Atmosphere and Air pollution

Question 1

Daily changes in temperature, wind, precipitation, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, cloudiness

Answer 1

Weather

Question 2

Long-term temperature and precipitation trends
Average of weather conditions over 30 years

Answer 2

Climate

Question 3

Thin layer around Earth, protects from UV Radiation, regulates climate
Storage of gases____
Dissipates pollutants
Has aerosols

Answer 3

Atmosphere: 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% argon, CO2, water vapor, other gases

Question 4

Where weather occurs, water cycle and breathing air
Around 10km
99% of water vapor found here
Higher is lower air pressure, lower temperature, lower air density

Answer 4

Troposphere

Question 5

Ozone layer is found here; GHG effects occur
10km above ground
Higher is increase in temperature due to Ozone absorption of UV Rays
Lacks turbulence, updrafts of troposphere beneath
Commercial jets fly below this layer to avoid turbulence

What happens when there is a lack of vertical convection?

Answer 5

Stratosphere

Bad chemicals can linger for a long time

Question 6

Breakdown of meteors; high concentration of iron and metal atoms
50km above ground
Higher is lower temperature and lower air pressure
Coldest layer in earth
Can’t breath because air is thin; low air density

What are the odd electrical charges?

Answer 6

Mesosphere

Sprites

Question 7

90km above ground
High energy x-rays and UV is absorved from sun
Higher is increase in temperature
Lowest air density among the layers; like outer space, satellites orbit here
Infrequent gas collisions
X-ray and UV break molecules apart
Super hot but feels cold because no molecules to absorb heat
Varies in height due to puff up caused by absorption of radiation; generates drag force for satellites
Auroras occur here; charged particles collide with atoms and molecules exciting them into higher energy

Answer 7

Thermosphere

Question 8

No clear boundary
Very very very thin air
Small portions of atmosphere leaks into space

Answer 8

Exosphere

Question 9

In mesosphere and thermosphere
Vary night and day; D disappears, E weakens, F Remains
Electrically charged atoms and molecules by sun called ions stay in these areas

Answer 9

Ionosphere

Question 10

Reflectance of whiteness
Clouds reflect suns energy back into space
Helps lower earths temperature
Increase water vapor; increase clouds; increase ____
Decease in ___; radiation; higher temeprature

Answer 10

Albedo

Question 11

Gases trap heat in atmosphere from surface
Atmosphere transmits sunlight but traps some heat

Answer 11

Greenhouse Gas effect

Question 12

Natural GHGE enhanced with increasing concentrations of GHG in atmosphere

Answer 12

Enhanced Greenhouse Gas Effect

Question 13

Colorless, highly reactive
Major component of photochemical smog
Absorbs energy from incoming UV Radiation from sun

Answer 13

Ozone

Question 14

Substance released at a concentration sufficient to harm

Answer 14

Air pollutant

Question 15

Part of biogeochemical cycles
Natural hazards: ___,___,___,___

Answer 15

Natural Sources: eruption, sandstorms, pollen and decaying matter, forests (terpene and isoprene that attract pollinators and identify air quality)

Question 16

Released in concentrated regions in concentrated areas and disrupt natural cycles
Released faster than natural cleansing mechanisms

What are the three sources?

Answer 16

Anthropogenic sources:
Mobile - transportation
Stationary - power plants
Area - farms; cities

Question 17

Harmful when released directly into air from natural processes and human activity
Give example

Answer 17

Primary pollutants: Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, particulate matter 2.5 and 10, hydrocarbons

Question 18

Interaction of primary pollutants reacting with basic component of air that causes bad chemicals
Give examples

Answer 18

Secondary pollutants: Ozone, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, nitric oxide, nascent oxygen

Question 19

Carbon compound + oxidant + Nitrogen = carbon dioxide + water + nitrogen oxides and VOCs

Answer 19

Complete combustion

Question 20

*Not enough oxygen to oxidize

Carbon compound + oxygen = carbon monoxide + Soot (C) + water + energy

Answer 20

Incomplete combustion

Question 21

Pollutant:
Colorless, odorless, highly toxic
Forms during incomplete combustion

What are the effects?

Answer 21

Carbon Monoxide (CO); difficult to detect, asphyxiation

Question 22

Pollutant:
Colorless, odorless
93% from natural cycle, 7% from anthropogenic sources

What are its effects?

