caused by sulfuric and nitric acids resulting in lowered pH of surface waters, death to trees, damage to buildings
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air pollution
the contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural sources
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atmospheric pressure
the pressure caused by the weight of the atmosphere
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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
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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.
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nitric acid
HNO₃; secondary pollutant; one of 2 in acid deposition.
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ozone
gas that absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation (all UVC and most UVB) , found in the stratosphere, O₃
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ozone layer
Layer of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone; absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation
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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
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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
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primary pollutants
pollutants that are released directly into the lower atmosphere.
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secondary pollutants
pollutants that begin as primary pollutants and change form in the atmosphere
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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.
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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]
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sulfuric acid
H₂SO₄; secondary pollutant; one of 2 in acid deposition.
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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
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troposphere
The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere
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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.
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CFC's
chemicals that react with sunlight and destroy ozone molecules, this causes the ozone layer to thin
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Stratospheric Ozone
good ozone, produces oxygen molecules to interact with UV radiation and prevent 95% of it from reaching the surface
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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.
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Kyoto accord
An international agreement setting binding limits on emissions of greenhouse gases from industrialized countries. The Bush administration refused to join
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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.
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Heat island
An area in which the air temperature is generally higher than the temperature of surrounding rural areas.
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Carbon sequestration
A method of storing carbon emissions to prevent their release into the atmosphere
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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
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aerosols
tiny solid particles or liquid droplets that remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time
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radon
radioactive gas from decay of uranium in rocks, can lead to lung cancer; type of indoor air pollution
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clean air act
Law that set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants
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albedo
the proportion of the light or radiation that is reflected by a surface, typically that of ice, snow, or clouds.
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pine beetles
insect spreading because of climate change - devastating north American forests.
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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.
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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.)