AICE EM Vocabulary List 7

particulates

solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. Generally these come from any type of burning or dust-generating activities

PM 10

particulate matter of diameter of 10 micrometers or smaller. these particulates can be inhaled. the number next to the PM indicates the size of the particulate matter being measured. e.g. PM is 1 micrometer in diameter or smaller

ground-level ozone

forms when NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of sunlight

acid deposition

a mix of air pollutants that deposit from the atmosphere as acidic wet deposition (with a pH <5.6) or a acidic dry deposition

primary air pollutant

an air pollutant emitted directly from the source

secondary air pollutant

an air pollutant that forms when pollutants react in the atmosphere

smog

a mixture of smoke and fog; smog intensifies atmospheric pollution

wet acid deposition

atmospheric pollution deposited on Earth’s surface as precipitation, such as snow, rain, hail, and fog

dry acid deposition

atmospheric pollution deposited on Earth’s surface in the absence of moisture, like dust or gases

photochemical smog

a mixture of air pollutants and particulates, including ground level ozone, that is formed by when oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of sunlight

volatile organic compounds

compounds that have a high vapor pressure and a low water solubility; VOCs are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids including paints, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, and building materials

ozone

O3, a colorless odorless gas found naturally in the stratosphere and formed from oxygen by UV light

polar stratospheric clouds

stratospheric clouds that form over poles in winter at altitudes of between 15000 meters and 25000 meters. One of the main types of PSC is mostly made up of supercooled droplets of water and nitric acid

polar vortex

a large long lasting rotating low pressure system located over the north and south poles. it weakens in the summer and strengthens in the winter

transnational corporation

a company that has its head office in one country, and has branches or factories in another. it works across international borders

ozone hole

an area where the average concentration of ozone is below 100 dobson units