Effects of Meteorology on Air Pollution

A collection of vocabulary flashcards related to the effects of meteorology on air pollution.

Boundary Layer

The part of the atmosphere that is directly influenced by the earth's surface and responds to surface forcings on a time scale of hours to days.

Inversion Layer

A layer in the atmosphere where temperature increases with altitude, trapping pollutants close to the ground.

Urban Heat Island Effect

The phenomenon where urban areas experience warmer temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities and land cover.

Stability

A state of the atmosphere that determines whether pollutants disperse, rise, or collect; influenced by temperature gradients.

Sea Breeze

A wind that blows from the sea to the land due to differential heating, creating a pressure gradient.

Valley Breeze

A wind that ascends from a valley up the slopes of a mountain, caused by heating of the mountain slopes during the day.

Chimney Effect

The upward movement of air containing pollutants into the free troposphere due to heating of a mountain slope.

Evaporation

The process of liquid water transforming into vapor, which can cool the soil and influence local meteorology.

Mixing Depth

The vertical extent of the atmosphere within which pollutants are mixed.

Pollutant Concentrations

The amount of pollutants present in a specific volume of air, often influenced by local meteorological conditions.

Plume Dispersion

The spread of airborne pollutants from a source, affected by atmospheric stability and wind patterns.

Mixing Ratios

The relative concentrations of pollutants in the air, influenced by meteorological factors such as temperature and wind.

Biogenic Gas Emissions

Gases released into the atmosphere as a result of biological activities, often temperature-dependent.

Soil Liquid Water Content

The amount of water present in soil which affects soil temperature and convection processes.

Temperature-Dependent Processes

Processes whose rates of occurrence are influenced by ambient temperatures, such as chemical reactions and gas emissions.

Thermal Low-Pressure System

A low-pressure area created by warm air rising over heated land surfaces.