Climate, Atmosphere, Pollutants Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on climate, atmosphere, and pollutants, focusing on definitions, components of the atmosphere, pollution types, and health effects.

What was the composition of the early atmosphere on Earth?

The early atmosphere was primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.

What major gases comprise the Earth's atmosphere today?

Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), Argon (Ar), and trace gases including carbon dioxide and methane.

What is the troposphere and its significance?

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, containing about 75% of the atmosphere's mass and where weather occurs.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is the trapping of infrared energy by the atmosphere, which increases the Earth's temperature.

What are the primary sources of carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and organic matter, primarily from transportation and industrial processes.

Define primary pollutants.

Primary pollutants are emissions that come directly from identifiable sources, such as vehicles and factories.

What is ambient air pollution?

Ambient air pollution affects free-flowing outdoor air and can have significant health and environmental impacts.

Describe the differences between smog and haze.

Smog is typically a combination of smoke and fog that results in reduced visibility, while haze is less intense and commonly associated with widespread pollution reducing visibility during warm months.

What are the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?

NAAQS are federal standards established to protect public health and the environment from the effects of the 6 criteria air pollutants. (lead, ozone, particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide)

How does ozone affect human health?

Ozone can decrease lung function, aggravate asthma, cause throat irritation, and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.

What was the initial composition of Earth's early atmosphere?

The early atmosphere was primarily composed of light gases like hydrogen and helium, which largely escaped into space over time.

What major gases comprise the Earth's atmosphere today?

Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), Argon (Ar), and trace gases including carbon dioxide and methane.

What are the common layers of the Earth's atmosphere?

From lowest to highest: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere.

What is the troposphere and its significance?

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, containing about 75% of the atmosphere's mass and where weather occurs.

What is the crucial role of stratospheric ozone?

Stratospheric ozone forms the ozone layer, which absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, protecting life on Earth.

How does stratospheric ozone differ in significance from tropospheric ozone?

Stratospheric ozone is beneficial ('good ozone') for protecting against UV radiation, whereas tropospheric ozone ('bad ozone') is a ground-level pollutant harmful to human health and vegetation.

Define the Albedo effect.

The Albedo effect is the measure of a surface's reflectivity, indicating the proportion of incident solar radiation that is reflected rather than absorbed.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is the trapping of infrared energy by the atmosphere, which increases the Earth's temperature.

What are some of the most prominent greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere?

Prominent greenhouse gases include water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and synthetic fluorinated gases (e.g., HFCs, PFCs, SF_6).

What is atmospheric pressure?

Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted per unit area by the weight of the air molecules above a surface.

How do gravity and residence time relate to atmospheric particulate matter?

Gravity causes larger, denser particles to settle faster, leading to a shorter residence time in the atmosphere, while smaller particles can remain suspended longer.

How does the sun's unequal heating of Earth's surface influence atmospheric processes?

Unequal heating creates temperature and pressure differences, which drive convection currents, wind patterns, and global atmospheric circulation.

What are the primary sources of carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and organic matter, primarily from transportation and industrial processes.

Why is carbon monoxide (CO) considered a particularly hazardous air pollutant?

CO is hazardous because it binds strongly to hemoglobin in red blood cells, impairing the blood's ability to transport oxygen to tissues and organs, leading to oxygen deprivation.

Define primary pollutants.

Primary pollutants are emissions that come directly from identifiable sources, such as vehicles and factories.

Differentiate between anthropogenic and natural sources of air pollution.

Anthropogenic pollution results from human activities (e.g., industry, vehicles), while natural pollution originates from non-human events (e.g., volcanic eruptions, wildfires, dust storms).

What is ambient air pollution?

Ambient air pollution affects free-flowing outdoor air and can have significant health and environmental impacts.

Describe the differences between smog and haze.

Smog is typically a combination of smoke and fog that results in reduced visibility, while haze is less intense and commonly associated with widespread pollution reducing visibility during warm months.

Explain the formation of photochemical smog.

Photochemical smog forms when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the atmosphere under sunlight, creating ground-level ozone and other oxidants.

What are the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?

NAAQS are federal standards established to protect public health and the environment from the effects of air pollutants.

List the six criteria air pollutants identified by the U.S. EPA under the Clean Air Act.

Particulates – Sulfur Dioxide – Carbon Monoxide – Lead – Nitrogen Oxide – Ozone

What is the difference between an 'attainment area' and a 'non-attainment area' regarding air quality?

An 'attainment area' is a geographical area that meets the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for a specified pollutant, while a 'non-attainment area' fails to meet these standards.

What are the general impacts of air pollutants on the human respiratory system?

Air pollutants can cause irritation, inflammation, reduced lung function, exacerbate conditions like asthma and COPD, and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.

How does ozone affect human health?

Ozone can decrease lung function, aggravate asthma, cause throat irritation, and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.

What are some recognized health risks associated with e-cigarettes and vaping?

Health risks include exposure to carcinogens, heavy metals, nicotine addiction, and lung damage like 'popcorn lung' (bronchiolitis obliterans) or EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury).

Define chronic health effects in the context of air pollution exposure.

Chronic health effects are long-term, persistent health problems, often developing after prolonged or repeated exposure to pollutants, such as chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, or cancer.

Which types of pollutants are known to mimic sex hormones or induce mutations?

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as certain pesticides, plasticizers, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), can mimic hormones, while carcinogens and mutagens can induce genetic mutations.

What is the primary focus of industrial hygiene concerning air quality?

Industrial hygiene focuses on the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental factors or stresses in the workplace that may cause illness, impaired health, or significant discomfort among workers, including air pollutants.

What is the primary function of the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

The AQI is a color-coded index used to communicate daily air quality to the public, indicating potential health risks associated with current pollution levels.

What are common sources of indoor air pollution?

Common sources include combustion byproducts (e.g., from stoves, fireplaces), building materials (e.g., asbestos, formaldehyde), furnishing, cleaning products, pesticides, and biological agents (e.g., mold, pet dander).

What is the key difference between air monitoring and air sampling?

Air monitoring typically refers to continuous or repeated measurement to track pollution trends, whereas air sampling involves collecting a discrete quantity of air for later laboratory analysis.

For what purpose is a rotameter employed in air quality measurement?

A rotameter is used to measure and control the volumetric flow rate of gases, essential for ensuring accurate sample volumes in air sampling equipment.

What are common techniques used to study atmospheric air quality and composition?

Techniques include in-situ measurements with sensors, collection of air samples for lab analysis, remote sensing via satellites or ground-based lidar, and atmospheric modeling.

How do fixed components differ from variable components in atmospheric composition?

Fixed components (e.g., N2, O2, Ar) maintain relatively constant concentrations, while variable components (e.g., H2O, CO2, O3, CH4) vary significantly in concentration due to natural and anthropogenic processes.

What are the essential components of a continuous air sampling system?

Essential components typically include an air inlet, a pump, a flow control device, a collection medium (e.g., filter, impinger, sorbent tube), and a timer/data logger.