Atmosphere
the layer of gases that surrounds Earth
Troposphere
the lowest layer of the atmosphere, air movement drives planet's weather
Stratosphere
The second-lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere.
Ozone layer
Protective layer in atmosphere that shields earth from UV radiation.
convection circulation
less dense warm air rises and creates vertical currents- as it rises into areas of lower atmospheric pressure it expands and cools, once it cools it descends and becomes denser and replaces the rising warm air
Weather
the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
Climate
Describes typical patterns of atmospheric conditions in a location over years, decades, centuries, or millennia
temperature inversion
atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air near the earth's surface
Inversion layer
the band of air in which temperature rises with altitude
Air pollutants
gases and particulate material added to the atmosphere that can affect climate or harm people or other organisms
air pollution
the release of air pollutants
Outdoor air pollution
Air pollution outside of living or working spaces, especially buildings.
primary pollutants
Pollutants released directly from a source
secondary pollutants
pollutants that are formed by the combination of primary pollutants in the atmosphere.
residence time
The amount of time a substance spends in the atmosphere
Clean Air Act
Set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants
Carbon Monoxide
A colorless, odorless gas that occurs as a by-product of fuel combustion that may result in death in poorly ventilated areas
sulfer dioxide
Colorless gas with pungent odor. a gas produced by coal burning which increases the acidification of rain water
Nitrogen oxides
Major source is auto exhaust. Primary and secondary effects include acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog and ozone. Reduced using catalytic converters.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
carbon-containing compounds that pass easily into the vapor phase
Particular matter
Composed of solid or liquid particles small enough to be suspended in the atmosphere
Lead
A heavy metal that enters the atmosphere as a particular pollutants
Scrubbers
chemically convert or physically remove pollutants before they leave smokestacks
Criteria pollutants
pollutants judged to pose especially great threats to human health
nitrogen dioxide
a foul-smelling reddish brown gas, produced primarily by the incomplete combustion of fuel, that contributes to smog and acidic deposition.
Tropospheric ozone
a secondary pollutant created by the reaction of nitrogen oxides and volatile carbon-containing chemical in the presence of sunlight
Smog
General term for an unhealthy mixture of air pollutants that can accumulate as a result of fossil fuel combustion, generally over industrial regions or urban areas with heavy automobile traffic
Industrial smog
found in cities that burn large amounts of coal
photochemical smog
Forms when sunlight drives chemical reactions between primary pollutants and atmospheric compounds
ozone-depleting substances
human-made chemicals that destroy ozone
Halocarbons
human-made compounds derived from simple hydrocarbons in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms such as chlorine, bromine, or fluorine
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Type of halocarbons that are useful as refrigerants
Ozone hole
A thinning of stratospheric ozone that occurs over the poles during the spring
Montreal protocol
phase out of ozone depleting substances.
acid deposition
Deposition of acidic or acid-forming pollutants from the atmosphere onto Earth's surface
Acid rain
acid deposition that takes place through rain
atmospheric deposition
The wet or dry deposition on land of a wide variety of pollutants, including mercury, nitrates, organochlorines, and others.
indoor air pollution
Occur in workplaces, schools, and homes. Outweighs those from outdoor air pollution