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APES - AIR UNIT Flashcards

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5759576200make-up of earths atmosphere- 78% nitrogen - 21% oxygen - 0.1% at poles, 4% at tropics water vapor - less than 1% argon - 0.038% CO20
5759576201tropospherewhere the air we breathe and our weather occurs. Where most air pollution stays. Location of greenhouse effect. Has the most air pressure.1
5759577812stratosphereLocation of the ozone layer. Planes often fly in this layer.2
5759577813mesosphereVery thin air layer where meteor showers occur.3
5759580260thermosphereWhere astronauts orbit within. Thinnest layer of air molecules seen here.4
5759580261primary pollutantsAny pollutant that comes from a direct source. Not formed due to a chemical combination of other pollutants. Most common are: CO, NOx, SO2, PM, VOCs, lead5
5759581260secondary pollutantsAny pollutant that must be made when other pollutants chemically combine. Most common are: ozone, photochemical smog, industrial smog.6
5759581261NOxNitrogen Oxides. Forms acid rain. Also creates ozone/photochemical smog. Comes from combustion of fossil fuels. Cause respiratory problems and eye irritation.7
5759581262SO2Not a greenhouse gas. Primary by-product of burning coal. Creates acid rain with NOx. Comes from combustion of fossil fuels and volcanoes. Aggravates asthma and eye irritation.8
5759582621VOCsVolatile Organic Compounds. Creates ozone. Primary pollutant in air fresheners, cleaning products, paints, and solvents. Causes liver/kidney/nervous system damages, and cancer.9
5759582622PMParticle Matter. Comes from forest fires, incinerators, wind based soil erosion and combustion of fossil fuels. Eye irritation and respiratory problems. Classifies buildings as sick.10
5759582623leadComes from combustion of fossil fuels, incinerators and old paint dust. Causes brain, liver, and kidney damage. From the burning of leaded gasoline.11
5759582624ozoneO3. Formation of secondary pollution form NOx and VOCs in sunlight. Good in stratosphere because it prevents sunburns, bad in troposphere because it causes major health risks. O + O2 are formed after ozone is introduced to UV light.12
5759584768photochemical smoghazy mix made up of mostly ozone along with other pollutants. Formed with the presence of sunlight.13
5759586067industrial smoghazy mix made up of mostly from reactions between SO2 and PM14
5759587483factors increasing air pollution- lack of wind - urban building, means slow winds. - mountains, block wind movement - high temperatures, allow chemical reactions to occur - low precipitation levels/low humidity15
5759587484grasshopper effectpollutants from tropical areas are transported to polar areas due to wind/water currents. Explains how pollution can get to areas without large populations.16
5759596137thermal inversionnormal weather patterns have air pollutants follow the warm air moving to cold air higher in the air. Cold air settles at surface and is capped by a warm air mass.17
5759608317factors reducing air pollution- particulates can settle out over time - precipitation brings particles to ground - ocean spray brings particles to ground - winds - chemical reactions change pollutants18
5759609727electrostatic precipitatorsparticle-filled exhaust is fed through a negative charge plate to make particles negatively charged. Exhaust then goes through a positively charged collection area. Particles stick to collection area and exhaust comes out with less PM.19
5759609728scrubbersExhaust is fed through this machine. It is sprayed with water and various chemicals. These grab and neutralize exhaust pollutants. Waste materials are then collected at the bottom of the scrubber.20
5759613016fluidized bed combustionFuel is burned in a hot bed of bubbling ash and sand. Hot air is blown through ash to make it act like a fluid. These conditions cause the fuel to burn at a lower temperature and results in a lower emission of air pollutants.21
5759613017sick building syndromebuildings in which people get sick in when they spend time in them (get better when not in them) - 1 in 5 of US buildings are sick - Tobacco smoke, formaldahyde, radon, PM are the biggest pollutants.22
57596166804 biggest indoor air pollutants in USTobacco smoke, formaldahyde, radon, particle matter23
5759616681radoncolorless, odorless, radioactive gas. From natural decay of uranium in soil. Is inert, but it decays into carcinogenic materials. Results in lung cancer over long-term.24
5759616682asbestoscommon mineral used in insulation. Ultimately leads to mesothelioma. Is not used in the US, but still in developing nations.25
5759618541mesotheliomaa type of lung cancer that stems from asbestos26
5759618542formealdehydecolorless, flammable gas. Irritates respiratory linings, eyes, and skin. Found in various household products.27
5759653378acid rain phnormal precipitation pH is around 5.6. Acid precipitation is any pH below 5.628
5759654907acid depositionanother name for acid precipitation. Wet and dry deposition. Half is wet, half is dry.29
5759657716dry depositionAcid chemicals become incorporated into dust or smoke and fall to the ground as particles. Happens mostly in dry areas. Occurs 2-3 days after the pollution of acid deposition causing chemicals.30
5773622807wet depositionoccurs within 4-14 days after pollution of acid deposition causing chemicals. Examples are rain, fog, sleet, snow.31
