Environmental Management and Atmospheric Air

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to environmental management and atmospheric air from the lecture notes.

Atmospheric Air

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, retained by gravity, which protects life by absorbing UV radiation and influencing temperature.

Air Pollution

The introduction of harmful substances or materials into the atmosphere, which can affect health and the environment.

Wet Bulb Temperature (Tw)

The temperature a parcel of air would have if cooled to saturation by the evaporation of water into it, reflecting humidity levels.

Dew Point Temperature (tdp)

The temperature at which condensation of water vapor occurs, indicating saturation levels of moisture in the air.

Relative Humidity (𝞿)

The ratio of the mass of water vapor to the total mass of moist air, expressed as a percentage.

Specific Gravity (Sg)

The ratio of the density of a gas to the density of air, used to compare the buoyancy of gases.

Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)

An apparent temperature used to estimate the combined effects of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and infrared radiation on humans.

Mass Density (ρ)

The mass of air per unit volume, critical for understanding air characteristics and behavior.

Ventilation

The primary method for maintaining air quality in mines, involving the circulation of fresh air to dilute harmful gases.

Maximum Permissible Concentration (MPC)

The highest level of a substance, such as gases, allowed in the workplace to maintain safety and health standards.

Entropy (S)

A measure of the amount of energy in a physical system that is not available to do work, expressed in [J/kg K].

Viscosity

A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, important in understanding air dynamics in various applications.

Environmental Impact Assessment

A process to evaluate the potential effects of a project or proposal on the environment before decisions are made.

Specific Humidity (x or w)

The weight of water vapor per unit weight of dry air, important for assessing moisture content in the atmosphere.

Thermal Stress

The stress experienced by materials as a result of changes in temperature, relevant in mining operations.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A poisonous gas formed during incomplete combustion, with specific permissible concentration limits in mine atmospheres.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

A toxic gas produced from combustion processes, with established exposure limits in the mining environment.