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 ....