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19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Atmosphere services |
1 block uv 2. moderate climate 3. redistribute water in the hydrologic cycle |
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Two main sources of outdoor air pollution |
transportation, industry |
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Primary air pollutant. 2 examples |
Harmful substance that is emitted directly into the atmosphere. Co2, No2 |
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Secondary air pollutant. 2 examples |
Harmful substance formed in the atmosphere when a primary air pollutant reacts with things that are normally found in the atmosphere or other air pollutants. O3, So3 |
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Major classes of air pollutants |
1. particulate material 2. nitrogen oxides 3. sulfur oxides 4. carbon oxides 5. hydrocarbons (VOCs) 6. ozone |
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Particulate material. 1. what is it 2. examples 3. sources |
solid or liquid particles suspended in air - soil - soot - lead - asbestos
natural and mostly human sources |
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why is Particulate material dangerous? |
1. Some cause cancer 2. Can become lodged in lungs 3. can form acids in lungs 4. can irritate respiratory tract and impair ability of lungs to exchange gases |
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Nitrogen Oxides. what is it, examples, sources, problems |
Gases produced by the chemical interactions between atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen and high temperature
- nitrogen dioxide
source: transportation combustion
problems: causes difficulty breathing |
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Sulfur Oxides what is it, examples, sources, problems |
Gases produced between chemical interactions between sulfur and oxygen Examples: so2, so3 Sources: burning fossil fuels Problems: causes acid rain, burns throat, stings eyes, halts natural lung cleansing |
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Acid deposition: what is it |
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions react with water vapour in the atmosphere and form acids that return to the surface as dry or wet deposition |
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Effects of acid deposition |
1. Declining aquatic animal pop. 2. Calcium is unavail in acidic soil so thin-shelled eggs prevent bird reproduction 3. Forest decline: direct damage reduces photosynthesis and makes trees susceptible to disease, insects 4. Loss of nutrient uptake due to reduced availability: nutrients are available at certain pH ranges |
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Carbon Oxides Gases - what are they - examples - effects - action - source |
Greenhouse gases CO, CO2 Binds with iron in hemoglobin causes headache, fatigue, drowsiness, death - incomplete combustion of organic material |
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VOCs What are they Sources Key characteristic |
Diverse group of organic compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon Readily evaporates Sources: Industrial, diesel exhaust, natural sources |
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Ozone - source - component of ____ - effects |
Tropospheric ozone is bad - Secondary air pollutant - Component of smog - Causes burning eyes, coughing , chest discomfort |
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Hole over Antarctica requires two conditions. |
1. Sunlight returning to polar region 2. Circumpolar vortex: A mass of cold air that circulates around the southern polar region (isolates it from the warmer air in the rest of the planet) - polar stratospheric clouds form which enables Cl and Br to destroy ozone |
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Effects of ozone depletion (3) |
1. Higher levels of UV radiation on earth (skin cancer) 2. may disrupt ecosystems - impairment of photosynthesis in phytoplankton would mess up the carbon cycle 3. may damage crops and forests - impairs photosynthesis |
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Recovery of Ozone Layer (2) |
1. Reduction of CFCs - replacement with HCFCs 2. Phase out of ozone destroying chemicals |
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Controlling Air Pollution (2) |
1. smokestacks with scrubbers - particles get captured in liquid droplets 2. smokestacks with electrostatic precipitators - electrically charged smoke particles would cling to the electrostatic precipitator |
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Other ways to improve air quality |
1. reduce sulfur content in gasoline because sulfur clogs catalytic converter 2. greater emissions testing standards 3. Pollution taxes |