Topic 6: Atmospheric Systems and Societies

atmosphere

gases surrounding the earth

dynamic systems

characteristics of a system can chnage over time

troposphere

the lowest layer of the earth atmosphere

stratosphere

the second lowest layer of the earths atmosphere

cloud albedo

clouds reflect sunlight from transferring heat to the earth’s surface therefore cooling the area bellow

ozone

O3 molecules that are naturally found in the stratosphere

ozone layer

O3 molecule layer that helps the absorption of harmful UV rays (UV3/some UV2) and allows UV1 to pass through for plants, animals and humans health benefits

Ultraviolet Radiation (UV radiation)

non-ionsising radiation eiitted by the sun

Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS)

chemicals that destroy the ozone layer

CFCs

non toxic, non-flammable chemicals containing atoms of carbons, chlorine and fluorine

how is stratospheric ozone formed?

describe the greenhouse effect

what are the effects of UV2 rays?

1. increased mutation rates in DNA causing cancers

2. cataracts

3. damages a plants ability to photosynthesise

4. reduces primary production

how do ODS break down ozone?

when released into the atmosphere, they arrive in the statosphere and the energy transfere from UV light causes the release of the halogen that then reacts with ozone to take one molecule of oxygen

what happened to CFCs?

the Montreal Protocol - CFCs were no longer legally produced or consumed in may industrialised coutries

what are the ODS found in?

1. refrigerants

2. propelants

3. gas blow plastics

   1. methyl bromide

evaluate ozon management strategies

1. illegal trade of CFCs was found

2. HCFCs were introduced as a substitute but are a strong greenhouse gas

3. some ozone depletion can occur from natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions

4. non-aerosol alternatives can be used but not promoted as a benefit to the atmosphere

primary pullutant

pollutant emitted directly from the source s

secondary pollutant

formed when other pollutants react in the atmosphere

photochemical reaction

occurs when light energy is absorbed by a substances molecules

particulates

microscopic solids or droplets that can be inhaled

smog

primary and secondary pollutant mixture

thermal inversion

warm air is trapped between two layers of cold air

tropospheric ozone

formed as a secondary pollutants by reactions involving nitrogen oxides. NOxs are formed from oxygen and nitrogen in internal combustion, usually forming nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide that then reacts with sunlight to form NO + O to which the O reacts with O2 to form O3. this can also react with NO to from NO2

what affects the amount of smog in a cit?

1. the amount of people and their vehicles

2. to topography - it can trap smog if the city is surrounded by uplands or mountains

3. weak winds - the smog cannot be dispersed

4. thermal inversion

5. forest fires

6. industrial factories

catalytic converter

they convert the harmful pollutants into harmful pollutants before release but they decrease fuel efficiency and increase CO2 emissions

wet desposition

rain, slee, ssnow,fog that has become more acidic that nrmal

dry deposition

gases, durst that has become more acidic

lichens

organisms that grow in exposed places such as rocks, tree and bark such as fungi, algae and microbes, they can be used as SO2 level indicators as they suffer a lot from SO2 exposure

liming

when material from dissolved rocks enter the soil

waste gas scrubbers

waste gas treatment where gas stream is put in contact with a liquid to allow certain gases to pass into the liquid