APES Unit 7 Vocab

acid deposition

caused by sulfuric and nitric acids resulting in lowered pH of surface waters, death to trees, damage to buildings

air pollution

the contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural sources

atmospheric pressure

the pressure caused by the weight of the atmosphere

industrial smog

consisting mostly of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid, and a variety of suspended solid particles; from burning coal; aka gray smog

nitrogen oxides

(NOx) Major source is auto exhaust. Primary and secondary effects include acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog and ozone. Reduced using catalytic converters.

nitric acid

HNO₃; secondary pollutant; one of 2 in acid deposition.

ozone

gas that absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation (all UVC and most UVB) , found in the stratosphere, O₃

ozone layer

Layer of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone; absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation

particulates

Small particles of solid material suspended in air. PM in the atmosphere is the result of natural processes and human activities. Also known as particulate matter

photochemical smog

A brownish haze that is a mixture of ozone and other chemicals, formed when nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants react with each other in the presence of sunlight. aka brown smog

primary pollutants

pollutants that are released directly into the lower atmosphere.

secondary pollutants

pollutants that begin as primary pollutants and change form in the atmosphere

stratosphere

2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 10 to 30 miles up; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase.

sulfur dioxide

colorless and odorless; released in industrial processing like burning fossil coal. It is a major contributor to acid rain. Emissions have been reduced since the 1970s [D ND]

sulfuric acid

H₂SO₄; secondary pollutant; one of 2 in acid deposition.

temperature inversion (aka thermal inversion)

A deviation from the normal temperature distribution in the atmosphere, resulting in a layer of cold air temporarily trapped near the ground by a warmer, upper layer

troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere

volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

A category of organic chemical with a high vapor pressure, which readily evaporate at normal temperature and pressure. They include benzene, chloroform, formaldehyde, ethanol, methane, etc.

CFC's

chemicals that react with sunlight and destroy ozone molecules, this causes the ozone layer to thin

Stratospheric Ozone

good ozone, produces oxygen molecules to interact with UV radiation and prevent 95% of it from reaching the surface

Tropospheric ozone

ground level ozone; is considered bad because it is closer to the earth making it more likely for someone to breathe it in and it contributes to smog.

Kyoto accord

An international agreement setting binding limits on emissions of greenhouse gases from industrialized countries. The Bush administration refused to join

Anthropogenic greenhouse gases

a greenhouse gas produced by human activity. Main sources include burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, enteric fermentation, rice farming, use of fertilizers, and use of chlorofluorocarbons and halons.

Heat island

An area in which the air temperature is generally higher than the temperature of surrounding rural areas.

Carbon sequestration

A method of storing carbon emissions to prevent their release into the atmosphere

methane

a gas without colour or smell, that burns easily and is used as fuel; is formed by the decay of organic material when oxygen is not present

aerosols

tiny solid particles or liquid droplets that remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time

radon

radioactive gas from decay of uranium in rocks, can lead to lung cancer; type of indoor air pollution

clean air act

Law that set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants

albedo

the proportion of the light or radiation that is reflected by a surface, typically that of ice, snow, or clouds.

pine beetles

insect spreading because of climate change - devastating north American forests.

cap and trade

Market-based system of pollution control whereby individual businesses can buy and sell emission credits even while the total level of industry pollution is capped at some level.

carbon neutral

an activity that has no net annual carbon emissions to the atmosphere (the amount of CO2 emitted = amount of CO2 taken in during something like photosynthesis.)