Atmosphere 2- climate change and air quality Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of radiation is emitted by all objects?

A

electromagnetic

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2
Q

What is the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted determined by?

A

temperature of the object

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3
Q

What does a higher temp do to wavelength?

A

results in a shorter wavelength

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4
Q

What would the temp of earth be without greenhouse effect?

A

~-20*c

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5
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

the increase in the surface temperature of the Earth as a consequence of the presence of an overlying atmosphere

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6
Q

What does the greenhouse effect arise as a result of?

A

Temperature dependence of emission spectra (Earth vs. Sun)
Differing absorption properties of Earth’s atmosphere towards Visible / IR radiation

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7
Q

What wavelength is most incoming solar radiation?

A

visible wavelength

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8
Q

What wavelength is most outgoing terrestrial radiation?

A

Far IR (infrared) wavelength

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9
Q

What is the absorbance of atmospheric constituents like in relation to IR?

A

Absorb more IR than visible light

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10
Q

What are some examples of greenhouse gases?

A

H2O
CO2
CH4
NO2

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11
Q

How would earth be described without the greenhouse effect?

A

Snowball- completely frozen

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12
Q

What is radiative forcing (RF)?

A

measure of the influence that a factor has in altering the balance of incoming and
outgoing energy in the Earth-atmosphere system

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13
Q

What does positive and negative radiative forcing tend to be like?

A

Positive- warm the surface
Negative- tends to cool surface

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14
Q

How is radiative forcing expressed?

A

W m*2

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15
Q

How is radiative forcing calculated?

A

off pre industrial levels from 1750

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16
Q

What is the IPCC?

A

Intergovernmental panel on climate change

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17
Q

What is the radiative forcing value of CO2?

A

+1.7

18
Q

What would radiative forcing be when adding up individual factors for global effect?

A

+1.6 W m*2 (warming)

19
Q

What does a decrease in tropospheric ozone lead to? (RF)

A

cooling

20
Q

What is an aerosol?

A

suspension of particles and the gas it is suspended in

21
Q

What can particles in the atmosphere do and what is the effect?

A

Absorb= warming
Scatter= cooling

22
Q

What do raindrops like to have to form?

A

A condensation nuclei or surface (particles)

23
Q

What does more particles in the atmo lead to?

A

more particles = smaller droplets

24
Q

What are the 1st and the 2nd indirect affects of particles in the atmo?

A

1st- brighter cloud, higher albedo, more reflection
2nd- longer last clouds

25
Q

What is the cooling effect of particle clouds like?

A

Large and uncertain

26
Q

How are nitrate and sulphate particles produced?

A

combustion emissions + processing

27
Q

How are atmospheric organic compounds produced?

A

vegetation emissions + processing

28
Q

What do reductions in pm2.5 cause?

A

Air quality benefit
Climate cost

29
Q

How is black carbon/ soot produced?

A

incomplete fuel combustion

30
Q

What are the main sources of black carbon?

A

vehicle emissions- diesel
any in-efficient combustion

31
Q

What does black carbon do with solar radiation?

A

efficiently absorbs it leading to warming

32
Q

What will happen to air quality and climate from black carbon emissions?

A

Benefit for both

33
Q

WHat can be done to make people switch from petrol to diesel?

A

making the price of diesel less than petrol

34
Q

What is the benefit of diesel over petrol?

A

Improved fuel economy
Lower CO2 emissions

35
Q

What is the negative of diesel over petrol?

A

higher air pollution emissions
More NO2 and PM
Worse for health

36
Q

What is the effect of changing from petrol to diesel on air quality of climate?

A

bad for air quality good for climate

37
Q

What will happen to co2 emissions with a shift from petrol/diesel to EV?

A

will be reduced (depending on source of electricity)

38
Q

What will happen to NO2 emissions with a shift from petrol/diesel to EV? (with benefits)

A

Reduced NO2 emissions (from tailpipe)
Urban Air Quality & Health Benefit

39
Q

How does tropospheric ozone form?

A

VOCs + NOx + sunlight——- Ozone

40
Q

What does a reduction in VOCs (methane) and Ozone do for air quality and climate?

A

benefit for both

41
Q
A