Unit 10 Study Guide KEY

1. Air Pollution

  • Definition: Contamination of the atmosphere from human activities and natural sources.

  • Human-caused sources: Industrial burning, automobile exhausts.

  • Natural sources: Dust, pollen, volcanic eruptions.

2. Types of Pollutants

  • Primary Pollutants: Directly released into the atmosphere (e.g., soot from smoke, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide).

  • Secondary Pollutants: Form in the atmosphere through chemical reactions (e.g., ground-level ozone).

3. Sources of Air Pollution

  • Household Products, Power Plants, and Cars: Primary pollutants from these sources include CO, NOx, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and VOCs.

  • Particulate Matter: Small particles in the air from burning fuels, cement plants, mining, and wood burning.

4. Motor Vehicle Emissions

  • Contribution to Air Pollution: About ⅓ of air pollution from vehicles, with 90% from passenger vehicles.

  • Clean Air Act (1970): Regulates vehicle emissions and banned lead in gasoline, reducing lead pollution.

  • Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program: California’s initiative to reduce car emissions and increase ZEVs.

5. Industrial Air Pollution

  • Sources: Power plants, refineries, smelting plants, dry cleaning, oil refineries.

  • Pollutants: VOCs, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides.

6. Air Pollution Control Devices

  • Scrubbers: Remove harmful pollutants from industrial emissions.

  • Electrostatic Precipitators: Remove dust from smokestacks in cement factories and coal plants.

7. Smog and Temperature Inversions

  • Smog: Air pollution that forms from a mix of smoke, fog, and sunlight, primarily from vehicles and industries.

  • Temperature Inversion: A weather condition where warm air traps pollutants near the surface, common in cities like Los Angeles.

8. Effects of Pollution

  • Health Effects: Short-term effects like headaches, long-term effects like lung damage and cancer.

  • Sick Building Syndrome: Caused by poor ventilation in tightly sealed buildings.

  • Radon Gas: Naturally occurring radioactive gas that can lead to lung cancer.

  • Noise Pollution: Causes hearing loss, stress, and sleep disruption.

9. Acid Rain

  • Cause: Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from burning fossil fuels mix with water to form acids.

  • Effects: Damage to soil, plants, aquatic ecosystems, and buildings.

  • Counteracting Acid Shock: Limestone can be added to lakes to neutralize acid.

10. Climate and Climate Change

  • Climate: The average weather conditions in an area over a 30-year period.

  • Factors Affecting Climate: Latitude, atmospheric circulation, oceanic circulation, and topography.

11. Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

  • Greenhouse Effect: The trapping of heat in the Earth’s atmosphere by gases like CO2, methane, and water vapor.

  • Global Warming: The gradual increase in Earth's temperature due to high concentrations of greenhouse gases.

12. Ozone Layer and Ozone Depletion

  • Ozone Layer: Absorbs UV radiation to protect life on Earth.

  • CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons): Chemicals that destroy ozone molecules.

  • Montreal Protocol: International agreement to phase out CFCs and protect the ozone layer.

13. Sea Level Rise and Hurricanes

  • Sea Level Rise: Melting polar ice causes rising ocean levels, affecting coastal cities.

  • Hurricanes: Increased ocean temperature intensifies hurricanes.

14. Global Climate Agreements

  • Kyoto Protocol: A treaty to reduce carbon emissions (U.S. did not ratify).

  • Paris Climate Agreement: Global agreement to limit climate change by reducing carbon emissions.

15. Consequences of Climate Change

  • Weather Changes: Increased frequency of hurricanes, droughts, and floods.

  • Effects on Agriculture: Decreased crop yield due to changing temperatures and droughts.

Human Health: Increased heat-related deaths, respiratory issues, and disease spread.