Atmosphere and Air Pollution Study Guide

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the atmosphere, its layers, pollution sources and effects, air quality, and the implications for health and the environment.

Atmosphere

The thin shell of gases surrounding the Earth.

Exosphere

The gradually thinning layer of gases beyond the homosphere, extending from 480 km above the Earth.

Heterosphere

The outer layer of the atmosphere, located 80-480 km above Earth, where gases are not uniformly mixed.

Homosphere

The inner layer of the atmosphere, from the surface up to 80 km, where gases are uniformly mixed.

Nitrogen

A major component of air, making up 78% of the homosphere.

Oxygen

A major component of air, accounting for 21% of the homosphere.

Ozone Layer

A layer in the stratosphere containing ozone, which absorbs UV radiation.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A greenhouse gas and byproduct of burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Thermosphere

The outer atmosphere corresponding with the heterosphere; temperatures can exceed 1200°C.

Mesosphere

The temperature layer where temperatures drop from 0°C to -90°C at the mesopause.

Stratosphere

The middle layer of the atmosphere, from 18-50 km, where ozone is concentrated.

Troposphere

The lowest layer of the atmosphere where all weather occurs, extending from the surface to 18 km.

Lapse Rate

The rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude, typically 6.4°C per 1000 meters.

Ionosphere

A region of the atmosphere that absorbs short-wave radiation, resulting in ionized particles.

Ozonosphere

Another name for the stratosphere that highlights the concentration of ozone.

UV Radiation

Ultraviolet radiation absorbed by ozone, harmful in excess to biological organisms.

CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)

Ozone-depleting substances that are harmful to the ozone layer.

HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons)

Potential replacements for CFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases.

Air Pressure

The force exerted by the weight of air above a surface; decreases with altitude.

Millibar (mb)

A unit of atmospheric pressure; 1012.3 mb is typical at sea level.

Pollution

The presence of harmful substances in the environment, often due to human activities.

Natural Pollution

Pollution from natural sources such as volcanoes and dust storms.

Anthropogenic Pollution

Human-caused pollution resulting from activities like transportation and industry.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A colorless, odorless gas and by-product of combustion that is lethal at high levels.

Particulate Matter (PM)

Tiny particles in the air that can have harmful effects on health.

Photochemical Smog

A type of air pollution produced by chemical reactions in sunlight, often involving ozone.

Acid Rain

Rainfall that has a low pH due to the presence of sulfur and nitrogen compounds.

Temperature Inversion

A phenomenon where warm air traps cooler air at the surface, contributing to pollution.

Albedo

The measure of how much sunlight is reflected by a surface; affects heating of Earth.

Auroras

Natural light displays in the sky caused by charged particles from the solar wind colliding with Earth's atmosphere.

Global Warming

The gradual increase in Earth's temperature due to the greenhouse effect and human activities.

UV Index

A scale measuring the strength of UV radiation and associated health risks.

Ozone Depletion

The reduction of ozone in the stratosphere primarily due to human activity.

Health Risks of UV Exposure

Increased likelihood of skin cancer, eye damage, and weakened immune responses.

Stratospheric Ozone Loss

The decrease in ozone concentration in the stratosphere due to pollutants.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances.

Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)

A scale to communicate the health risks associated with air quality to the public.

Acid Aerosols

Tiny particles that result from acid rain; linked to respiratory issues in humans.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Pollutants produced from vehicular emissions, contributing to smog and respiratory issues.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

A pollutant produced by burning fossil fuels that contributes to acid rain.

Tropospheric Ozone

Ozone that forms at ground level, harmful to human health and plants.

Environmental Degradation

The deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources, pollution, and other harms.

Industrial Smog

A type of pollution caused primarily by industrial emissions, including SO2 and particulates.

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation that reaches the Earth, significant in atmospheric heating.

Atmospheric Density

The mass of air molecules in a given volume; decreases with increasing altitude.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion of particles; directly related to temperature in the atmosphere.

Temperature Profile

The variation of temperature at different altitudes within the atmosphere.

Atmospheric Layers

The distinct strata of the atmosphere classified by temperature and composition.

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, primarily occurring in the troposphere.

Airborne Pollutants

Substances released into the atmosphere that have harmful effects on health and the environment.

Health Effects of Pollution

Respiratory diseases and other health problems caused by exposure to airborne pollutants.

Smog

Fog or haze combined with smoke or other pollutants, often a result of temperature inversions.

Heterogeneous Layers

Layers in the atmosphere where gases are not uniformly mixed due to gravity.

Homogeneous Layers

Layers in the atmosphere where gases are evenly mixed.

Insulation

The action or means of insulating something, used in context of atmospheric layers absorbing solar radiation.

Noxious Industries

Industries that produce harmful emissions affecting air quality.

Community Pollution Control

Actions taken by individuals or groups to reduce pollution from local sources.

Intercontinental Pollution Transfer

The movement of pollutants across borders due to wind, affecting distant regions.

Weathering of Materials

The breakdown of building materials due to acid rain and smog.

Respiratory System

The system in mammals that enables breathing and gas exchange, affected by air quality.

Geopolitics

The study of the effects of geography on international politics and relations, relevant for pollution discussions.

Urban Air Quality

The health of air in populated areas, often worse due to concentrated pollution sources.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO2, helping to reduce greenhouse gases.

Sustainable Practices

Methods of using resources that do not deplete them and that mitigate pollution.

Environmental Legislation

Laws and policies aimed at protecting the environment and managing pollution.

Ecosystem Impact

Effects of changes in the environment, such as pollution, on living organisms and their habitats.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.

Fossil Fuels

Natural substances made from decomposed plants and animals, used as a primary energy source.

Industrial Emissions

Pollutants released during manufacturing processes that contribute to air pollution.

Oxygen Cycle

The movement of oxygen within the atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.