Geology Terms - Chapter 18: Air Pollution

acid rain

Rain that is more acidic (has lower pH) than normal precipitation.

aerosol

A suspension of particulate matter in air.

carbon capture and storage (CCS)

The process of trapping carbon-containing emissions or filtering CO2 from the atmosphere and then isolating the carbon in some reservoir, from which it doesn’t contribute to atmospheric greenhouse gases.

ozone hole

Area over which the ozone concentration in the ozone layer is lower than over surrounding areas; commonly develops annually over Antarctica.

ozone layer

An ozone-rich layer within the stratosphere, between about 15 to 35 kilometers above the Earth’s surface; absorbs potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation.

particulates

Fine-grained, solid particles suspended in air; includes soot, ash, and dust.

pH scale

Scale for reporting acidic or alkaline quality of a liquid based on the concentration of hydrogen ions.

thermal inversion

The condition in which air temperature increases, rather than decreases, with increasing altitude; the overlying layer of warmer air may then trap warm, rising, pollutant-laden gases.

ultraviolet radiation

Electromagnetic radiation just to the short-wavelength side of the visible light spectrum; biologically hazardous.