air pollution

Question 1

what is the atmosphere mostly comprised of?

Answer 1

Nitrogen (78.08%)

Question 2

what does the atmosphere do?

Answer 2

Prevents UV radiation

redistributes water in hydrologic cycle

Question 3

what are the 3 types of air tranport

Answer 3

global, regional, local

Question 4

does air temperature increase or decrease with altitude?

Answer 4

decreases (the opposite of a fart)

Question 5

what are primary air pollutants?

Answer 5

harmful substance emitted directly into the atmosphere

Question 6

what are secondary pollutants?

Answer 6

harmful substance formed in the atmosphere reacts with a primary air pollutant

Question 7

name 3 types of air pollutants

Answer 7

particulate material, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon oxides, lead, ozone

Question 8

what is a particulate material

Answer 8

thousands of different solid or liquid particles suspended in air

Question 9

what are nitrogen oxides?

Answer 9

nitrogen + oxygen at high temperatures (greenhouse gases) - causes airway restriction

Question 10

what are sulfur oxides?

Answer 10

sulfur + oxygen - can impair ability of lungs to exchange gases

Question 11

what are carbon oxides?

Answer 11

carbon monoxide (can cause headaches and even death) + carbon dioxide

Question 12

does lead contribute to the global environmental risk?

Answer 12

yes, 11%

Question 13

what are the 2 types of ozone

Answer 13

tropospheric (man made) and stratospheric (screens UV radiation in upper atmosphere - can cause burning eyes, chest discomfort and coughing

Question 14

what is photochemical smog?

Answer 14

brownish-orange haze formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons

Question 15

what is the main source of outdoor air pollution?

Answer 15

transport (57%)

Question 16

what are emissions?

Answer 16

amount of pollutant a source puts into the air

Question 17

how can we control air pollution?

Answer 17

smokestacks( cloud maker)

Question 18

what caused the hole in the ozone layer?

Answer 18

bromine and chlorine containing chemicals (eg: chlorofluorocarbons)

Question 19

what causes acid deposition? (ie: acid rain)

Answer 19

sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide react with water vapor in atmosphere which forms acid that returns to the earths surface

Question 20

what are some effects of acid deposition?

Answer 20

declining aquatic animal populations, thin shelled eggs prevent bird reproduction, forest declination, damage to property