Environmental Science: Ozone, Albedo, and Climate Change

These vocabulary flashcards cover thermal inversion, ozone chemistry, acid deposition, albedo values, and the greenhouse effect as presented in the lecture notes.

Thermal Inversion

A condition where cold air is trapped underneath cool air along with pollutants, often caused by the rapid rise of hot air from asphalt during cool nights.

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

The process where UV radiation strips a Chlorine atom from a CFC molecule, which then strikes an $O_3$ molecule to destroy it.

Chlorine Monoxide ($ClO$)

A molecule formed in the stratosphere when a free Chlorine atom reacts with an ozone ($O_3$) molecule.

Tropospheric Ozone ($O_3$)

Ground-level ozone that is toxic to human and plant health, acts as a greenhouse gas (GHG), and is increased by warming.

Photochemistry

The chemical process involving sunlight, Nitrogen Oxides ($NO_x$), and Volatile Organic Compounds that produces ground-level ozone.

Acid Deposition

The settling of acidic pollutants onto Earth's surface through wet deposition (rain, snow) or dry deposition.

Sulfuric Acid ($H_2SO_4$)

An acid formed by the oxidation and dissolution of sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) in the presence of water ($H_2O$).

Nitric Acid ($HNO_3$)

A corrosive acid formed from nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$) that contributes to the acidification of aquatic ecosystems.

Aluminum Toxicity

A harmful environmental condition resulting from acid leaching that damages vegetation and aquatic life.

Albedo

A measure between zero and one of the amount of light reflected off of a surface.

Low Albedo

A characteristic of dark surfaces like asphalt (value of $0.04$) or the asteroid Bennu, which reflect very little light.

High Albedo

A characteristic of reflective surfaces like ice and snow (value of $0.85$) that reflect most incoming solar radiation.

Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

Atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), methane ($CH_4$), and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) that trap re-radiated heat.

Natural Greenhouse Effect

A balanced process where solar radiation is trapped by greenhouse gases, allowing some heat to escape into space while maintaining Earth's temperature.

Human Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

A condition caused by increased GHGs where less heat escapes into space and more heat is re-emitted toward Earth.

Ammonium ($NH_4^+$)

A substance formed when natural ammonia ($NH_3$) reacts with hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in the atmosphere.

Carbon Feedback

A process related to global warming where initial warming leading to forest and crop damage causes further carbon releases.

Extreme Weather

One of the 10 effects of climate change listed by OneEarthOneChance.com, alongside wildfires and drought.

Sea Level Rise

An effect of climate change caused by melting ice and rising global temperatures.

Economic Impacts

The financial and resource-based consequences resulting from climate change effects like poor air quality and health risks.