pollution week 2

Question 1

acid

Answer 1

a substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a soluton

Question 2

acid rain

Answer 2

precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid

Question 3

anthropogenic

Answer 3

caused by humans

Question 4

asbestos

Answer 4

a long, thin, fibrosis silicate mineral with insulating properties, which can caused cancer when inhaled.

Question 5

base

Answer 5

a substance that contributes hydroxide ions to a solution

Question 6

cfcs

Answer 6

chemical that can be used for cooling refridgerators and air conditioners

Question 7

climate

Answer 7

the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period of time.

Question 8

ENSO

Answer 8

reversal of wind currents and water currents in the south pacific

Question 9

exosphere

Answer 9

atmospheric layer 5, above the Thermosphere

Question 10

global climate change

Answer 10

a type of global change that is focused on changes in the average weather that occurs in an area over a period of years or decades

Question 11

global warming

Answer 11

the increase in global temp due to anthropogenic activites

Question 12

green house effect

Answer 12

absorbtion of infared radiation by atmospheric gases and reradiation of the energy back on to earth

Question 13

gwp

Answer 13

an estimate of how much a molecule of any compound can contribute to global warming over a period of 100 years relative to one molecule of co2

Question 14

gyres

Answer 14

A large scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere

Question 15

indoor air pollutants

Answer 15

compounds that adversely affect the quality of air in buildings and structures

Question 16

inversion layer

Answer 16

the layer of warm air that traps emissions in a thermal inversion

Question 17

kyoto protocol

Answer 17

an international agreement that sets a goal for global emissions of ghg from all industrial countries to be reduced by 5.2 percent below their 1990 levels by 2012

Question 18

la nina

Answer 18

following an El Nino event, trade winds in the south pacific reverse strongly, causing regions that were hot and dry to become cooler and wetter

Question 19

mesosphere

Answer 19

atmospheric layer 3, above the stratosphere,

Question 20

montreal protocol

Answer 20

commitment by 24 nations to reduce cfc production by 50 percent before 2000

Question 21

ozone (o3)

Answer 21

a pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of 3 oxygen atoms

Question 22

pH

Answer 22

the relative strength of acids and bases in a substance. it is a logarithmic scale, meaning that each number on the scale represents a change by a factor of 10.

Question 23

randon-222

Answer 23

radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the decay of uranium and is an indoor pollutant

Question 24

sick building syndrome

Answer 24

a buildup of toxic pollutants in weatherized spaces, such as newer buildings in the developed world.

Question 25

stratosphere

Answer 25

atmospheric layer 2, above the troposphere, contains the ozone layer

Question 26

thermocirculation

Answer 26

an oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water.

Question 27

thermosphere

Answer 27

atmospheric layer 4, above the mesosphere

Question 28

troposphere

Answer 28

atmospheric layer 1, closest to Earth's surface, extending up to approximately 16 km (10 mi)

Question 29

upwelling

Answer 29

the upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents.

Question 30

vapor recovery nozzle

Answer 30

a device that prevents voc's from escaping into the atmosphere while a person is fueling their vehicle

Question 31

weather

Answer 31

the short term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area that include temp, humidity, clouds, precipitation, and wind speed.