troposphere
surface, life-giver and weather breeder, contains 80% of earth's mass
pauses
indicate a transition in layers
78
% nitrogen in atmosphere
lichen
are environmental canaries in coalmines
atmospheric pressure
the force or mass per unit of area
21
% oxygen in atmosphere
stratosphere
global sunscreen: filters UV radiation
stratospheric ozone
good ozone, produces oxygen molecules to interact with UV radiation and prevent 95% of it from reaching the surface
air pollution
the presence of chemicals in the troposphere in concentrations high enough to harm organisms, ecosystems, and alter climate
natural resources of air pollution
dust from windstorms, wild fires, volcanic ash, plant chemicals
human sources of air pollution
factories, cars, urban areas
primary pollutants
harmful substances emitted directly into the air
secondary pollutants
when primary pollutants react with one another or basic sources of air to form harmful pollutants
carbon monoxide
colorless, odorless and highly toxic gas from incomplete oxidation
carbon dioxide
affects climate, results from complete combustion
nitrogen oxide
colorless, reacts in auto engines and coal burning plants
nitrogen dioxide
related to acid decomposition
chemical smog
created by nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide
dinitrogen oxide
a greenhouse gas that comes from fertilizers, animal wastes, and burning fossil fuels
sulfur dioxide
comes from electrical and industrial powerplants
carbon monoxide
reacts with hemoglobin in the blood stream
particulates
come from dust, sea salt, plowing, tobacco, construction, industrial plants and motor vehicles
fine particulates
most harmful because they sneak past the human body's protective devices
volatile organic compounds
VOCs such as methane
photochemical smog
a mixture of air pollutants formed by the reaction of nitrogen oxides and VOCs under the influence of sunlight
photochemical smog
composed of ozone, nitric acid, aldehydes, peroxyacyl nitrates and secondary pollutants
bad ozone
formed in the troposphere from combustion, reacts with lung tissue and can damage plants and clothing
fossil fuels
created by decaying organic material
partial oxidation
incomplete combustion
fly ash
inorganic compounds converted to oxides that can enter the respiratory systems of animals easily
oxygen and carbon dioxide
the two most abundant products of complete combustion
combustion of fossil fuels
the most significant anthropogenic source of sulfur dioxide
primary standards
restrictive limits, designed to protect human health
secondary standards
less restrictive limits, intended to protect animals, buildings, and non-human elements of the environment
cars
the most important anthropogenic source of carbon monoxide
carbon monoxide
not dangerous when distributed evenly, but can exist at deadly high concentrations because of human sources
catalytic converter
helps to reduce pollution output in motor vehicles
carcinogen
cancer-causing agent
combustion of coal and oil
the most significant anthropogenic source of sulfur oxides
micronutrient
an element needed in very small amounts to maintain the health of an organism
gasification
conversion of solid coal to a gaseous fuel
dry deposition
acid molecules adsorb to small, solid particles in the atmosphere
wet deposition
acid rain
National Acid Precipitation Program
NAPAP
hydrocarbons
pose hazards and have the potential to be precursors to photochemical oxidants
photochemical oxidants
oxidizing agents produced by light-catalyzed reactions
photolytic reaction
light-breaking reaction
wet collectors
droplets in collector adsorb and remove particulate pollutants
electrostatic precipitators
carry electric charges opposite to the particulates so attraction can pull particulates out of waste gas
temperature inversions
when a layer of warm air is on top of a layer of cooler air, preventing the air from mixing
tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, radon, ultrafine particulates
the 4 most dangerous indoor air pollutants
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulates, VOCs, ozone, lead
the 6 NAAQS pollutants
buffer
a substance that can react with hydrogen to stabilize the pH levels of a solution
industrial smog
a mixture of air pollutants composed of sulfur oxides and sulfuric acid
nitric acid
a major component of acid deposition, forms when nitrogen dioxide reacts with water vapor
peroxyacyl nitrates
PANs in photochemical smog