AIR POLLUTION
Scientists monitor this to tell people whether the air around them is healthy or unhealthy.
What is air quality
This greenhouse gas has increased greatly because of human activities.
What is carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚)?
Burning these releases pollutants that can contribute to acid rain.
What are fossil fuels?
A fuel formed from the remains of ancient organisms is called this.
What is a fossil fuel?
An AQI from 0–50 is represented by this color and means the air quality is good.
What is green?
Cars can contribute to this type of pollution when their pollutants react with sunlight.
What is smog?
This greenhouse gas can be produced when waste decomposes in landfills.
What is methane?
Name one human activity that can increase air pollution.
What is burning trash?
Other acceptable answer: leaving lights on when they aren't needed.
Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which can form acids that fall to Earth as this.
What is acid rain?
Name one action a community could take to improve its air quality.
What is using public transportation or reducing vehicle emissions?
This type of ozone forms near Earth's surface when pollutants react in sunlight.
What is ground-level ozone?
Greenhouse gases act like this around Earth because they trap heat and send some of it back toward Earth's surface.
What is a blanket?
Removing large numbers of trees can cause more of this gas to remain in the atmosphere.
What is carbon dioxide?
From about 1800 to the present, the concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere has done this.
What is increased?
This government agency can set limits on the amount of certain pollutants that can be released.
What is the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)?
A volcanic eruption can naturally pollute the atmosphere by releasing these two things.
What are particles and gases?
Burning these fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Name one.
What is a fossil fuel, such as coal, oil, or natural gas?
Explain why having more cars on the road can lead to more smog.
Cars burn fossil fuels and release pollutants that can react with sunlight to form smog.
If Earth's average surface temperature increases for a long time, melting polar ice could cause this to happen.
What is sea level rise?
Name one invention or technology that could help reduce the effects of global warming.
What is an electric car?
Smoke and tiny particles from this event can make the air unhealthy and increase air pollution.
What is a large wildfire?
Explain the connection: More carbon dioxide → ______ Earth temperatures.
What are increasing/higher Earth temperatures?
This human activity contributes to global warming because trees that normally absorb carbon dioxide are removed.
What is deforestation?
Describe the relationship between carbon dioxide concentration and average global air temperature.
As carbon dioxide increases, average global air temperature increases.
The ozone AQI is 204. What should a person with asthma do to protect their health?
They should avoid outdoor physical activity, move activities indoors or reschedule when air quality improves, and follow their asthma action plan. An AQI of 204 is in the Very Unhealthy range.