Ch 17 Atmosphere and Air Pollution Study Guide

  1. Ferrel cell
  2. Hadley cell
  3. Polar cell
  4. convective circulation
  5. atmospheric pressure
  6. high-pressure system
  7. low-pressure system
  8. climate
  9. weather
  10. cold front
  11. warm front
  12. temperature/thermal inversion
  13. inversion layer
  14. relative humidity
  15. stratosphere
  16. troposphere
  17. Coriolis effect
  18. criteria pollutant
  19. carbon monoxide
  20. lead
  21. nitrogen dioxide
  22. sulfur dioxide
  23. tropospheric ozone
  24. particulate matter
  25. ozone layer
  26. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  27. Montreal Protocol
  28. acidic deposition
  29. atmospheric deposition
  30. aerosols
  31. industrial smog
  32. photochemical smog
  33. primary pollutant
  34. secondary pollutant
  35. volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  36. PAN’s (Peroxyl Acetyl Nitrate)
  37. Point Source
  38. Mobil Source
  39. Non-Attainment Area
  40. SCAQMD
  41. Clean Air Act of 1970
  42. Clean Air Act of 1990
  43. Radon
  44. Sick Building Syndrome
  45. Off Gassing
  46. Biological pollutants
  47. Formaldehyde
  48. OSHA
  49. Catalytic converter

Introduction

  1. Why was London's Killer Smog of 1952 important?

Part 1. Science of the Atmosphere

  1. What percent of the earth’s atmosphere is nitrogen? Oxygen?
  2. List the 4 layers of the atmosphere from lowest to highest in altitude.
  3. Which layer do we live in, breathe, and contains the temperature and weather conditions we live in.
  4. Why is the stratosphere so important for the survival of life on earth?
  5. What is the reason that temperature increases with altitude through most of the stratosphere?
  6. Do the materials and gases found in each of Earth's atmospheric layers mix completely with all of the other layers, due to air pressure and convective cells?
  7. What causes humidity? What is “Relative Humidity”?
  8. Why is it hotter at the equator than at the poles? (2 reasons)
  9. Describe the effects of the earth’s tilt on the atmosphere.
  10. Weather is affected by the movement of air masses. List the three factors that affect the movement of air masses.
  11. What causes air pressure?
  12. Describe the difference in weather between high and low pressure systems.
  13. What is the “normal temperature distribution”?
  14. A departure from the normal temperature distribution in the troposphere is called a(n) ______.
  15. Differentiate between Hadley, Ferrel, and polar cells.
  16. Describe the Coriolis Effect and its impact on the earth’s weather.

Part 2. Outdoor Air Pollution

  1. What are some natural causes of outdoor air pollution?
  2. Give one example of a point source of air pollution and one example of a non-point source.
  3. What is the difference between primary and secondary pollutants?
  4. Given and example of one primary pollutant and one secondary pollutant.
  5. What FOUR things does the Clean Air Act enable the EPA to do?
  6. What new goals were added in the 1990 version of the Clean Air Act?
  7. Make a table that lists the six “criteria” pollutants that are closely tracked by the U.S. EPA. List each pollutants effect on people and ways to prevent or clean up the pollutant.

Take the Six Criteria Pollutant Quiz:

  1. What is the difference between Tropospheric and Stratospheric Ozone?
  2. Currently, how many Americans live in counties that violate EPA air quality standards for at least one of the six criteria pollutants?
  3. What is the only state that violates FOUR EPA air quality standards?
  4. Why was the AQMD (Air Quality Management District) created? (Find this on the internet )
  5. What is an “Non-Attainment Area”
  6. What are the four largest pollutant emissions by percent?
  7. What does the vast majority of outdoor air pollution come from?
  8. Why can’t the EPA monitor and stop the emissions of troposphere ozone?
  9. What two chemical pollutants are needed to form ozone?
  10. What is a VOC and give an example.
  11. How has air pollution changed since 1970? Give some examples.
  12. Describe how a scrubber works and in what situation would it be used.
  13. Give 3 examples of other toxic air pollutants besides the big six.
  14. Why is air pollution control legislation controversial?
  15. What is the main cause of industrial smog?
  16. How is industrial smog different from photochemical smog?
  17. What chemical do you see when you see a brownish haze in the atmosphere and call it “smog”?
  18. How do PAN’s form from engine exhaust?
  19. How does ozone form from engine exhaust?
  20. Look up catalytic converter on the internet and explain its function and how it works.
  21. How does acid rain form from engine exhaust?
  22. What is the solution to vehicular air pollution London has instituted that some drivers feel is draconian, but one which has the attention of many other large cities?
  23. Of the six major air pollutants tracked by the U.S. EPA in 2001, which is primarily a result of poor farming practices in the Midwestern United States?
  24. Describe 3 specific environmental effects caused by air pollution produced by industrializing countries like China.
  25. How do CFC’s affect the ozone layer in the stratosphere?
  26. What is the name of the international treaty that banned the use and of CFC’s world wide?
  27. How does atmospheric acid (acid rain) form and how does it affect soil?
  28. What chemical found in the combustion emissions of coal and oil forms most acid rain?
  29. What is the pH of normal rain? (Below what pH level is considered Acid Rain?)
  30. What region of the United States suffers most from acid rain? Explain why.
  31. Explain why ozone levels are usually higher in cities than in rural areas even if the amount of emissions from cars and trucks and factories are the same.
  32. Which air pollutant best illustrates the effectiveness of air pollution legislation imposed on gasoline production?
  33. ______contributes to the formation of ______and thereby compounds the problem of ______.

a. Ozone, carbon dioxide, acid rain.

b. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone depletion.

c. Sulfur dioxide, acid deposition, global warming

d. Nitrous oxide, ozone, industrial smog

e. Nitric oxide, ozone, photochemical smog

Part 3. Indoor Air Pollution

  1. What is the cause of indoor air pollution in developing countries?
  2. What are 5 sources of indoor air pollution in developed countries?
  3. What is a “Sick Building Syndrome” ?
  4. What are the EPA quality standards for sick building syndrome?
  5. What agency investigates and regulates health damage caused by indoor air pollutants in the workplace?
  6. List 5 methods to mitigate indoor air pollution.
  7. What chemical is in furniture and carpet that creates toxic indoor air pollution?
  8. How does carbon monoxide affect humans? Where does it come from?