5759657717causes of acid rain- Volcanoes release gases that can create acid precipitation. - Humans pollute environment with SO2 and NOx32
5759659432formation of acid rainWhen SO2 and NOx are combined with water, they create sulfuric acid and nitric acid, respectively.33
5759659433sulfuric acidH2SO434
5759660983nitric acidHNO335
5759661963effects of acid rain- acid rain removes minerals and nutrients from the soil. Depletes soil of Ca, Mg, K, Na. Maximizes amounts of Pb, Al - Increases the pH of bodies of water and kills aquatic wildlife. - when acid rain lands on infrastructure, the sulfuric and nitric acids damage it. - Can cause lung and heart diseases due to inhalation of particulates.36
5759661964acid shocksudden change in water chemistry37
5759663782episodic acidificationMelting snow and heavy downpours cause this. Lakes pH increases temporarily due to it, soil cannot buffer it.38
5759664983limestoneCaCO3. Soils based with this rock have less problems with acid rain because the chemical in the rock neutralizes the acid.39
5759666890location of acid rain problemsEast. This is because the winds carry the rain from west to east. This is also why china has the worst acid rain deposition.40
5759666891possible solutions to acid rainLong-term: regulations and alternative energy. Short-term: scrubbers, baghouses, electrostatic precipitators.41
5759670048ozone layerstratospheric layer that blocks 95% of ultraviolet light from reaching the earth.42
5773553419GLOBAL WARMINGTHE OZONE LAYER IS NOT RELATED TO43
5759670049UV radiationone of the most common types of solar radiation. Highest energy level. Shortest wavelength. Not visible to naked eye. Causes cancer. Ozone layer blocks this type of radiation.44
5759671805dobson unitthe unit ozone is measured in45
5759671806CFCschlorofluorocarbons/freons. Man-made chemicals made for refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosols, and styrofoam. It takes 20 years for this pollutant to reach the ozone layer. Destroys ozone molecules.46
5759675083ozone thinningHole is over Antarctica. Thinning occurs in their spring, Oct-Dec. Thinning occurs when there are very cold temperatures and lots of sunlight.47
5759676677chemistry of ozone layerCFC (CCL3F) + UV light = Cl + CCl2F48
5759676678montreal protocola meeting in 1987 by nations to solve ozone thinning. A treaty was made, and signed by most nations, asking nations to phase out the use of CFCs. Has stabilized ozone thinning, but has not decreased it.49
5759679337effects of ozone thinning- More exposure to UV light, which causes sunburns, eye damage, and skin cancer - Death of plants and algae. This disrupts food chains and reduces the productivity of plants and algae in the ocean.50
5759681624ocean currents- cold water is denser than warm water - salty water is more dense than less-salty water. - water gets saltier if rate of evaporation is high - low latitudes cause water to get warmer, vice versa - difference in temp between the poles and the equator causes currents.51
5759687583infrared radiationmoderate energy level. Different color wavelengths are present. No major health effects from exposure.52
5759696836el ninoWhen the temperature around the equator increases. In normal conditions, winds blow westward towards Australia and the water is cold. During this phenomenon, the trade winds weaken, which allows the warm water to move east.53
5759699181la ninawhen the ocean temperatures decrease instead of increase.54
5759702237reason for earths seasonsthe light hitting the northern hemisphere is being hit at an angle, so the light is less direct and does not cause the temperature to rise as much as it does in the southern hemisphere. Vice versa.55
5759702238ocean conveyorthe way seawater moves. it works through thermohaline circulation, moves water between deep and surface oceanwater.56
5759704068greenhouse effecta natural phenomenon that explains how infrared radiation is dealt with on Earth57
5759707149top 6 greenhouse gaseswater vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs, ozone58
5759731935CO2also known as carbon dioxide. from burning organic matter (fossil fuels are the biggest contributor) and decomposition of organics.59
5759731936CH4also known as methane. from decomposition of animal waste, burning biomass, landfills, sewage, wetlands, rice paddies (which are wetlands). Other gas involved in increasing temperature on Earth.60
5759731937N2Oalso known as nitrous oxide. Released from bacterial action of fertilizer or animal wastes in soil (denitrification). One of the gases involved in increasing temperature on Earth61
5759733155H2Ofrom evaporation, plant transpiration. When mixed with SO2 and NOx to create acid rain.62
5759742833how greenhouse gas levels have changed over timeall have had their highest levels in the past century. All of the gases have shown fluctuations over time. Major spike after Industrial Revolution63
5759748656reasons for fluctuations in CO2 seen each yearNorthern hemisphere has more vegetation, which sucks in CO2 when in bloom and releases it when it dies. When north has winter, CO2 levels go up; down in the summer.64
5759748657mauna loawhere first modern measures of CO2 where taken in the late 1950s. Volcano in hawaii. Found out that CO2 levels fluctuate every year.65
