Module 3: Meeting Our Energy Needs While Protecting the Environment

troposphere:

the lower most layer of the

Earth’s atmosphere where weather occurs

and most air pollutants are concentrated.

weather

day-to-day variations in

temperature, precipitation, wind, etc.

climate:

long-term (decades or longer)

weather patterns in a certain region.

air pollutant:

gases and particulate

material added to the atmosphere

that can affect climate or harm

people and other living things.

primary pollutants:

direct products

of combustion or evaporation.

secondary pollutants:

derived from

reactions (in the atmosphere) with

primary pollutants.

point source:

emits pollution from a

specific location, such as factories

and power plants.

non-point sources:

emit pollution

from many, multiple and widespread

sources (i.e., urban areas).

residence time:

how long a substance

stays in a reservoir (i.e., how long a

pollutant stays in the atmosphere).

particulate matter:

solid (or liquid) particles

small enough to be suspended in the air.

industrial smog:

sulfuric acid-rich grey

fog that forms as a result of reactions of

particulate matter and sulfur dioxide air

pollutants in cool, humid conditions.

photochemical smog:

ozone-rich

brown haze that forms as a result of

reactions of VOCs and nitrogen oxides

on sunny days.

acid deposition:

rainfall, snowfall, etc.

made acidic by nitric acid and/or sulfuric

acid secondary pollutants that form

from chemical reactions with water in

the atmosphere.

temperature inversion:

an air pollution

phenomenon that occurs cool air is trapped

near the surface, beneath warmer air

above, which prevents the vertical dispersal

of air pollutants.

78% of the Earth’s atmosphere is composed of:

Nitrogen gas (N2) is the

most abundant gas

21% of the Earth’s atmosphere is composed of:

Oxygen gas (O2) is the

second most abundant gas

The atmosphere has four layers, including the:

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

In the atmosphere, “solar-powered” circulation of air drives regional weather and climate patterns. In

convective air circulation, warm air ________________ and cool air ________________, causing air to

circulate in convection cells and contributing to global rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns.

rises, falls

Some air pollutants are ________________ air pollutants, which are emitted directly into the atmosphere.

primary

Some air pollutants are _____________________ air pollutants, which form in the atmosphere by chemical

reactions involving already-emitted air pollutants and other substances in the atmosphere.

secondary

Air pollution can be emitted from single, discrete _________________________ of pollution. An example of

this kind of source of air pollution is:

point

Air pollution can be emitted from many smaller, _________________________ sources distributed over a

large region. An example of this kind of source of air pollution is:

non-point

Air pollutants can be emitted by human activities and by natural processes. What is one example of how a

human activity can intensify a natural process that emits air pollutants?

like fire suppression and desertification

List one example of an air pollutant that has a long residence time in the atmosphere.

Example:

CO2

Particulate Matter (PM) is one type of primary air pollutant.

List at least three sources of particulate matter air pollutants:

wind-blown dust from

agricultural areas, construction

sites, dirt roads, combustion of

fossil fuels (especially coal),

wildfires, and agricultural burning.

List at least three consequences of particulate matter air pollutants:

damages lungs,

reduces visibility, blocks sunlight,

contributes to industrial smog.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is another type of primary air pollutant.

List at least one source of sulfur dioxide air pollutants:

Source:

burning sulfur-containing fossil fuels (coal-fired power plants

List at least three consequences of sulfur dioxide air pollutants

damages lungs, contributes to acid rain, and forms

industrial smog.

Provide the chemical reaction that results in industrial smog:

Particulates + SO2 + O2 + H2O → Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are another type of primary air pollutant.

List at least two sources of VOC air pollutants:

combustion of fossil fuels in

power plants and vehicles, and industrial

solvents.

List at least two consequences of VOC air pollutants:

some can cause cancer,

and contributes to photochemical smog.

Nitrogen Oxides (NO and NO2) are another type of air pollutant.

List at least two sources of NOx (NO or NO2) air pollutants:

combustion of fossil fuels in

engines (vehicle emissions) and

burning wood.

List at least two consequences of NOx air pollutants:

irritates lungs, forms

acid rain, and contributes to

photochemical smog.

Provide the chemical reaction that results in photochemical smog:

Sunlight + NOx + VOCs + O2 → Ozone (O3) + other air pollutants

Ozone (O3) is another air pollutant.

In the stratosphere, ozone is _____________________; it protects us from harmful UV radiation.

BENEFICIAL

But, near ground level, ozone is _____________________; it is an ingredient in photochemical smog and contributes to respiratory illness.

a PROBLEM

Chemicals used as refrigerants and propellants called _________ break-down the beneficial “ozone layer” in

the stratosphere.

