envi geo iii

where is ozone located and what does it do

stratosphere

regulates radiation

warms in this layer

exists naturally and is balanced

what is the product of uv distruction

heat

what types of oxides destroy o3

with nitrogen, chlorine, hydrogen

bromine

what is the dynamic equilibrium

03 being depleted

what happens when uv hits 02

split to form a free o that can combine with 02 to make 03

what does uv c do

lethal to life

entirely absorbed by 03 and 02 in atmosphere

what does uvb do

lethal to life in low intensities

ozone eats it

what does uva do

not clearly understood

no real impact

passes through atmosphere

how much uvb does the atmosphere absorb

70-90%

what happens when exposed to uvb

damage to cells- cateracts, cancer, depressed imune system

what does uvb do to plants

decreases water use efficenciy in cells which decreases leaf area which decreases productivity

kills phytoplakon

what is the problem with humans and ubv

activity releases gasses that increase rate of ozone distruction with allows more uvb to reach the surface

what is more ozone distruction a threat to

plant productivity/ agriculture

human health

what are the ozone depleating chemicals

hydrogen, nitrogen, clourine, bromine, flourine

what do the ozone depleating chemicals do in the stratosphere

destroy o3 which leads to depletion

thinning over south pole

sometimes thins over artic

what are the main ozone destroying chemicals

cfcs

halons- bromine based

hcfcs

what happens when cfcs are released into the stratosphere

1. uv causes chlorine atom to break away from cfc molecule

2. free chlorine hits an 03

3. chlorine atom pulls 1 oxygen from the 03

4. free oxygen then hits the chlorine monoxide

5. the oxygen bonds into 02 and the chlorine is free agian

6. the chlorine can then keep depleating

what are the conditions that lead to distruction/thinning

supper fridigid air

large regional build up of ozone depleting chemicals in the dark with no uv to break them

then sunlight triggers in the spring

surface for sidtruction-stratospheric clouds or aerosols

what are the main things that have odc

chemicals- cfc/ flurinated gasses

very stable/ multi use

havnt found replacement

small amount can destroy a lot

what do the halons do

bromine bases

halocarbons

fire estingushers

10x more ozone depeting potential than cfcs

history of response to ozone thinning

74- theory that cfcs were destroying ozoze

85- ozone hole found

87- montreal protocol

what did the montrol protocol do

signed by all countries eventually

banning cfcs

10 year grace period for ldc

what are the 2 different types of air pollution

gas

particulate

what is particluate air pollution

dust, ash, soot, salt

what happens when pollutants are relaeased into the air

1. settle particluate matter back on ground

2. rise higher in atmosphere

3. undergo chemical alteration and change into another form of pollution

what is secondary pollution

chemical change into another form

what are the main effects of the major air pollutants

significant impact on human health

produced in large quantities

what are the 6 air pollutants

sulfur dioxide

nitrous oxide

carbon monoxide

carbon dioxide

particulate

hydrocarbons

what is the main source of sulfur dioxide

different sources based on location

burning coal

powerplants

smelters

why is sulfur dioxide an issue

contributes to the formation of secondary pollution: sulfur based acid precipitation and industrial smog

what is smog

soup of differnt chemicals and particles

what types of smog can there be

sulfur based- industrial smog- coal/power plant

nitrogen based- photochemical smog- car exhaust

when was the epa created

1970

set and maintains air quality standards

tech and regulations needed

nitrogen oxides

no and no2

high temp combustion- cars engines, power plants

nitrous oxides from tailpipe

highly reactive to uv

produces secondary pollutants

what are the primary pollutants of car exhaust

no2

hc

co

what happens when uv hits no2

can make tropospheric ozone

can combine with hc to make Pan

can mix with vater vapor- acid

smog

what are the secondary pollutants produced by no2

PAN

nitrogen based acid rain

tropospheric ozone

photochemical smog

what are the main causes of carbon monoxide

incomplete combustion- cars furnaces, powerplants

why is carbon monoxide dangerous

harmful to breathe

what is the natural source to carbon monoxide

tree decay

90% of co in atmosphere from natural sources

what is carbon dioxide produced by

burning fossil fuels and biomass

who is the highest carbon dioxide producer

china

us

what is particulate pollution

particles of varying size and composition

soot, ash, dust

coal dust/industry particulates

what is the problem with particulates

causes health problems in lungs

small disrupters

what are hydrocarbons from

car ehaust, home hearing, industy, cattle, rice paddies, landfills

what are some of the hydrocarbons

methane

benzene

what do hydocarbons contribute to

PAN

health hazzard

what are cafe standards

coorpareate average fuel ecomony

what harm does acidic precip cause

destroy plant cuiticle- less photosynthesis- kills plants

acidic soil- cant grow

erode

how to combat acid precipitation s

stop source

add lime