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APES pollution definitions Flashcards

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8088222960atmospherethin layer of gases surrounding our planet0
8088222961troposphereatmospheric layer closest to surface, weather occurs here1
8088222962stratospherecontains ozone layer, blocks out UV light2
8088222965nitrogenmajor component of atmospheric gases = 78% of troposphere.3
8088222966ozone layerFound in stratosphere, filters out Ultra violet radiation UVA and UVB4
8088222969Thermal inversionwarm layer of air over cold layer, pollutants can be trapped5
8088222970Primary pollutantsharmful substances released into the air through volcanoes, industry, combustion, etc.6
8088222971Secondary pollutantsinteraction of a primary pollutant with another substance in the air forming new chemical compounds7
8088222972Clean Air ActFederal Law monitoring industrial and auto emissions pertaining to air quality standards8
8088222973Carbon monoxide COcolorless odorless gas produced by incomplete burning of fuel- asphyxiant for humans. produced by incomplete combustion (burning with limited oxygen) Odorless, colourless and tasteless.9
8088222974Carbon dioxide- CO2greenhouse gas that contributes to maintaining the Earth's temperature. Not monitored by the EPA as part of the Clean Air Act.10
8088222975Sulfur dioxide- SO2colorless gas with strong odor from coal burning11
8088222976Nitrogen dioxide NO2Brown gas produced by burning of fossil fuels, especially vehicle emissions, contributes to photochemical smog. Oxidizing.12
8088222977Tropospheric ozoneground level ozone caused by pollution and photochemical smog.13
8088222978Particulate mattersuspended solids or liquids in the air- can be harmful to respiratory system, especially if made of hazardous materials such as heavy metals or asbestos.14
8088222979Lead -Pbheavy metal, no longer in gasoline, now from industrial metal smelting and coal burning, affects CNS15
8088222980Volatile organic compounds -VOCcarbon containing chemicals and solvents that are reactive and combustable. Primary pollutant in photochemical smog.16
8088222981Scrubbersremove airborne pollutants from smokestacks- (ie. coal burning power plants)17
8088222982Industrial smogcaused from burning of coal-- releasing SOx into atmosphere. Gray air smog.18
8088222983Photochemical smogfroms when sunlight mixes with nitrogen oxides (NOx), and VOCs forming (O3) ozones, PANs and Aldehydes.19
8088222984Chloroflourocarbons-CFCadepletes ozone, from refrigerants, air conditioner, propellants in aerosols, cleaners and fumigants.20
8088222985Acid depositionfrom sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxides mixed with water vapor to become acids (Sulfuric and Nitric acid)-- return to land in precipitation.21
8088222986Peroxyacyl Nitrates (PANs)Secondary pollutant in photochemical smog. Oxidizing agent.22
8088251450Natural emissionsPollutants come from volcanoes, forest fires, and the biosphere.23
8088260779Anthropogenic emissionsPollutants come from human activities, such as vehicles, power plants, and industrial processes.24

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