CFC

In 1987, an international agreement called the ___________________ phased-out the use of CFCs, which has

helped stabilize the ozone hole.

Montreal Protocol

The primary pollutants nitric oxide or sulfur dioxide can react with water in the atmosphere to form acidic

rainfall, snowfall, sleet, or dry fallout, contributing to the problem of ____________________________.

acid deposition

In general, precipitation in the U.S. has become _______ (more or less?) acidic since 1990.

decreased

Some air pollution problems are made worse when the local geography and weather conditions create a _____________________________ that concentrates air pollutants at ground-level.

temperature inversion

Environmental public policies can be used to help improve air quality. For example, in 1970, the

__________________ was passed, which has facilitated large-scale and rapid reductions in many traditional

air pollutants and improved air quality in the U.S. (despite increases in energy use and vehicle miles travelled,

population growth, and economic growth).

clean air act

List at least three things that the Clean Air Act does to improve air quality.

Identifies and sets air quality standards for

six “criteria” pollutants”

Requires air pollution permits.

Establishes control methods enforced by

the EPA.

Pollution-reduction technologies have also helped improve air quality. One pollution-reduction technology is

a ______________________________, which uses certain metals to transform more harmful chemicals into

less harmful chemicals, reducing the amount of pollution in vehicle emissions.

Catalytic Converter

Another pollution-reduction technology is a ____________________________, which removes some

pollutants from waste products from factories and powerplants, reducing the amount of pollution in

smokestack emissions.

scrubber

Greenhouse Effect:

warming that occurs near the

surface of the earth due to the presence of greenhouse

gases in the troposphere (lower atmosphere).

permafrost:

permanently frozen

ground (soil and rock) found in

especially cold climates.

thermal expansion:

an increase in

the volume of warmer water.

ocean acidification:

ocean water

becomes more acidic (pH decreases)

as the CO2

concentration of the

atmosphere increases and more CO2

is dissolves into ocean water.

adaptation:

to make changes

that help you survive under

different circumstances.

CAFE Standards:

fuel efficiency (mpg) requirements for

auto manufacturers (Corporate Average Fuel Economy).

The ________________________ an increase in the near-surface heat energy in the troposphere, which

results in warming of the lower atmosphere. The incoming solar radiation energy (short wavelength UV and

visible light) that is not immediately reflected by clouds and aerosols back out into space) passes through the

atmosphere until it reaches the Earth’s surface, where it can be reflected, absorbed, and some of that

absorbed energy is re-radiated back into the atmosphere as long-wavelength Infrared heat energy.

Greenhouse Effect causes

________________________ in the troposphere interact with that long-wavelength energy, trapping some of

it in the lower atmosphere, warming the lower atmosphere.

incoming solar radiation

Several gases (that both occur naturally and/or are emitted by human activities) are greenhouse gases that

contribute to the Greenhouse Effect and global climate change. Four examples of greenhouse gases that are

emitted by human activities include:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Methane (CH4)

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

Ozone (O3)

Over the last ~200 years, greenhouse gas concentrations have _____________________, especially since the

industrial revolution of the mid-to-late 1800s.

increased

____________ in the ice of the Antarctic Ice Sheet contain the gas trapped when the ice formed long ago.

Therefore, ice cores from Antarctica provide a record of the changes in the concentrations of greenhouse

gasses in the atmosphere over time.

ice core

Records of climate indicate that the atmospheric carbon dioxide (and methane) concentration is increasing to

levels unprecedented in the last ________________ years.

800,000

_____________ temperatures are associated with increasing carbon dioxide and methane (greenhouse gas)

concentrations.

increasing

Two main human activities that contribute to a net increase in CO2 in the atmosphere are:

combustion of fossil fuels in

engines (vehicle emissions) and

burning wood.

Although some human activities have a cooling effect on climate, OVERALL, human activities have a

pronounced _________________ effect on climate!

warming

5 important observations of the natural world that provide evidence for global climate change, include:

the trends of

increasing air and ocean water temperature,

increasing sea level, melting ice sheets, glaciers,

and sea ice, increasing CO2

concentration of the

atmosphere and increasing carbon emissions

from human activities.

One of the most compelling lines of evidence for the human-CAUSE of climate change comes from trying to

reconstruct the observed temperature changes with climate models. Direct observations of the warming

climate can only be explained if we include the _______________________ factors that contribute to climate

change.

human

The two countries that have emitted the MOST carbon dioxide are:

united states, china

Worldwide, average sea level has risen ____________________ in the past 120 years.

9.3 inches/ 23.5 cm

65% of sea level rise is due to: __________________________________________________

melting and of ice on land (ice

sheets and glaciers).

