Air Pollution and Ecosystems Review

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to air pollution, ecosystems, and their impacts.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

A gas mostly produced from the combustion of gasoline.

Ozone (O3)

A secondary air pollutant formed from reactions between NO2 and VOCs in the presence of sunlight.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

A gas primarily resulting from burning coal and diesel fuel.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A gas mainly produced from combustion of gasoline and natural gas.

Lead (Pb)

A toxic metal historically found in gasoline, emitted from metal refineries.

Particulate Matter (PM)

A mixture of tiny solid particles and liquid droplets in the air; includes PM2.5 and PM10.

PM2.5

Fine particulate matter that can penetrate deeply into the respiratory system, often from fossil fuel combustion.

PM10

Coarse particulate matter including pollen, dust, and bacteria, usually trapped in the upper respiratory tract.

Primary Air Pollutants

Pollutants emitted directly into the atmosphere, such as NOx and SOx.

Secondary Air Pollutants

Pollutants formed through reactions between primary pollutants and other substances.

Photochemical Smog

Air pollution causing a brown haze, primarily produced by sunlight interacting with NOx and VOCs.

Catalytic Converters

Devices in vehicles that reduce NOx and CO emissions by converting them to less harmful gases.

Thermal Inversion

A condition where warm air traps cooler air and pollutants near the ground.

Coral Bleaching

A phenomenon where stressed corals expel their algae, turning white due to warmer temperatures, pollution, or disease.

Eutrophication

The process where excess nutrients lead to algal blooms, depleting oxygen and harming aquatic life.

Oxygen Sag Curve

A graphical representation showing dissolved oxygen levels decreasing downstream from a pollution source.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

A measure of the amount of oxygen used by aerobic bacteria to decompose organic matter.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

The amount of oxygen available in water; essential for aquatic life.

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that interfere with hormone function in animals, impacting their reproduction and development.

Lethal Dose 50% (LD50)

The amount of a substance that will kill 50% of a tested population, often used to measure toxicity.

Dose-Response Curve

A graph showing the relationship between the dose of a substance and its observed effects.

Stratospheric Ozone

Ozone found in the stratosphere that protects Earth from harmful UV radiation.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Synthetic compounds that lead to ozone depletion when they break down in the stratosphere.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty aimed at phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Chemicals used as substitutes for CFCs; although they are greenhouse gases, they don't deplete ozone.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Ocean Acidification

The process of decreasing pH levels in oceans due to increased CO2 absorption.

Positive Feedback Loop

A process in which a change causes further changes in the same direction, such as melting ice leading to increased heating.

Dead Zones

Areas in bodies of water with low oxygen levels that cannot support marine life.

Septic Zone

The stage in a water body where DO is critically low and BOD is high, indicating pollution.

Recovery Zone (in sewage treatment)

The area where DO levels increase again after wastewater treatment.

Clean Zone (in aquatic systems)

A state where water is non-polluted, with high dissolved oxygen and low biological oxygen demand.

Tropospheric Ozone

The harmful ozone formed near the Earth's surface, created from chemical reactions involving sunlight.

UV Radiation

A type of radiation from the sun that can cause skin cancer and cataracts.

Acid Rain

Precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids, formed from reactions with atmospheric pollutants.

Nitric Acid (HNO3)

A secondary pollutant produced when NO2 reacts with water vapor.

Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)

A strong acid formed from the oxidation of sulfur dioxide in the presence of water vapor.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming of the Earth due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Albedo

The reflectivity of a surface; lighter surfaces reflect more sunlight.

Acidification

The decrease in pH levels in a solution, affecting carbonate levels necessary for marine organisms.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in water volume as temperatures rise, contributing to sea-level rise.

Methane (CH4)

A potent greenhouse gas produced by the digestion processes of animals and organic waste decomposition.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

A greenhouse gas emitted from agricultural practices, particularly from nitrogen-rich fertilizers.

Denitrification

The microbial process converting nitrates into nitrogen gases, reducing nitrogen levels in soils.

Carbonic Acid (H2CO3)

An acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water; contributes to ocean acidification.

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

The ability of soil to hold and exchange cations, important for plant nutrient availability.

Flow of oxygen in water bodies

The movement and availability of dissolved oxygen, critical for aquatic life.

Hydrological Cycle

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Aquatic Ecosystems

Water-based environments that host diverse biological communities.

Wetlands

Ecological areas that are saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, providing habitat for wildlife.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of living organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

Carbon Footprint

The amount of carbon dioxide emissions for which an individual or organization is responsible.

Pollutants

Substances that contaminate the environment or alter the natural balance.

Air Quality Index (AQI)

A measure used to communicate how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature, contributing to smog formation.

Biodiversity Loss

The reduction in the variety and variability of life forms within a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Nutrient Limitation

A condition where the growth of organisms is restricted due to a lack of essential nutrients.

Trophic Cascade

When the addition or removal of a top predator alters the structure and species composition of a community.

Restoration Ecology

The scientific study of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change.

Environmental Health

The branch of public health that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment affecting human health.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Renewable Resources

Resources that can be replenished naturally over short periods of time.

Non-renewable Resources

Resources that do not renew at a sustainable rate relative to their consumption.