Environmental Concerns Exam 4 Vocab

air pollutant

environmental contaminant of air; an agent that causes air pollution; natural or caused by humans

air pollution

the presence of chemicals in the air at levels high enough to harm humans, other organisms, ecosystems, or man-made materials or objects

primary pollutant

a substance harmful in its directly emitted form

secondary pollutant

the product of reactants occurring in the atmosphere

particulate matter

a form of pollution made of tiny particles and droplets suspended in the air

volative organic compounds (VOC)

very reactive group of molecules released from cleaning solvents, paints, and gasoline

acid rain

most originates from the release of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are combusted; in the presence of sunlight SO2 and NOx undergo chemical reactions with oxygen and water to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid which then fall back to earth

smog

term may be applied to all forms of severe air pollution, particularly in urban areas that restricts visibility causes breathing issues

indoor air pollution

concentrations of air pollutants can be much higher inside than outside

weather

short-term variations in weather conditions (air temperature, wind, air pressure, and precipitation in a specific place)

climate

the long-term average of weather conditions for a given region

global climate

the average weather conditions over a significant time for the planet as a whole

global warming

increase of the Earth’s average atmospheric temperature

climate change

long-term shifts in global weather patterns and temperatures

greenhouse effect

greenhouse gases trap heat which warms the earth’s lower troposphere and surface

atmosphere

the whole mase of air surrounding the earth

troposphere

the layer of the atmosphere closest to the ground; extends ~11 miles at sea level; densest layer (75% of the entire atmosphere’s mass)

stratosphere

second layer of the atmosphere; extends ~31 miles; contains ozone layer

Milankovitch Cycle

long-term cyclical variations in Earth’s orbit and axial tilt that affect the amount of sunlight received by the planet, influencing its climate and triggering periods of ice ages and interglacial periods

greenhouse gases (GHG)

a gas in the atmosphere that redirects heat rising from Earth’s surface back toward the surface, causing a warming effect

greenhouse gases important to Earth

water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3)

enhanced greenhouse effect

an increase in amounts of greenhouse gases = increase in trapped heat = a warmer planet

mitigation

efforts inherited to minimize the extent or impact of a problem such as climate change

adaptation

efforts intended to help deal with a problem that exists, such as climate change