Human Impact on Atmosphere
Call Kai
Learn
Practice Test
Spaced Repetition
Match
Flashcards
Knowt Play1/70
There's no tags or description
Looks like no tags are added yet.
Name | Mastery | Learn | Test | Matching | Spaced | Call with Kai |
|---|
No analytics yet
Send a link to your students to track their progress
71 Terms
What is the atmosphere?
A mixture of gases that surrounds Earth.
Why is the atmosphere important for life?
It provides gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide that organisms need to survive.
What harmful radiation does the atmosphere help block?
High-energy radiation from space.
What is the troposphere?
The lowest layer of the atmosphere.
How high is the troposphere?
About 0-12 to 18 kilometers above Earth.
What types of aircraft are found in the troposphere?
Hot air balloons and passenger planes.
What is the stratosphere?
The second layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere.
How high is the stratosphere?
About 11-50 kilometers above Earth.
What is found in the stratosphere?
The ozone layer.
What are weather balloons found in?
The stratosphere.
What is ozone (O₃)?
A gas made of three oxygen atoms bonded together.
What is the difference between ozone (O₃) and oxygen gas (O₂)?
Ozone has three oxygen atoms, while oxygen gas has two.
What is ultraviolet (UV) radiation?
High-energy radiation from the Sun.
What does the ozone layer do?
Absorbs most harmful ultraviolet radiation.
What is the mesosphere?
The middle and third layer of the atmosphere.
Where do meteors usually burn up?
In the mesosphere.
What are meteorological rockets found in?
The mesosphere.
What is the thermosphere?
The second-highest layer of the atmosphere.
Where does the Aurora Borealis occur?
In the thermosphere.
What is the exosphere?
The outermost layer of the atmosphere.
What objects are found in the exosphere?
Spaceships and satellites.
What would happen without Earth's atmosphere?
Temperatures would be unstable and too cold for life.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The process by which greenhouse gases absorb and reradiate heat, warming Earth.
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.
What are examples of greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, and water vapor.
What is air pollution?
Contamination of the atmosphere by pollutants.
What are natural sources of air pollution?
Volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and dust storms.
What is the main human cause of air pollution?
Burning fossil fuels.
What are examples of gaseous air pollutants?
Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ground-level ozone.
What is a particulate?
A tiny solid particle suspended in air or water.
What is a major source of particulates in cities?
Vehicle exhaust.
Why is the ozone layer important?
It protects Earth from harmful UV radiation.
What causes the ozone layer to thin?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
What are CFCs?
Chemicals that break down ozone.
Are CFCs still widely used today?
No, they are now banned.
What is happening to the ozone layer today?
It is gradually healing.
What is ground-level ozone?
Ozone formed when sunlight reacts with vehicle exhaust and oxygen.
Why is ground-level ozone harmful?
It can damage lungs.
What is photochemical smog?
A mixture of ground-level ozone and vehicle exhaust formed in sunlight.
What health problems can smog cause?
Lung damage and irritation of the eyes and nose.
What visible effect can smog have on cities?
It can create a brownish haze.
What is acid precipitation?
Precipitation containing acids formed from air pollution.
What gases contribute to acid precipitation?
Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.
What acids can form in acid precipitation?
Carbonic acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid.
How can acid precipitation affect soil?
It can increase soil acidity and remove nutrients.
How can acid precipitation affect bacteria and fungi?
It can harm them through acidic conditions.
How can acid precipitation affect lakes and streams?
It can make them more acidic and release toxic metals into the water.
How does acid precipitation affect ecosystems?
It harms aquatic life, disrupts habitats, and reduces biodiversity.
How can acid precipitation damage buildings?
It erodes stonework on buildings and statues.
What is air quality?
A measure of how clean or polluted the air is.
How does increased pollution affect air quality?
Air quality decreases.
What are the two major threats to air quality?
Vehicle exhaust and industrial pollutants.
What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
A number used to describe air quality.
What does a higher AQI mean?
Greater risk of health problems from air pollution.
What AQI range is considered good?
0-50.
What AQI range is considered moderate?
51-100.
What AQI range is unhealthy for sensitive groups?
101-150.
What AQI range is unhealthy?
151-200.
What AQI range is very unhealthy?
201-300.
What AQI range is hazardous?
301-500.
Can indoor air be more polluted than outdoor air?
Yes.
What is ventilation?
The mixing of indoor and outdoor air.
How does ventilation help?
It reduces indoor air pollution.
What are some sources of indoor air pollution?
Chlorine, ammonia, dry-cleaning chemicals, unvented gas stoves, gas fumes, foam insulation, fungi, bacteria, and carbon dioxide from hot water heaters.
Who is especially vulnerable to air pollution?
Children, older adults, and people with health problems.
What are short-term effects of air pollution?
Coughing, headaches, and wheezing.
What are long-term effects of air pollution?
Lung cancer and emphysema.
How has atmospheric carbon dioxide changed since the mid-1700s?
It has increased by about 50%.
How have global temperatures changed in recent decades?
They have risen.
What are possible effects of a warmer climate?
Changes in rainfall patterns, rising sea levels, and more severe storms.
Why are climate changes important?
They can have environmental, political, and economic impacts.