The atmosphere and air pollution

1. The atmosphere and air pollution APES 2013-2014

2. Let’s see what you know • Here are a few questions over the atmosphere and air pollution from an old AP exam.

3. Of the following cities, which regularly experiences the worst levels of photochemical smog that is enhanced by thermal inversions? New York City, New York Los Angeles, California Portland, Oregon Atlanta, Georgia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4. Of the following cities, which regularly experiences the worst levels of photochemical smog that is enhanced by thermal inversions? New York City, New York Los Angeles, California Portland, Oregon Atlanta, Georgia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

5. Possible effects of a warmer atmosphere include which of the following? • Expanded ranges of tropical diseases • More intense hurricanes and typhoons • Increased crop damage from pests and diseases • I only • II only • I and III only • II and III only • I, II, and III

6. Possible effects of a warmer atmosphere include which of the following? • Expanded ranges of tropical diseases • More intense hurricanes and typhoons • Increased crop damage from pests and diseases • I only • II only • I and III only • II and III only • I, II, and III

7. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is produced by domestic livestock? NO2 CH4 O3 CO SO2

8. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas that is produced by domestic livestock? NO2 CH4 O3 CO SO2

9. The three main anthropogenic sources of gaseous air pollutants in the United States are Soil erosion, volcanoes, and forest fires Soil erosion, volcanoes, and energy production Industry, construction, and agriculture Industry, transportation, and energy production Industry, transportation, and agriculture

10. The three main anthropogenic sources of gaseous air pollutants in the United States are Soil erosion, volcanoes, and forest fires Soil erosion, volcanoes, and energy production Industry, construction, and agriculture Industry, transportation, and energy production Industry, transportation, and agriculture

11. If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15°C. With our present atmosphere, Earth’s mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C. Which of the following is the best explanation for this difference? Reflection of incident solar radiation by clouds Scattering of visible radiation by aerosols Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases The breakdown of oxygen molecules in the thermosphere

12. If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15°C. With our present atmosphere, Earth’s mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C. Which of the following is the best explanation for this difference? Reflection of incident solar radiation by clouds Scattering of visible radiation by aerosols Absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases The breakdown of oxygen molecules in the thermosphere

13. Ground-level ozone in most major United States cities results primarily from Burning coal Burning fuel for cooking Producing electric power Industrial emissions Motor-vehicle exhaust

14. Ground-level ozone in most major United States cities results primarily from Burning coal Burning fuel for cooking Producing electric power Industrial emissions Motor-vehicle exhaust

15. Which of the following is an important contributor to both global warming and ozone depletion? An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide to higher-than-preindustrial levels A buildup of methane in the stratosphere to higher-than-preindustrial levels An increase in the levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth’s surface An increase in the amount of infrared solar radiation absorbed in the troposphere A release of chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere

16. Which of the following is an important contributor to both global warming and ozone depletion? An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide to higher-than-preindustrial levels A buildup of methane in the stratosphere to higher-than-preindustrial levels An increase in the levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth’s surface An increase in the amount of infrared solar radiation absorbed in the troposphere A release of chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere

17. Smoke from forest fires is most likely to affect air quality over larger areas for many days when Smog is produced due to chemical reactions in the atmosphere A persistent atmospheric inversion exists in the region Oak trees are burned, releasing terpenes into the atmosphere Primary, rather than secondary, forests are burned Vegetation in the region is green and burns more slowly

18. Smoke from forest fires is most likely to affect air quality over larger areas for many days when Smog is produced due to chemical reactions in the atmosphere A persistent atmospheric inversion exists in the region Oak trees are burned, releasing terpenes into the atmosphere Primary, rather than secondary, forests are burned Vegetation in the region is green and burns more slowly

19. Which of the following best explains why it is predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst between 2010 and 2019? Projected global warming from carbon dioxide emissions is expected to reach a peak during those years. Ozone-depleting chemicals produced before their use was banned will take that long to reach peak concentrations in the stratosphere. Deforestation in tropical regions is expected to reach a peak during the second decade of the twenty-first century. Increased global population will lead to an increase in per capita carbon dioxide production. Acid deposition will continue to increase, reaching a peak in approximately 2015.

20. Which of the following best explains why it is predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst between 2010 and 2019? Projected global warming from carbon dioxide emissions is expected to reach a peak during those years. Ozone-depleting chemicals produced before their use was banned will take that long to reach peak concentrations in the stratosphere. Deforestation in tropical regions is expected to reach a peak during the second decade of the twenty-first century. Increased global population will lead to an increase in per capita carbon dioxide production. Acid deposition will continue to increase, reaching a peak in approximately 2015.

