Acid Deposition & Atmospheric Warming

Flashcards covering acid deposition processes, ecological impacts, and regulations along with the impacts of atmospheric warming including the Albedo Effect, ice melting, and sea level rise. Also includes local impacts of climate change on California's water supply.

What is acid deposition?

The process by which acid compounds (H2SO4 or HNO3) condense out of the atmosphere as rain, snow, or fog.

How do acidic secondary compounds form in acid deposition?

They form when Sulfur Oxides (Sox) and Nitrogen Oxides (Nox) react with water vapor in the air.

What are the three major human activities involved in acid deposition?

Electricity generation, steel/mineral production, and bulk transportation (trains, ships, and trucks).

What are the significant ecological impacts of acid deposition?

Impacts aquatic water ecosystems by altering the abiotic conditions and forest ecosystems by decreasing leaf surface area and impairing root function.

What was the focus of the Clean Air Act of 1990?

Controlling Sulfur and Nitrogen emissions by regulating stationary sources.

What effect does snow and ice have on heat absorption?

Surfaces with snow and ice reflect more heat, whereas surfaces without absorb more heat.

How do the polar ice caps function as the earth's air conditioning system?

By reflecting sunlight back into the atmosphere, preventing it from being absorbed as heat.

What is the Earth's Albedo Effect?

It is the reflectivity of water vapor and ice on earth.

How does melting ice caps create a positive feedback loop in global warming?

Melting ice exposes rock, which absorbs sunlight instead of reflecting it, leading to more heat absorption and further melting.

What is thermal expansion of water?

As water warms, it expands, contributing to rising sea levels.

What are some impacts of sea level rise?

Flooding of coastal habitats, saltwater intrusion on agricultural lands, and displacement of populations.

Where do around 40% of the global population get fresh water from?

The slow melt of mountain glaciers.

How does California store fresh water?

Snowpack in the mountains melts slowly, and the water is captured in a series of dams.