pollution

Question 1

what is particulate matter?

Answer 1

a solid that is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon based fuels such as coal

Question 2

what are major sources of PM

Answer 2

• transport
• coal & oil powered station
• combustion of forests
• combustion of crop waste

Question 3

what are the properties of PM

Answer 3

size - density of particles will determine how far they are carried by wind
toxicity - contains heavy metals and toxic chemical

Question 4

what are the impacts on human health

Answer 4

• smoke particles inhaled
• respiratory diseases such as bronchitis

Question 5

what are the impacts of plants

Answer 5

• the PM deposits onto the leaves which blocks sunlight so reduced PHS

Question 6

what are the impacts on the climate

Answer 6

• the particulates reflect incoming solar radiation which leads to a cooling affect on the climate
• decrease in light intensity
• smoke can be an ozone depleting substance

Question 7

what are the environmental features that affect dispersal and severity of PM pollution

Answer 7

• wind (direction & speed) affects mobility and dispersal
• rain can mobilises into the soil
• temperature = energy suspends PMs in the air

Question 8

what is a temperature inversion

Answer 8

is a situation in the troposphere where the warm air lies above the cold air

Question 9

what are scenarios that lead to temperature inversions

Answer 9

• occur in valleys
• low wind velocities
• clear night skies
• mist or fog in day

Question 10

what is smog

Answer 10

the joining of smoke (PM) and fog

Question 11

how does fog form

Answer 11

forms when moist air is cooled until is reaches dew points

Question 12

case study:
what caused the smoke smog in London

Answer 12

coal powered stations

Question 13

what is a legislation to reduce smog

Answer 13

clean air act 1956 in the UK

Question 14

what are the pollutants involved in photochemical smog

Answer 14

NOx
hydrocarbons
tropospheric gases

Question 15

what are the sources of NOx

Answer 15

• high temp combustion and oxidation of N2
• road transport
• energy production and distribution

Question 16

how does NO2 break down

Answer 16

• UV light splits NO2 through photolysis
• this forms NO and monoatomic O

Question 17

how does tropospheric ozone form

Answer 17

the monoatomic O combines to the diatomic O2 in the atmosphere to form tropospheric ozone

Question 18

what are health impacts of tropospheric ozone

Answer 18

burning eyes and throat

Question 19

what are the impacts to vegetation from O3

Answer 19

• visible leaf damage which leads to premature leaves
• reduced biomass

Question 20

what are the properties of hydrocarbons

Answer 20

• carcinogenic
• synergistic

Question 21

how does photochemical smog form

Answer 21

when NOx, hydrocarbons and O3 react together with UV

Question 22

case study
where did photochemical smog form

Answer 22

LA in 1943

Question 23

what is acid rain

Answer 23

the combination of pollution problems caused by a range of acidic gases and other pollutants

Question 24

what are the main gases of acid rain

Answer 24

• oxides of nitrogen
• sulphur dioxide

Question 25

where does sulphur dioxide come from

Answer 25

the incomplete combustion of coal

Question 26

what does tropospheric ozone and sulphur dioxide form

Answer 26

sulphur trioxide

Question 27

name a major contributor and receiver of acid rain

Answer 27

contributor - Poland receiver - Sweden

Question 28

what are the properties of acid rain

Answer 28

- toxicity - synergistic - solubility in water - mobile - state of matter

Question 29

what are the direct impact on plants

Answer 29

- denature protein & enzymes so reduces PHS - waxy cuticles can be dissolved - stomata damage so reduced CO2

Question 30

what are the indirect impacts on plants

Answer 30

- reduced nutrient uptake e.g. mycorrhizal fungi die - uptake of toxic materials such as iron and lead

Question 31

what are the 2 sources of acid mine drainage

Answer 31

1. metal mines 2. coal mines

Question 32

how does drainage water become more acidic and contaminated with heavy metals

Answer 32

1.

Question 33

what are the properties of acid mine drainage

Answer 33

- mobile - state of matter -> liquid - pH - solubility -> contains heavy metals - toxicity - specificity = low

Question 34

impacts of the high acidity

Answer 34

- enzyme inhibition - similar impacts to acid rain

Question 35

impacts of heavy metals

Answer 35

- aquatic species (fish) absorb the metals and bioaccumulate them this increases the concentrations in trophic levels - toxic impacts. mutagenic and carcinogenic`

Question 36

what is natural gas desulfurisation

Answer 36

is the removal of sulphur from the fuel before it is burned

Question 37

how does natural gas desulfurisation occur

Answer 37

1. the sour gas is run through a tower which contains an amine solution 2. the sulfur is removed allowing it to be reused to treat more sour gas

Question 38

what is crude oil desulfurisation

Answer 38

the removal of sulfur compounds from crude oil during distillation using molybdenum catalysts in the process of hydrodesulfurisation