Unit 6

Question 1

What is the albedo effect?

Answer 1

the albedo effect is when the sun’s energy is reflected back from the surface of the earth.

Question 2

what are surfaces with low albedo?

Answer 2

surfaces without snow and ice.

Question 3

what are surfaces with high albedo?

Answer 3

surfaces with snow and ice

Question 4

why is the atmosphere essential for life on earth?

Answer 4

it acts as a shield from meteorites, shields uv rays or gamma rays, stabilizes the climate’s temperature, traps oxygen and carbon dioxide

Question 5

describe the greenhouse effect

Answer 5

the greenhouse effect is what happens when solar energy or the heat from the sun is either absorbed or reflected by greenhouse gas molecules

Question 6

what are some of the greenhouse gasses?

Answer 6

some of the greenhouse gases are water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide

Question 7

what is the composition of the atmosphere?

Answer 7

the composition of the atmosphere is of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon and small amounts of carbon dioxide, water, and methane.

Question 8

what is the troposphere?

Answer 8

the troposphere is the closest layer of the atmosphere extending from (0 to 10 km) from Earth. temps decline and wind speeds increase as the layer increases in altitude. this layer is the most connected to the biosphere and is where all the weather occurs. has greenhouse gases to regulate the temp. the layer with the bad ozone.

Question 9

what is the stratosphere?

Answer 9

it is the layer of the atmosphere that extends from (10-50km). winds increase as the altitude does. has dry air. has the good ozone layer.

Question 10

what is the mesosphere?

Answer 10

it is the next layer of the atmosphere ranging from (50-90km). contains strong zonal winds (east-west). the coldest part of the atmosphere.

Question 11

what is the thermosphere?

Answer 11

the 4th layer of the atmosphere from Earth ranging from (90 to 800 km). Temps increase by a lot until 300 km. Activity strongly influences temperature. Uv and v radiation from the sun is absorbed and breaks molecules into atoms.

Question 12

what is the exosphere?

Answer 12

the fifth and last layer of the atmosphere from Earth ranging from (800-10,000km). where the atmosphere meets space and where Earth’s gravity no longer holds molecules where molecules escape into space. satellites will obit in the thermosphere or the lower end of this one.

Question 13

why are the troposphere and the stratosphere relevant to life on earth?

Answer 13

Because those layers are where life on Earth affects or gets affected the most by ozone, the ozone layer, weather, and air pollution.

Question 14

what is the difference between good and bad ozone?

Answer 14

the difference is that the good one is a layer of ozone in the stratosphere that protects the earth from UV rays. compared to the bad ozone in the troposphere that is caused by pollutants causing smog.

Question 15

What was the purpose of the Montreal Protocol?

Answer 15

the purpose of the Montreal Protocol (1989) was to create a international agreement to reduce the use and productions of CFCs in order to heal the rapidly depleting ozone layer

Question 16

What was the purpose of the Montreal Protocol?

Answer 16

the purpose of the Montreal Protocol (1989) was to create an international agreement to reduce the use and production of CFCs in order to heal the rapidly depleting ozone layer

Question 17

what was the success of the Montreal Protocol?

Answer 17

Public pressure with concern about the ozone led all of the countries to participate. the protocol took into account creating separate timelines for medcs and ledcs.

Question 18

How can human activity affect the stratospheric ozone layer?

Answer 18

Humans create products that contain substances that destroy the ozone layer. Such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that were commonly used in refrigerants and when they were released into the atmosphere they get exposed to UV rays in the stratosphere and release chlorine atoms which destroy the ozone layer and the production of more ozone.

Question 19

How does the depletion of the ozone layer affect life on Earth (humans) ?

Answer 19

The ozone layer serves as a barrier to UV rays so when it is destroyed it leads to health issues. Including things like cell mutation with the UV rays altering the shape of the molecule. Preventing the DNA codes from being read and causing distortions or death of protein cells. Along with cataracts in the eyes which is the clouding of vision. or could cause skin cancer.

Question 20

how can the depletion of the ozone layer affect (plants/ animals)?

Answer 20

too much solar radiation can affect plants ( especially phytoplankton) and impact the rest of the food chain

Question 21

What is the difference between primary and secondary pollutants?

Answer 21

Primary pollutants are pollutants that are coming directly from the source of the pollutant and secondary pollutants are primary pollutants that go through reactions with other chemicals present in the atmosphere.

Question 22

What is an example of a primary pollutant?

Answer 22

An example of a primary pollutant is nitrogen oxides which could come from power plants or factories

Question 23

What is an example of a secondary pollutant?

Answer 23

An example of a secondary pollutant would be nitrogen oxide from power plants interacting with oxygen to create nitrogen dioxide causing a brown haze over cities. Or nitrogen dioxide interacting with sunlight along with reactive oxygen atoms to create tropospheric ozone.

Question 24

How is photochemical smog formed?

Answer 24

it is formed when nitrogen oxides, ozone, and gaseous hydrocarbons from vehicle exhausts interact with strong sunlight.

Question 25

How can photochemical smog affect plants and animals (people)?

Answer 25

Photochemical smog can affect plants by the ozone getting absorbed by leaves which destroys the plants' abilities to get energy from the sun. It can cause skin cancer, and cataracts, and lead to respiratory illness.

Question 26

What is a thermal inversion?

Answer 26

Thermal inversion is when warm days lead to the creation of another warm layer on top of photochemical smog that prevents the air from rising and traps it at ground level.

Question 27

What is topography?

Answer 27

it is the elevation/ land features ex hills and valleys

Question 28

How can topography, climate, and fossil fuel use affect the formation of photochemical smog?

Answer 28

Because if a place is located in an area that is more likely to trap air like a valley then that is going to affect smog. Along with warmer climates leading to thermal inversion causing the air to be trapped. Plus with high use of fossil fuels is going to lead to a lot of smog.

Question 29

What are some pollution management model strategies for reducing smog?

Answer 29

Some strategies would include being to reduce pollution by using public transit, walking, and cycling for transportation. To regulate the release of pollutants by government regulation. Or to restore the damage by planting and adding more plans and parks to cities to absorb the carbon dioxide.

Question 30

What is the process of acid being formed in the atmosphere?

Answer 30

Primary pollutants from cars and factories emit sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides when they react with water they create strong acids including sulphuric and nitric acid.

Question 31

How does acid deposition affect the living environment (plants and animals)?

Answer 31

It leads to chlorophyll loss causing leaves to be yellow and thinning of waxy coating on needles. Root microbes get killed leading to nutrient intake. Aluminum leaches out of the soil into streams. Changing salt, water, and oxygen regulating mechanisms in fish. Plus suffocates fish gills.

Question 32

How does acid deposition affect the nonliving environment?

Answer 32

It can wash away limestone buildings and statues.

Question 33

How can acid deposition lead to international conflict?

Answer 33

It can lead to international conflict with counties that are not producing the pollution getting the most affected by acid rain while the other country is not impacted by its own actions.

Question 34

What are some pollution management strategies for reducing smog?

Answer 34

Altering human activities could be to reduce the use of electricity by spreading the information on how to reduce use ex turning off lights. Regulating the use of pollutants where they are emitted such as scrubbers in chimneys to remove sulfur dioxide. Or cleaning up acidified lakes and rivers to reduce the impact.