5759748658ice coresprimary tool to collect temperature data from before 1800's. Collected from glaciers and Antarctica. Measure amount of atmospheric gas and temperature. Traps bubbles containing sample of atmosphere.66
5759750926O-16 v O-18O-16 is lighter than O-18, which evaporates slower. Most ice is made with O-16. When ice samples have high percentages of O-18, then we know the temperature was higher than normal during that year.67
5759753340glacial cyclesperiod of 100,000 years68
5759755121intergalcial cyclesperiod of 10,000 years69
5759757173sediment corescollected from the bottom of oceans, lakes, or other bodies of water. Pollen is often collected and is used to determine temperature by showing what plants were living at the time the sediment was laid.70
5759757174glacial meltingIncrease runoff in India, China, and Bangladesh. More flooding will occur in these areas.71
5759759303loss of sea iceBenefit of this is increased shipping routes so more trade. Although tundra and taiga are both at risk.72
5759761433changes in migrationBirds are returning home sooner that ever before because plants are blooming earlier and dying earlier. The snow melts earlier, so there is more food for birds, making them want to come back.73
5759764546reasons for sea level increasesthe higher temperature of the air is causing the ice glaciers to melt, which in turn makes sea level rise.74
5759764547ocean acidificationcarbonic acid breaks down into carbonate and hydrogen ions. Leads to the loss in the amount of carbonate in the water which is needed by organisms to make their shells.75
5759766229carbonic acidH2CO3. Lowers the pH of the water.76
5759774301effects of ocean acidificationCoral bleaching and death of coral reefs and other carbonate-based organisms.77
5759774302coral bleachingatmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed by seawater. Moves from atmospheric sink to oceanic sink.78
5759775504increased permafrost meltingstores massive amounts of carbon and when released, the stored carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane causes erosion, disappearance of lakes, landslides, and ground subsidence.79
5759778687ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions- use less energy created via fossil fuels - buy less things and use less - changes to energy sources with no emissions - stop habitat loss - sustainable forestry - slow population growth - limit fertilizer use and plowing on lands80
5759804340carbon sequestration by plantsplants remove CO2 and isolated carbon in the plant as sugar. Inefficent because CO2 is still released when the plant dies.81
5759804341afforestationestablishment of a stand of trees. This ensures more plants are around to hold more carbon82
5759807003carbon sequestration technologypumping CO2 as a gas or liquid to capture it in the lithosphere. Can be stored in salt caverns or unminable coal beds. This method is very expensive and is not yet understood very well83
5759808848PM pollutionparticulates and pollutants that help increase cloud formation also reflect some light away from Earth. Increase these pollutants, less radiation will get to earths surface.84
5759809974regulation of carbon emissionsput limits on their production. If you put regulations on greenhouse gases, industries will need to ensure they only emit a certain amount85
5759809975carbon taxpeople use less carbon to avoid paying higher taxes86
5759813047tax incentivesrebates for technologies that do not release greenhouse gases. If you install non-emitting technology, you get money back on your taxes.87
5759815068subsidies for no-emission technology(free government money) increase these to non-emitting energy industries like solar/wind, and decrease subsidies to high emission industries88
5759815069cap-and-tradeeach company gets a certain amount of credits to make carbon. If they produce more than allotted, they pay high penalties.89
5759817511clean air actEPA develop a clean air standard for air pollutants that cause health problems. Measures emissions from people and industries to ensure people dont pollute over the established allowable standards. Monitors SO2, NOx, PM, lead, ozone, and CO. GREENHOUSE GASES DO NOT GET REGULATED. (1960s)90
5759817512kyoto protocolIn 1997 where developed nations agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a target percentage below 1990 levels by 2012. Developing countries did not have to set goals. US did not sign.91
5759820631copenhagen climate summitwas an attempt in 2009 to develop a new Kyoto Protocol, since the actual Kyoto treaty would expire in 201292
5759822622paris climate deallower greenhouse gas emissions to 2% above pre-industrial percentages.93
5759827354biggest CO2 producerschina, usa, russia, india, japan94
5759829125role of volcanoes in climate coolingwhen volcanoes erupt, all the particle matter in the ash cover the sunlight and makes Earths surface cooler.95
5759831964predictions of climate change impacts- sea levels will continue to rise - Loss of species biodiversity - Changes in ocean current patterns - Changes in local climates - Potentially more extreme weather - Change in food production - Human health problems - release of greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost and ice96
5759831965carbon cycle- diffusion - sedimentation - decomposition - photosynthesis - cellular respiration - combustion97
5759833728amount of CO2 from 1 gallon of gasabout 19-2098

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