question

Weather is a term for atmospheric moisture and temperature on a

answer

short-term

question

Climate is a description of ________ weather conditions.

answer

long-term, regional

question

he earth's earliest atmosphere was probably composed mainly of __________, which has/have since largely dissipated into space.

answer

hydrogen and helium

question

Aerosols are

answer

tiny particles and droplets suspended in the air.

question

The correct sequence of atmospheric zones upward from the earth's surface is

answer

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.

question

The "ozone hole" that causes concern among scientists and the public is an ozone depletion in the

answer

stratosphere.

question

Insolation is a term that means

answer

incoming solar radiation.

question

Albedo is a term describing the Earth's

answer

reflection of solar radiation.

question

Energy absorbed at the Earth's surface is radiated back to space in the form of

answer

infrared radiation (heat)

question

Much of the ultraviolet light from the sun is absorbed by _______ as it passes through the atmosphere.

answer

ozone

question

One reason the energy flux is considerably lower at the poles than at the equator is because

answer

sunlight comes in at an oblique angle

question

Convection currents in the atmosphere are driven by

answer

the different temperatures and densities of warm and cold air masses.

question

When an area of the earth's surface becomes very hot, the air above it

answer

warms, expands, and rises.

question

_______ is/are the driving force(s) of the hydrologic cycle.

answer

Convection currents

question

When cool, dry air sinks from the upper atmosphere toward the Earth's surface, it is

answer

compressed and becomes warmer.

question

The Coriolis effect is caused by the

answer

the earths rotation

question

Rising, expanding air masses create a region of

answer

low pressure

question

Two jet streams run over the Northern Hemisphere. These are generally located

answer

along the northern border of Mexico, and through Canada and the northern US.

question

The boundary between two air masses of different temperature and density is known as a

answer

front

question

A cold front is a situation in which cold air

answer

displaces a mass of warmer air.

question

As a cold front advances, the warm air is forced to

answer

rise, cool, and release its moisture.

question

Narrow, violent bands of rain and storms are characteristic of

answer

advancing cold fronts.

question

Hurricanes are powered by

answer

heat released from condensing water vapor

question

Why don't storms over land have as much energy as storms over oceans?

answer

Convection currents are intensified by the latent energy of condensation.

question

Monsoons occur over India when air heated over the Indian subcontinent and the Indian Ocean

answer

is forced to rise when it meets the Himalayas

question

When El Nino occurs every three to seven years, a mass of warm Pacific water that is usually pushed westward by trade winds

answer

surges back eastward toward South America.

question

Computer models predict that doubled carbon dioxide levels could raise average temperatures by 1.4°C to 5.8°C. The difference between today's temperatures and the last ice age is about

answer

5°C.

question

Most of the excessive carbon dioxide that is expected to cause global warming is generated by

answer

production of cement and clearing of forests. correct burning of fossil fuels.

question

The greenhouse effect in the atmosphere occurs because

answer

CO2, water vapor, methanol, and other gases absorb infrared radiation

question

Primary pollutants are those that are

answer

pumped into the air directly in dangerous forms

question

Secondary pollutants

answer

become dangerous after reacting in the atmosphere.

question

________ is/are examples of secondary pollutants.

answer

Photochemical oxidants

question

Fugitive emissions are produced by

answer

strip mining, rock crushing, and other dust-producing activities

question

Criteria pollutants are those that

answer

contribute the most to air quality degradation

question

what criteria pollutants result from burning coal?

answer

sulfur dioxide

question

Sulfur trioxide

answer

is formed by the oxidation of sulfur dioxide. reacts with water to form sulfuric acid. is a major component of acid rain. is a secondary pollutant.

question

A common example of a photochemical oxidant is

answer

NO2.

question

Carbon monoxide is produced by

answer

incomplete burning of fuels.

question

Anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are

answer

increasing at the rate of about 0.5 percent per year.

question

The most common metallic air pollutant is

answer

lead.

question

An aerosol is

answer

any liquid droplet or solid particle suspended in air.

question

what is not a volatile organic compound?

answer

chlorofluorocarbons

question

A major source of VOCs is

answer

incomplete burning of hydrocarbons.

question

You just picked up your dry cleaning and are headed home in your car. Your windows are up so you are probably not smelling anything from the car exhaust or other sources on the road. What criteria pollutant are you probably smelling?

answer

Volatile organic compounds

question

Ozone is produced by

answer

photochemical oxidation.

question

Formaldehyde is an especially problematic indoor pollutant because it is

answer

used in so many household materials

question

Radon in houses comes from

answer

radioactive decay in the Earth below a house.

question

A temperature inversion occurs when

answer

stable warm air overlays cold air.

question

Los Angeles has especially bad inversion problems because it

answer

is in a warm climate and is partly ringed by mountains.

question

Stable air masses over cities and warm updrafts between tall buildings often create _________ in and near cities.

answer

dust domes of suspended pollutants

question

Native peoples living in the Canadian Arctic have some of the highest recorded PCB concentrations in their bodies because of

answer

long-range transport of airborne pollutants.

question

Pollutants such as chlorofluorocarbons deplete atmospheric ozone

answer

when chlorine-containing molecules are oxidized at the expense of O3.

question

There are serious signs that ozone depletion may lead to

answer

UV-caused skin cancers. UV-caused blindness

question

An irreversible obstructive lung disease is called

answer

emphysema

question

Sudbury, Ontario's copper-nickel smelter is notorious for having

answer

destroyed the local ecosystem with sulfur-laden smoke

question

Which of the following is the best example of synergistic effects

answer

the prevalence of cancer among smokers exposed to asbestos fibers

question

Acid precipitation often occurs downwind from _______ industries.

answer

coal-burning or smelting

question

On a pH scale, pH 4 is _______ as pH 8.

answer

10,000

question

What type of buildings and monuments are most susceptible to acid damage?

answer

limestone and marble

question

Large filter bags can be used by industries to _________ airborne pollutants.

answer

trap

question

Electrostatic precipitators prevent fly ash escape by

answer

using electrodes to give particles an electrostatic charge.

question

Mixing limestone with coal can reduce sulfur emissions because the limestone's

answer

calcium bonds with the sulfur.

question

Cars use ______ to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

answer

catalytic converters.

question

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set __________ for acceptable public exposure to specific pollutants.

answer

time and concentration limits

APES 14,15 – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards