APES Chapter 19

atmosphere

the layer of gas and air around Earth that supports life and climate

air pollution

contamination of air through harmful substances

troposphere

lowest layer in the atmosphere, where weather happens and pollution pollutes

weather

atmospheric conditions

climate

long term patterns of weather in a certain area

stratosphere

layer of atmosphere above troposphere, contains the ozone layer

ozone layer

zone that has large amounts of O3, or ozone, that absorbs large amounts of UV radiation

primary pollutants

pollutants emitted directly into the air

secondary pollutants

pollutants that are formed when primary pollutants interact with air

nitric acid

formed when nitrogen oxide reacts with water vapor, bad for acid

sulfur dioxide

formed by burning fossil fuels, bad for respiration

sulfuric acid

secondary pollutant, acid decomposition

suspended particulate matter (SPM)

solid and liquid particles in the air that are harmful to lungs

industrial smog (gray smog)

formed by burning fossil fuels, made of sulfur dioxide and water vapor

photochemical smog (brown smog)

reaction between pollutants caused by sun, produces pollutants like ozone

volatile organic compounds (VOC)

carbon gases that create photochemical smog

peroxyacyl nitrates (PANS)

secondary pollutant in photochemical smog

temperature inversion

when warm air traps cool air which prevents pollutants from dispersing away

acid deposition (dry vs. wet)

when acidic gases settle; they can be dry or wet

indoor air pollution

pollutants like CO, VOC, mold that are indoors, worse than outdoors

radon

radioactive gas formed when uranium in soil decays, can go into homes

clean air act

us law, regulates air emissions while setting quality standards

emissions trading

allows for companies to sell a surplus in air quality, incentivise better air quality

ozone depletion

breakdown of ozone in the stratosphere due to CFCs, increases UV radiation