Atmospheric Science

Question 1

On average, a normal adult takes _ breaths a minute. Every breath you take contains a combination of _.

Answer 1

12; gases, chemicals, solid particles, and insects

Question 2

The _ is the layer of the Earth’s biomes that contains the gases that surround us.

Answer 2

Atmosphere

Question 3

78% of the atmosphere is _ and 21% is _.

Answer 3

Nitrogen gas; oxygen

Question 4

Layers of the atmosphere:

Answer 4

Troposphere (closest to Earth)
Stratosphere (contains 03 - ozone)
Mesosphere
Thermosphere (hottest)

Question 5

On average, troposphere air temperature declines _ for each kilometer in altitude.

Answer 5

6°C

Question 6

Air also contains a good amount of _.

Answer 6

Water vapor

Question 7

The movement of water particles through the atmosphere is driven by _. The differences of warm moist air at the surface and cold dry air at high elevations causes a motion called _.

Answer 7

Solar energy; convective circulation

Question 8

Ultimately the _ of the troposphere drive weather.

Answer 8

Physical properties (temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind)

Question 9

Weather

Answer 9

The atmospheric conditions at a given time (example: 60°F); caused by solar radiation and tilt of the Earth’s axis

Question 10

Climate

Answer 10

An area’s pattern of weather conditions (example: hot); warm fronts and cold fronts

Question 11

Inversion Layers

Answer 11

Where temperature rises with altitude (pollution); generally associated with big cities; Hadley Cells, Ferrel Cells, Polar Cells

Question 12

Air Pollution

Answer 12

Gases and particulate matter added to the atmosphere that either impact the climate or living organisms; can be natural (dust storms, volcanoes, forest fires)

Question 13

Primary Pollutants

Answer 13

Pollutants that can be directly harmful or that can react to form harmful substances (example: sulfur)

Question 14

Secondary Pollutants

Answer 14

When primary pollutants react with chemicals or components of the atmosphere to form new pollutants (example: acidic rain)

Question 15

Clean Air Act 1970

Answer 15

Made strict air standards, imposed limits on emissions for autos, provided money for research, and allowed some people to sue for the violation of the standards

Question 16

Clean Air Act 1990

Answer 16

Gave teeth to the 1970 act; allowed the EPA to set nationwide standards; established six criteria pollutants:
Carbon monoxide (uncombusted byproduct of combustion reaction)
Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen dioxide (produced by coal-burning power plants and cause acid rain)
*Tropospheric ozone (CFC chlorofluorocarbon)
Particulate matter
Lead

*Tropospheric ozone is the only secondary pollutant on this list

Question 17

Since tropospheric ozone is a secondary pollutant, the EPA has to monitor the release of _. They can be hydrocarbons, turpenes, chlorofluorocarbons (Montreal Protocol), and others (most solvents count).

Answer 17

VOCs

Question 18

Thanks to the Clean Air Act, _ emissions decreased 93% from 1980 to 1990. London decreased their _ emissions 56% in a 9-year period.

Answer 18

Lead; CO

Question 19

The 1990 Act identifies _ toxic air pollutants, which also have decreased 30% during the 1990s.

Answer 19

188

Question 20

Industrial Smog

Answer 20

Coal/Oil gets burned but not completely combusted; not as bad today as it was 50 years ago (Montana)

Question 21

Photochemical Smog

Answer 21

Brown air smog formed through the light driven chemical reactions primary pollutants

Question 22

Acidic Deposition

Answer 22

The deposition of acidic, or acid forming pollutants from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface (Sulfur dioxide and Nitric oxide)

Question 23

In 1998, the UN stated that 2.2 million deaths were attributed to _ compared to 500,000 to _ (roughly 6,000 deaths each day).

Answer 23

Indoor air pollution; outdoor air pollution

Question 24

In developing nations, 90% of the population uses _ to heat and cook. Roughly 3-5% of all the world’s deaths are due to _.

Answer 24

Biomass; indoor fuelwood burning

Question 25

_ is another major air pollution producer. There are over 4,000 chemicals in a cigarette, and causes 1 out of 5 deaths in the US every year. 1/5 of those are from _.

Answer 25

Tobacco smoke; secondhand smoke

Question 26

_ is the scond leading cause of lung cancer and attributes to 20,000 deaths per year in the US.

Answer 26

Radon gas

Question 27

_ are found in about 80% of all US buildings.

Answer 27

VOCs

Question 28

75% of all US homes use a _ during the year. 90% of people’s _ comes from inside the home.

Answer 28

Pesticide; pesticide exposure

Question 29

Relative Humidity

Answer 29

The ratio of water vapor’s volume in air to the amount it could contain at a certain temperature

Question 30

Pressure Systems

Answer 30

High pressure vs. low pressure (rain)

Question 31

Air flows _ above the equator and _ below the equator.

Answer 31

Clockwise; counterclockwise

Question 32

Living Organism Pollutants

Answer 32

Most developed type of air pollution in the developed world; Legionnaires’ disease and sick-building syndrome

Question 33

CAFE Standards

Answer 33

Corporate Average Fuel Economy; 18 MPG; no leaded gas