Energy
A collection of organic substances such as coal, oil and natural gas that is used as an energy source
What are fossil fuels?
A pollutant emitted directly from the source
What is Primary Pollution?
What is Oxygen?
List 5 potential health effects of air pollution the the pollutants that cause it
1. lung cancer - radon
2. Developmental delay impacting mental function - lead
3. Respiratory problems - PM 10 or particulate matter
4. Headaches, dizziness, vomiting - CO, VOCs (in higher concentrations)
5. Death - CO in higher concentrations over extended time
List several examples of Point Pollution and Non-Point Pollution
Point Pollution: Deep water Horizon Oil Spill, Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill, leaking septic tank
Non-Point Pollution: Agricultural runoff, urban runoff, microplastics in ocean gyres
Describe the formation of Fossil Fuels
Dead plant materials or algae are buried in gypoxic environments and over millions of years, sediment piles on top of increasing pressure. Heat and pressure and millions of years create fossil fuels.
Explain the formation of photochemical smog
Nitrogen Dioxide and VOCs interact in the presence of UV radiation (from the sun) to form ozone in the troposphere
An example of greenhouse gas
What is Carbon Dioxide?
Requires the cleanup of sites contaminated with toxic waste
What is CERCLA Superfund?
List the layers of the atmosphere in order
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
2 benefits and 2 drawbacks of Biomass
Benefits: biofuels supplement fossil fuels by using oil infrastructure
Drawbacks: CO2 emissions when burned, potential impact of food commodity prices when corn or soybeans are used (instead of crop residues)
Name 5 ways to reduce air pollution
less fossil fuels use (drive less, use less electricity), catalytic converters on cars (reduced CO, NOx, and hydrocarbon emissions), scrubbers on power plants (reduced SO2 emissions), radon remediation system (pumps radon gas from below basement slab to above roofline of house), avoid burning waste materials and limit use of fireplaces/wood stove
Result from increased SST of only 1 or 2 degrees C over an extended time
What is coral bleaching?
Sets goals and standards for the quality and purity of air in the US
What is Clean Air Act?
Describe the composition of Earth's early atmosphere
Carbon Dioxide, methane, ammonia
What are 3 past environmental catastrophes associated with Nuclear power?
Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island
Describe the formation of acid deposition
Forms when SO2 and NO2 interact with water in the atmosphere to create sulfuric acid and nitric acid. This usually comes in the form of acid rain.
The portion of light that hits the Earth and is reflected back into space
Albedo
What are some effects on the environment from light pollution?
Delayed plant growth, high levels of stress and insomnia in animals, food/hunting habits disrupted, lack of reproduction in animals
Define the following:
solar radiation
albedo
infared radiation
greenhouse gases
Solar radiation: energy from sun
albedo: percentage of solar radiation that is reflected off of Earth's surface
Infared radiation: Portion of the electromagnetic spectrum we feel as heat
greenhouse gases: gases that absorb and re-emit IR radiation, warming the Earth's atmosphere
What is peak oil and what is the impact it could have on our society?
Peak oil is the time at which extraction from oil reserves reaches a peak and forever begins to decline. The impact this has on our society is how societies with a heavy dependence on oil could experience economic depression or even collapse, prices will increase and availability will drop.
Describe how stratospheric ozone becomes depleted
It becomes depleterd when CFCs interact with ozone in the stratosphere. UV radiation causes a chlorine ion to break free from the CFC and form chlorine monoxide. The chlorine monoxide then can interact with free oxygen in the atmosphere to form O2 and Cl ion.
A natural process that increased the temperature on Earth's surface
What is the greenhouse effect?
What are the negative impacts of noise pollution on human health and the environment?
Humans: Stress related illnesses, anxiety depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep patterns disrupted, lost productivity
Environment: Migratory patterns, navigation, communication, impact on breeding cycles, increase stress levels of organisms
Explain the view of the vast majority of climate scientist regarding human caused global warming
There is no legitimate scientific debate about global warming. Vast amounts of evidence from multiple disciplines show that global warming is occurring and that it is caused by humans.