cl-, Br, HO2 and H

Of those greenhouse gases, how do they differ in terms of harmfulness?

25x higher for CH4, 300x higher for N2O, and 13000 x higher for CFCs.

What are the six "criteria air pollutants specifically under the Clean Air Act? What emissions are not currently regulated?

6 pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, tropospheric ozone and lead. Carbon dioxide is currently not regulated.

What is thermal inversion?

A situation in which a relatively warm air at mid-altitude covers a layer of cold, dense air below. {a layer of warm air (warm inversion layer) overlies and traps pollutants in the cool air below.}

What is a greenhouse gas?

Absorbs infrared radiation

What is acid deposition and how does it occur?

Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

Agreement to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries to 5.2 % below their 1990 levels by 2012.

Which three countries are responsible for the most emissions per capita?

Australia, United States, and Canada

What is the difference between brown smog and grey smog?

Brown smog AKA photochemical smog- in LA, from tropospheric ozone (reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) Grey Smog AKA sulfurous smog- in london, sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds (SO2), caused by burning of wood, charcoal, coal, or dung in open fires or poorly designed stoves.

Which energy sources are the chief contributors to greenhouse gases?

Burning fossil fuels, agriculture, deforestation, landfills and wetlands

What specific pollutants are primary?

CH4, COx, SO2, NO2, NOx, VOCs, Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg).

How will rising sea levels affect human populations? What challenges will we face?

Cause more flooding on coastal cities and low-lying island nations, also more saltwater intrusion into aquifers and increased soil erosion.

Which country is responsible for the most carbon emissions on an annual basis?

China

How do CFC's disrupt this loop?

Chlorine disrupts this loop

What mitigates acid deposition?

Conserving energy so that the processes that produce the negative acids are reduced

What are the long-term effects of CFC's to the environment?

Depleted ozone through chemical reactions

What nations have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol and why?

Developing countries do not have emission limits because they do not produce the majority amount of carbon emissions.

Which greenhouse gases occur naturally? Which do not?

Do- CH4, CO2, H2O vapor, and N2O. Do Not- O3 and CFCs

How are animals and plants adversely affected by stratospheric ozone depletion?

Exactly what you think it is; this one is easy.

What are some of the economic hardships associated with climate change?

Food production goes down→ higher prices→ politically unstable. Infrastructure costs go up, tourism goes down, relocating costs go up, real estate market goes up, loss of property, insurance goes up, and healthcare goes up.

What is the order from least to greatest for fuels emitting the most carbon dioxide?

Fossil Fuels used for energy, Fossil Fuels not used for energy, Iron and steel production, cement manufacture, accidental leaks of natural gas, and municipal solid waste combustion.

What are some common VOC's that affect indoor air quality?

Gasoline, oil-based paints, lighter fluids, dry cleaning fluids, perfumes and formaldehyde.

What are the major greenhouse gases?

H2O vapor, CO2, CH4, CFCs, N2O, and tropospheric O3.

Which is the most effective at trapping infrared radiation?

H2O water vapor

What are some anthropogenic sources of methane?

Livestock digestion, landfills, natural gas, petroleum, coal mining, manure management, and combustion.

How might climate change affect growing seasons both negatively and positively?

Negative- Crop damage from extreme heat, lowers crop era, and drought. Positive- increased productivity from warmer temps, growing season longer, and possibility of growing new crops

What is sick building syndrome?

New buildings = more insulation, build up of toxins and pollutants, bad ventilation, and VOCs from new stuff.

Describe the closed loop production of stratospheric ozone?

O3+UV→ O2+O (+UV) → O3

What specific pollutants are secondary?

O3, H2SO4, H3PO4, SO4, NO3 and SO3

What is the Clean Air Act and what does it regulate? What did the 1990 amendment regulate?

On page 411, a United States federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level. monitors 6 pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, tropospheric ozone and lead. The 1990 amendment regulated SOx admissions.

What is ground level ozone and how does it form?

Page 413. In the troposphere, forms from 3 oxygen atoms formed together. Is harmful to plants and animals and can cause respiratory inflammations. In the presence nitrogen oxides and VOCs, ozone reacts and forms even more harmful oxidants.

What is the difference between electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, fluidized bed converters, scrubbers and lowering coal burning temperatures for pollution controls? What do each remove?

Particles are given a negative charge. They are attracted to positively charged plates where they are held. They are removed by a series of filter bags that physically filter out the particles.

How does tropospheric ozone affect plants and animals?

Plants close their stomata when there's high concentration of ozone (slows down photosynthesis) and for animals it's the same effects as there are on humans

What is the difference between primary and secondary air pollutants?

Primary air pollutants are pollutants that are emitted from a source and secondary pollutants are formed in the air when to chemicals react.

What is the Montreal Protocol 1987?

Protocol to limit or eliminate the amount of ozone depleting substance, also helps regulate climate change. 1987

What is the purpose of catalytic converters? What emissions do they remove?

The converter attaches to exhaust pipe. Helps convert CO to CO2, hydrocarbons to CO2 and H2O, and NOx to N + O

What did the Clean Skies Initiative propose to do?

To amend the Clean Air Act, adding economic incentives for reducing pollutants, the goal was to cut SO2, NOx and mercury admissions. aggressively reduce air pollution from electricity generators and improve air quality throughout the country.

Which form of radiant energy is most responsible for climate change?

UV b/c

What are the most common pollutants affecting indoor air quality?

VOCs

What are some natural short-term sources of climate change?

Volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts and El Nino

How does tropospheric ozone form?

When nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as xylene, react in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight.

anthropogenic

originating from human activity

Why might global air pollution initiatives be useful? Give an example of how it might be useful?

policy actions and international cooperation have successfully reduced air pollution significantly. For example, sulphur dioxide emissions - the main cause of acid rain - have been cut by more than 80 %

What are some natural sources of methane?

wetlands

What are characteristics of VOC's?

{They are smelly and short lived and reactive and short lived, highly reactive with NOx and other compounds} Volatile organic compounds, vapors at typical atmospheric, hydrocarbons (such as gasoline, lighter fluid, oil based paints, and perfumes), things that give off smell, not yet considered a pollutant but give off photochemical oxidants so they have potential.