BIO 104 Exam 4

air pollutant

environmental contaminant of air, can be natural or caused by humans

air pollution

the presence of chemicals in the air at high levels high enough to harm humans, or others (indoor and outdoor)

primary pollutant

a substance harmful in its directly emitted form (ex: carbon monoxide)

secondary pollutant

the product of reactions occurring in the atmosphere (ex: ozone)

particulate matter

a form of pollution made up of tiny particles in the air, can cause respiratory issues, may have toxic/carcinogenic effects (ex: soot, asbestos)

volatile organic compound (VOC)

very reactive group of molecules released from cleaning solvents, paints and gasoline

acid rain

when the presence of sunlight, SO2 and NOX undergo chemical reactions with oxygen and water to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid which then fall back to Earth

Effects: lowers pH levels of lakes, oceans, and soil, which affect organism food sources, wears away human structures     

smog

term may be applied to all forms of severe air pollution; found particularly in urban areas that restricts visibility and causes breathing issues

(2 types: industrial + and photochemical)

puts nearly 40% of Americans at risk of disease and premature death

industrial smog

grayish color, created by burning of coal or oil

photochemical smog

brownish color, related to automobile use

natural pollution

Its impact depends upon the type, amount, and emission consistency

Sources: volcanoes, forest fire, the ground (radon), ozone, sea spray, dust storms

nitrogen oxides

created by motor vehicles, industries fertilized farmland

sulfur oxides

created by electric power plants and other industries

carbon monoxide

created by motor vehicles, industries, fireplaces

ozone

formed in atmosphere (secondary air pollutant)

radon gas

produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and bedrock, enters through drains and cracks, 21K Americans die from radon-induced lung cancer every year

asbestos

found in older buildings, wrapped around pipes, floor and ceiling tiles, and some types of shingles (long-term exposure causes asbestos fibers to move into the lungs)

Level 1: Allergies & Particulates

Level 2: Infectious Agents

Level 3: Toxic Compounds

What are the three danger levels of indoor pollution?

Clean Air Act

reduce and control air pollution to protect public health and welfare

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

develop standards and enforce the Clean Air Act

the six main pollutants: (carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, ozone, and sulfur dioxide)

Montreal Protocol

an international treaty that laid out plans to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals such as CFCs (most successful international environment agreement in history)

atmosphere

the thin layer of gases surrounding planet Earth

provides ecosystem services: moderates air temp., generates weather, blocks harmful radiation, moderates climate, redistributes water in hydrologic cycle

troposphere

innermost layer of the atmosphere; extends about 11 miles above sea level and contains 75% of the mass of earth’s air

stratosphere

second layer of the atmosphere; extends about 11-30 miles above the earth’s surface; contains the ozone layer

ozone

a colorless and highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms (O3)

ozone layer

layer of gaseous ozone (O3) in the stratosphere that protects life on earth by filtering out most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet radiation

short-wavelength electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun

Ozone in the Troposphere

ozone in the troposphere near ground level is often referred to as “bad” ozone

Ozone in the Stratosphere

this “global sunscreen” keeps out about 99% of the sun’s harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth’s surface; often referred to as “good” ozone

ozone depletion (the ozone hole)

a decrease in concentration of ozone (O3) in the stratosphere, attributed to the chemical action of CFCs and other atmospheric pollutants, (in this area, the amount of UV radiation can be double the annual average)

CFCs

remain stable in the troposphere due to unreactivity, which move into the stratosphere over an 11-20 year span, and then UV radiation breaks them down, which releases highly reactive chlorine atoms that break apart ozone

weather

short-term variations in weather conditions (such as air temp., precipitation, or wind) in a specific place

climate

the long-term average of weather conditions for a given region

global climate

the average weather conditions over large time periods for the entire planet

global warming

increase of the Earth’s average atmospheric temp. (piece of climate change)

climate change

long-term shifts in global weather patterns and temperatures

Biggest Causes: The Sun, The Greenhouse Effect, The Oceans

natural, but humans have sped it up significantly

the greenhouse effect

greenhouse gases trap heat which warms the earth’s lower troposphere and surface

the oceans

store CO2 and heat, evaporate and receive water, move stored heat (currents)

10,000

the climate has been relatively stable for the past ______ years, but since 1980, average atmospheric temperatures have been rising

3.5 million years

Climate change is not new. How long has it gone on for?

past 900,000 years

the atmosphere has experienced prolonged periods of global cooling and warming, known as glacial and interglacial periods

past 10,000 years

we have lived in an interglacial period characterized by a relatively stable climate and a relatively steady average global surface temperature

past 1,000 years

the average temperature of the atmosphere has remained relatively stable but began rising during the last century when people began clearing more forests and burning more fossil fuels

Milankovitch Cycles

long-term cyclical variations in Earth’s orbit and axial tilt that affect the amount of sunlight received by the planet, influencing its climate and triggering periods of ice ages and interglacial periods

obliquity

(axial tilt of Earth) - currently at 23.4°

greenhouse gas

a gas in the atmosphere that redirects heat rising from Earth’s surface back toward the surface, causing a warming effect

greenhouse effect

any system where a barrier causes the inflow of energy to outpace the outflow in a way that warms the interior (keeps heat in Earth's atmosphere, not into space)

current average temp is 59°F; without _____, it would be 0°F.

enhanced greenhouse effect

(Unnatural + Problematic) (global warming will likely result) higher amounts of greenhouse gases = more trapped heat = a warmer planet

2024

the warmest year on record

2.63°F

In 2024, global temperature exceeded the pre- industrial (1850-1900) average by ____

1.8°F

Compared to the mid-20^th century average, we have increased about ____

precipitation patterns

droughts will affect regional agricultural yields and wildfires; more rain and flooding in other areas

frequency and intensity of extreme weather events

heat waves have resulted in increased deaths; increase in hurricane intensity will likely continue, especially in the Atlantic Ocean

rising sea levels

global sea levels have risen 8-9 inches since 1880 due to thermal expansion and melting glaciers and ice sheets; 38% of the human population (and growing) now lives within 62 miles of a coast

ocean acidification

caused by an increase in atmospheric CO2; interferes with calcium carbonate shell formations by ocean organisms, most of which are at the base of the food chain

2100

By ____, climate change could displace up to 2 billion people globally

mitigation

efforts intended to minimize the impact of climate change

ex: locate/invent alternative fuels to fossil fuels, increase efficiency of cars and trucks

adaption

efforts intended to help deal with climate change

ex: rising sea levels may displace coastal populations (move inland / construct dikes), adapt to shifting agricultural zones