Unit 1 Test Sem2 Enviro Sci

Solutions that help limit the amount of acid rain include:

• a. Using more fossil fuels

• b. Building higher smokestacks

• c. Using scrubbers on smokestacks

• c. Using scrubbers on smokestacks

What causes the production of stratospheric ozone?  How is it helpful to people?

The stratospheric ozone is produced when sunlight (UV radiation) interacts with oxygen molecules. This forms a barrier between us and the harmful sun rays. Too much exposure to UV radiation can cause cancer, or less severe, burn people.

What are the effects of increased tropospheric ozone?

• a. Irritation to the respiratory system

• b. Harm to vegetation

• c. Damage to rubber and other materials

• d. all are effects

• d. all are effects

Why do some energy sources have advantages and disadvantages?

Most energy sources have advantages and disadvantages because it is hard to find a perfect energy source, so tradeoffs must always be considered. While nuclear energy is clean, it can be environmentally destructive when proper safety precautions are not met. Some may be regarded as having more disadvantages, like fossil fuels, which are environmentally destructive from extraction to use, but are relatively cheap and easy to use.

What are 3 important sources of air pollution on a global or regional scale?

Industrial: Major cause, ex: chemical plants or smelters (produces dangerous fumes that can be carried downwind)

Urban: Caused because of concentrated amount of ppl in a particular areas. Causes light pollution or smog

Automobiles: Not that significant but the amount used is, and has 3 major pollutants, one being carbon monoxide

T or F: Natural variations in stratospheric ozone causes it to be thicker in the spring than in fall.

True

Identify the following: using more renewable energy sources as:

a. reduces air pollution

b. does not reduce air pollution

a. reduces air pollution

Identify the following: reducing fossil fuel use as:

a. reduces air pollution

b. does not reduce air pollution

a. reduces air pollution

Identify the following: legislating pollution control technologies as:

a. reduces air pollution

b. does not reduce air pollution

a. reduces air pollution

_________ conditions include limited vertical mixing, cloud formation, and precipitation. 

• a. indoor air pollution

• b. global dimming

• c. inversion

• d. light pollution

c. inversion

______ deposition of acid happens when there is dust, smoke, and other aerosols acidic in the air.

Dry

This air pollutant is from coal-fired power plants and medical wastes.  It causes neurotoxicity.  

• a. sulfur oxides

• b. mercury

• c. nitrogen oxides

• d. particulate matter

• b. mercury

Acid rain continues to be a bigger problem in: 

• a. Developed countries

• b. Developing countries

• b. Developing countries

What is the difference between the hole in the ozone and global warming?

They are separate issues with different effects, therefore different solutions

Hole in ozone: caused by chemicals that break down the ozone, like CFCs. Causes more UV radiation to reach Earth’s surface and increases destructive effects of UV radiation

GLobal warming: caused by greenhouse gases. Changes weather/climate patterns and increases things like heat waves and glacier melt

Some insects can walk on water due to water’s

• a. capillary action

• b. specific heat capacity

• c. heat of vaporization

• d. surface tension

d. surface tension

How do the chlorine and bromine gases in chlorofluorocarbons cause the ozone layer to break down?

CFCs are able to travel into the stratosphere, and the chlorine and bromine gases, once freed by sunlight, become unstable atoms that break down the ozone.

T or F: Natural precipitation has a slightly acidic pH due to the reaction of carbon dioxide with water to form carbonic acid.

True

T or F: Pollutants from power plants and other sources only cause acid rain to fall around their immediate area and lead to no problems with acid rain downwind.

False

This type of ozone provides protection from ultraviolet radiation.

• a. Tropospheric Ozone

• b. Stratospheric Ozone

• b. Stratospheric Ozone

Identify the following: making vehicles more fuel efficient as:

a. reduces air pollution

b. does not reduce air pollution

a. reduces air pollution

What are three ways acid rain can affect soil?

1.Lowers pH levels of the soil, then causes microorganism death, then alters decomposition rates

2. Because of lowered decomposition rates this increases aluminum, sulfur, and nitrogen leaching (good for soil. not good to lose)

3. Decreases amount of plant nutrient cations

Identify the following: not supporting regulations on fuel efficiency as:

• a. Reduces air pollution

• b. Does not reduce air pollution

• b. Does not reduce air pollution

Why are areas with limestone less sensitive to acid rain?

Limestone, because of its composition, can neutralize acid, therefore mitigating the effects of acid rain on the surroundings. The acid is decreased, so it changes how much is interacting with the environment.

Describe one way acid rain can affect aquatic food chains.

Can lower amount of prey: cause of runoff from soil, which metals like aluminum leaches into eggs/larvae and more not survive adulthood. Decreases chance of reaching adulthood and causes animals that depend on them to decrease, too

Landfills and agriculture produce this gas that can lead to global warming.

• a. VOC

• b. POP

• c. Methane

• d. Asbestos

• c. Methane

Acidic substances have a pH of 

• a. less than 7

• b. 7

• c. greater than 7

• a. less than 7

_____ pollutants are made when primary pollutants interact with sunlight, air, other pollutants.

Secondary

Why is ozone “Good up high, Bad nearby”?

Ozone in stratosphere (higher): protects earth from mutagenic UV radiation

Ozone in troposphere (closer): damages rubber and plants; and causes respiratory illness

What is(are) the main cause(s) of acid rain?

• a. burning coal

• b. industrial processes

• c. car exhaust

• d. all are main causes

• d. all are main causes

Organisms remove Carbon Dioxide and add Oxygen to the air through

• a. photosynthesis

• b. precipitation

• c. respiration

• d. transpiration

• a. photosynthesis

Identify the following: increasing our use of coal as:

• a. Reduces air pollution

• b. Does not reduce air pollution

• a. Reduces air pollution

Why has the Montreal Protocol reduced, but not eliminated, the amount of CFC’s in the atmosphere?

The Montreal Protocol is something that must be agreed upon to follow. So, for the countries that haven't agreed, they don't need to reduce their usage of CFCs. Another reason is because CFCs have a long half-life, meaning they stay in the atmosphere for a long time.

Excess light use can lead to

• a. indoor air pollution

• b. global dimming

• c. light pollution

• d. inversion

c. light pollution

Why is sunlight important in the production of photochemical smog?

Sunlight is important to the production of photochemical smog because it is a key ingredient in its creation. When sunlight interacts with volatile carbon molecules and nitrous oxides, trapped below an inversion, it forms photochemical smog. 

Which of the following are effects of stratospheric zone depletion?

• a. A seasonal ozone hole over Europe

• b. A smaller dimple of ozone depletion over the North Pole

• c. Increased stratospheric temperatures

• d. Increased tropospheric smog levels

• b. A smaller dimple of ozone depletion over the North Pole

The atmosphere contains 20.95%

• a. carbon dioxide

• b. argon

• c. oxygen

• d. nitrogen

• c. oxygen

This radiation has a wavelength between 280 - 320 nm, is produced by the sun, and is dangerous to life.

• a. UVA radiation

• b. UVB radiation

• c. infrared radiation

• d. visible light

b. UVB radiation

Identify the following: supporting national and international agreements to reduce air emissions as:

• a. Reduces air pollution

• b. Does not reduce air pollution

• a. Reduces air pollution