apes 2nd six weeks flash cards

primary pollutants

pollutants released directly into the atmosphere such as CO, SO₂, NOx, VOCs, and particulate matter.

secondary pollutants

pollutants formed through atmospheric reactions, such as ozone and sulfuric acid.

photochemical smog forms when

nitrogen oxides and VOCs react in sunlight.

conditions that worsen smog

high temperatures, sunlight, stagnant air, and thermal inversions.

thermal inversion

warm air traps cooler polluted air near the ground, preventing mixing.

particulate matter dangers

PM2.5 particles penetrate deep into lungs and bloodstream.

acid deposition cause

SO₂ and NOx react with water vapor forming sulfuric and nitric acids.

effects of acid rain

lowers lake pH, damages forests, and leaches nutrients from soil.

point

source pollution

nonpoint

source pollution

eutrophication process

nutrient runoff causes algal blooms, decomposition, oxygen depletion, and dead zones.

hypoxia

low dissolved oxygen levels in water.

thermal pollution

warmer water from industry lowers dissolved oxygen and stresses organisms.

biomagnification

increase in toxin concentration at higher trophic levels.

municipal solid waste (MSW)

trash from homes and businesses; mostly paper, food waste, and yard waste.

most effective waste

management strategy

sanitary landfill features

liners, methane collection systems, and leachate collection systems.

incineration drawback

produces air pollution and toxic ash.

stratospheric ozone

layer of ozone in the stratosphere that absorbs harmful UV radiation.

cause of ozone depletion

CFCs releasing chlorine radicals that destroy ozone molecules.

Montreal Protocol

international treaty reducing ozone

greenhouse effect

atmospheric gases trap outgoing infrared radiation.

major greenhouse gases

CO₂, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, ozone, and CFCs.

main source of anthropogenic CO₂

fossil fuel combustion.

methane sources

livestock, landfills, wetlands, and rice paddies.

positive feedback loop

process that amplifies itself, such as melting ice reducing albedo.

ocean acidification

CO₂ dissolves in seawater forming carbonic acid.

sea

level rise causes

HIPPCO

habitat destruction, invasive species, population growth, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation.

habitat fragmentation

large habitats broken into smaller isolated patches.

keystone species

species with disproportionately large ecosystem effects.

indicator species

species highly sensitive to environmental changes, like amphibians.

why amphibians are vulnerable

permeable skin makes them sensitive to pollutants.

monoculture effects

reduced biodiversity and increased vulnerability to pests and disease.

ecosystem services

benefits ecosystems provide humans such as pollination and water purification.

primary pollutants vs secondary pollutants

primary pollutants are emitted directly; secondary pollutants form through atmospheric reactions.

PM2.5 vs PM10

PM2.5 is smaller and more dangerous because it can enter the bloodstream.

VOCs

volatile organic compounds that react with NOx in sunlight to form smog.

ground

level ozone

dissolved oxygen (DO)

amount of oxygen dissolved in water needed by aquatic organisms.

conditions that lower dissolved oxygen

warm temperatures, decomposition, eutrophication, and thermal pollution.

fecal coliform bacteria

indicates sewage contamination and possible pathogens.

turbidity

cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles.

effects of high turbidity

reduced photosynthesis, increased temperature, and habitat disruption.

bioaccumulation

buildup of toxins within one organism over time.

mercury pollution

commonly released from coal

DDT effects

eggshell thinning in birds and biomagnification through food webs.

largest components of municipal solid waste

paper, food waste, and yard trimmings.

composting benefits

reduces landfill use and returns nutrients to soil.

leachate

contaminated liquid formed when water moves through landfill waste.

greenhouse gases trap heat by

absorbing outgoing infrared radiation.

water vapor as a greenhouse gas

strong greenhouse gas but short atmospheric lifetime.

albedo

reflectivity of Earth's surface.

high albedo surfaces

snow and ice because they reflect sunlight.

low albedo surfaces

forests and oceans because they absorb sunlight.

coral bleaching

corals expel algae due to heat stress.

ocean acidification effects

harms shell

carbon sequestration

long

carbon sink

reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases.

mitigation

reducing causes of climate change.

adaptation

adjusting to effects of climate change.

biodiversity

variety of life including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

importance of biodiversity

increases ecosystem stability and resilience.

edge effects

environmental changes occurring at habitat boundaries.

invasive species characteristics

rapid reproduction, broad niche, and few predators.

overexploitation

harvesting species faster than they can reproduce.

habitat corridors

connect fragmented habitats and improve gene flow.

endangered species

species at high risk of extinction.

extinction vortex

small populations decline further due to inbreeding and genetic loss.

Clean Air Act

U.S. law regulating major air pollutants.

acid rain precursor gases

sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

dead zone

oxygen

cultural eutrophication

human

thermal pollution source

industrial discharge and power plant cooling water.

major source of indoor air pollution

radon, VOCs, and poor ventilation.

radon

radioactive gas linked to lung cancer.

sick building syndrome

illness caused by poor indoor air quality.

noise pollution effects

stress, hearing loss, and wildlife disruption.

light pollution effects

disrupts migration, reproduction, and circadian rhythms.

main cause of biodiversity loss

habitat destruction.

keystone species importance

maintain ecosystem structure and biodiversity.

ecosystem resilience

ability of ecosystems to recover after disturbances.

positive climate feedback example

melting Arctic ice decreases albedo and increases warming.

negative feedback loop

process that reduces or stabilizes change.

sea

level rise impacts

major cause of ocean acidification

increased atmospheric CO₂.

main source of methane emissions

livestock and landfills.

greenhouse gas with highest warming potential

sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆).

difference between weather and climate

weather is short term; climate is long term patterns.

Montreal Protocol significance

successfully reduced many ozone

difference between ozone depletion and climate change

ozone depletion involves UV protection loss; climate change involves greenhouse gas warming.