35% of sea level rise is due to: __________________________________________________

thermal expansion caused by

warming ocean water.

List two different coastal areas in the U.S. that are vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise.

new orleans, tampa

As more CO2 accumulates in the atmosphere, more CO2 dissolves into ocean water, which leads to the ocean

water becoming more acidic by _____________________________ (water pH decreases and acidity

increases).

ocean acidification

List 4 examples of extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent and/or more intense because of

climate change.

hurricanes, wildfires, floods,

and droughts.

The amount of future warming and sea level rise depends on:

the amount of our greenhouse gas emissions.

More pessimistic climate models project ______________ °C of warming by the end of this century.

(4+ ◦C)

It is projected that global temperature will continue to increase 0.2 °C per decade (1.5-4.5 °C), with the most

extreme warming (+4 °C) projected to occur: ____________________________.

in the northern hemisphere at high latitudes.

Climate change is projected to result in precipitation changes that will be different for different places. More

drying is projected for ________ regions and more precipitation is projected for _______ regions.

dry, wet .

Sea level will continue to _______ over the coming decades, threatening many low-lying coastal areas.

rise

Climate changes will also contribute to several ecological consequences.

List two different types of ecosystems that are expected to decline because of climate change.

coral reef and polar

ecosystems,

In addition to the projections of warming and precipitation changes, these climate changes will also worsen

some problems for humans and our societies. List 4 human impacts (social consequences) of climate change.

hurricanes,

flooding, drought, high tides,

heatwaves, and wildfires).

One way we can minimize the consequences of climate change is by ___________________ to the new

climate “normal”.

adapting

List 4 examples of climate change adaptations (actions that help us better survive in the new climate

conditions).

Move to somewhere more habitable.

▪ Grow GMO drought- and heat-resistant

crops.

▪ Build climate-resistant buildings (i.e., fire-

resistant roof materials).

▪ Invest in climate-resilient infrastructure

(i.e., robust power grids and seawalls).

▪ Invest in flood control (i.e., water pumps

and drainage systems).

▪ Invest in natural disaster preparedness,

warning systems, and insurance.

In addition to adapting to climate change, we also need to mitigate the consequences of climate change by

_______________________________ of greenhouse gases.

Reducing CO2 emissions below today’s levels by an amount that will limit warming to ________°C or less, will

avoid more disastrous consequences.

reducing, to 1.5°C

List 4 different ways our communities can reduce carbon emissions.

Use less fossil fuel energy (especially, coal and oil).

▪ Use alternatives to fossil fuels (i.e., renewable energy and nuclear power).

▪ Reduce carbon emissions with public policies.

Improve carbon sinks so less carbon accumulates in the atmosphere.

primary energy resources:

natural

resources that we can use directly

a source of energy.

secondary energy resources:

an

energy source derived from conversion

of a primary energy resource (i.e.,

electricity and gasoline).

fracking:

uses injection

of high-pressure fluids

to break open rock and

concentrate oil or gas

for extraction.

refinery:

where crude oil is

separated (by distillation)

into different fuels and

other products.

proven reserve: .

amount of a mineral resource (including oil,

coal, and natural gas) remaining in the earth that can be

exploited using current technologies and at current prices

EROI: .

amount of energy

returned per amount of energy

invested in the discovery or

production of that energy

acid mine drainage: .

type of water

pollution caused by coal mining in

which the run-off from the mining

area is highly acidic and contaminated

with iron and hazardous heavy metals

The Price-Anderson Act:

policy that protects

the liability of nuclear power producers (1957).

nuclear energy:

the energy holds

together protons and neutrons in

the nucleus of an atom.

nuclear fission:

nuclear energy-

releasing reaction in which a

large atom is split to produce

smaller atoms of different

elements.

isotopes:

forms of an element with

different numbers of neutrons.

mass number: .

number of

protons + number of neutrons

enrichment: .

uses the mass difference between uranium isotopes to

separate 235U from 238U and increase the concentration of 235U relative

to 238U in order to make a fuel for nuclear power production

nuclear reactor:

facility that sustains continuous,

controlled, energy-releasing, nuclear chain reactions.

fuel rods:

metal tubes

filled with pellets of 235U-

enriched fuel.

control rods:

tubes of neutron-

absorbing material that limits

the amount of energy released.

moderator:

material (like water)

that absorbs neutrons and heat.

meltdown:

loss of cooling water

(or other moderator) leads to over-

heating of the nuclear reactor core.

half-life:

time for half of

radioactive parent to decay.

reprocessing:

recovers nuclear reactor

fuel waste products to make a uranium

and plutonium “mixed oxide” fuel.