21. Which of the following actions would reduce global greenhouse emissions? Increasing the use of automobiles Decreasing the number of nuclear power plants Replacing coal-burning power plants with wind farms Converting tropical forests to rice paddies Switching from hydroelectric power generation to power generation using natural gas as the primary fuel

22. Which of the following actions would reduce global greenhouse emissions? Increasing the use of automobiles Decreasing the number of nuclear power plants Replacing coal-burning power plants with wind farms Converting tropical forests to rice paddies Switching from hydroelectric power generation to power generation using natural gas as the primary fuel

23. True statements about ozone include which of the following? • It is a pollutant in the troposphere. • It filters out most of the UVC radiation in the stratosphere. • Most of it is formed in the stratosphere by reaction between carbon dioxide and free oxygen atoms. • I only • II only • III only • I and II only • I, II, and III

24. True statements about ozone include which of the following? • It is a pollutant in the troposphere. • It filters out most of the UVC radiation in the stratosphere. • Most of it is formed in the stratosphere by reaction between carbon dioxide and free oxygen atoms. • I only • II only • III only • I and II only • I, II, and III

25. Which of the following human activities is most closely associated with depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer? Mining of coal Disposal of refrigerators and air conditioners Heating of homes and factories Generation of electricity Agricultural irrigation

26. Which of the following human activities is most closely associated with depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer? Mining of coal Disposal of refrigerators and air conditioners Heating of homes and factories Generation of electricity Agricultural irrigation

27. Which of the following shows the approximate concentration of CO2, N2, and O2 in dry air? 78%, <1%, 21% 43%, <1%, 56% 36%, 8%, 56% 10%, 70%, 20% <1%, 78%, 21%

28. Which of the following shows the approximate concentration of CO2, N2, and O2 in dry air? 78%, <1%, 21% 43%, <1%, 56% 36%, 8%, 56% 10%, 70%, 20% <1%, 78%, 21%

29. The phenomenon causing global warming occurs primarily in this region of the atmosphere Thermosphere Exosphere Troposphere Mesosphere Stratosphere

30. The phenomenon causing global warming occurs primarily in this region of the atmosphere Thermosphere Exosphere Troposphere Mesosphere Stratosphere

31. The beneficial ozone layer is in this region of the atmosphere Thermosphere Exosphere Troposphere Mesosphere Stratosphere

32. The beneficial ozone layer is in this region of the atmosphere Thermosphere Exosphere Troposphere Mesosphere Stratosphere

33. Most oxygen is found in this layer of the atmosphere Thermosphere Exosphere Troposphere Mesosphere Stratosphere

34. Most oxygen is found in this layer of the atmosphere Thermosphere Exosphere Troposphere Mesosphere Stratosphere

35. AP Environmental Science Atmosphere Notes Time to write

36. Add the following layers to your atmospheric diagram • Troposphere: 0-11 km • Tropopause: 11 km • Stratosphere: 11-50 km • Main concentration of ozone layer: 15-40 km • Stratopause: 50 km • Mesosphere: 50-80 km • Mesopause: 80 km • Thermosphere: 80-500 km • You may want to color the layers. Keep your diagram neat; we’re going to use in when we take notes on atmospheric chemistry later.

37. Temperature Ranges • Troposphere: -55 to 20°C • Tropopause: -55°C • Stratosphere: -55 to 0°C • Stratopause: 0°C • Mesosphere: -85 to 0°C • Mesopause: -85°C • Thermosphere: -85 to 2000°C

38. Pressure is high in troposphere; as altitude increases, pressure decreases steadily. Add a line for this to your diagram. • Draw tiny buildings, people, cars, mountains, trees, planes, etc. in the troposphere. Also draw clouds in this layer (the troposphere is the layer in which weather “happens”). The troposphere also contains harmful ozone--O3, “bad ozone”. • The stratosphere contains a protective ozone layer—O3, “good ozone”. • Note that “bad ozone” and “good ozone” are chemically identical. The reason that one is good and one is bad is that ozone has harmful health effects on living things. At the same time, ozone absorbs some of the sun’s incoming ultraviolet radiation, which is good because UV also has harmful health effects on living things. So ozone is “good up high, bad nearby”.

39. “Shooting stars” start to burn up in the mesosphere. Draw a few shooting stars in this layer. • Noctilucent clouds are also found in the mesosphere, far above the layer that normally contains clouds (the troposphere). Draw a noctiluence cloud in the mesosphere and label it. • Satellites orbit earth in the thermosphere. Draw a satellite or two here. Aurora borealis and aurora australis (the Northern and Southern Lights) also take place in the thermosphere, so draw them here (multicolored lights).