Answer 22

Carbon Dioxide (CO2); asthma, difficulty breathing, pollution

Question 23

Pollutant:
Colorless; forms at high combustion temperatures in cars and power plants
4 types

What are its effects?

Answer 23

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Nitrogen Monoxide (NO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Nitric Acid (HNO3) from water vapor and NO, or Nitrate (NO3)

Causes photochemical smog and Nitric acid rain

Question 24

Pollutant:
Odorless, colorless, non-flammable gas
GHG from fertilizer and animal waste and fossil fuels

What are its effects?

Answer 24

Nitrous Oxide (N2O); absorbs radiation and traps heat in atmosphere, lead to global warming

Question 25

Pollutant: Colorless; 1/3 from natural cycle 2/3 from anthropogenic sources Becomes secondary pollutant when added with water What are its effects?

Answer 25

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); causes Sulfurous Acid Rain (H2SO3) and Sulfuric Acid Rain (H2SO4) when binds with oxygen first

Question 26

Pollutant: Suspended in air 62% natural and 38% anthropogenic Lead, Cadmium, Ozone … What are its effects?

Answer 26

Particulate matter (Pm2.5 and PM 10): can cause health problems such as as respiratory issues and change climate

Question 27

Pollutant: Organic compounds; hydrocarbons produced by trees: ____ and ____ 1/3 Natural, 2/3 anthropogenic Rice paddies, land fills, flatulence What are its effects?

Answer 27

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): isoprene and terpene; contributors to formation of ozone

Question 28

Effects of air pollution: 2 types Mix of sulfur dioxide, soot, fly ash, and VOC; formed when what? NOx and VOCs react with sunlight; formed when what?

Answer 28

Industrial Smog formed when burning coal and a result of primary pollutants Photochemical Smog formed mainly due to secondary pollutants and emissions from motor vehicles:(sunlight breaks NO2 and nascent Oxygen binds with oxygen molecule causing Ozone formation in troposphere)

Question 29

Effects of air pollution: Has a pH of 3-5 Dissolved CO2 in water Dissolved Nitric acid, sulfur dioxide 3 types What are its effects?

Answer 29

Acid Rain: Nitric Acid, Sulfurous and sulfuric acid Cause premature leaf fall and branch dieback. Soil becomes less fertile and discoloration and weathering of buildings

Question 30

Effects of Air pollution: Caused by CFC; how? CFC stays in stratosphere 55-140 years Certain alternatives but still bad

Answer 30

Ozone Depletion; 1. UV breaks down oxygen molecule, nascent Oxygen binds with oxygen molecule making O3 2. UV breaks down CFC, Chlorine steals oxygen from O3 making Hypochlorite (ClO) 3. Nascent Oxygens steals oxygen from hypochlorite to make chlorine atom and oxygen molecule 4. Repeats causing feedback Alternatives: HCFC: decompose faster, no build up in atmosphere HFC: flammable, still causes global warming

Question 31

24 countries called for CFC reduction by 50% by 1990 90 countries vowed to stop all production of CFC and halons by 2000 in 1990

Answer 31

Montreal Protocol

Question 32

Control import of Ozone depleting substances (ODS)

Answer 32

Philippine Ozone Desk

Question 33

Banning of HFC alternatives and CFC

Answer 33

Kigali Amendment

Question 34

Green House Gas Effect, what are the percentages of sunlight absorption and reflection?

Answer 34

45% is absorbed by Earths surfaces 5% is reflected by Earth and atmosphere 25% reflected by atmosphere and anywhere else 25% infrared radiation passes through atmosphere and is re-emitted in all directions by ghg

Question 35

International Body assessing the science related to climate change Scientific assessments from governments

Answer 35

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Question 36

Holds convention of parties almost every year

Answer 36

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Question 37

Treaty extending UNFCC Reduce emissions by 5.2% compared to 1990 emissions by 2008 Carbon credit scheme Extended until 2012

Answer 37

Kyoto Protocol

Question 38

Covered 2013-2020 Reduce emissions by 18% of 1990 emissions

Answer 38

Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol

Question 39

Limit global warming to well below 2˚C above pre-industrial levels with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5˚C

Answer 39

Paris Agreement: A global climate accord