Name: _________________________________________ Date: 10/22/15 Period: _______ NOTES
Notes: Atmosphere 1.3 and 1.4: Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases
What happens to most of the
sunlight that travels through the
earth’s atmosphere?
List four ways the atmosphere
affects light?
How are ultraviolet and infrared
radiation different that visible
light?
What can UV radiation do to objects
that absorb it?
What can infrared radiation do to
objects that absorb it?
What is an ozone molecule made of?
Where is the ozone layer found?
What form of radiation does the
ozone layer absorb?
List three things that too much
ultraviolet radiation can cause.
How do the greenhouse gases help
keep Earth warm?
Name four greenhouse gases.
In what layer are most greenhouse
gases found?
What is the greenhouse effect?
In time, what happens to all of the
energy that enters Earth’s
atmosphere?
What happens when there are too
many greenhouse gases?
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Reaches Earth’s surface
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absorb it
reflect it
let it pass through
emit or give off light (not visible light though)
Ultraviolet (UV): has more energy than visible light
Infrared: has less energy than visible light
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Cause sunburn and other types of damage
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Usually warms them
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Three atoms of oxygen (O3)
Stratosphere
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
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Increased sun burn
Skin cancer
Eye damage
Absorb and emit infrared radiation, which keeps energy in
Earth’s system for awhile
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
Water vapor
Troposphere
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Greenhouse gases trap heat and reflect it back to Earth’s surface.
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The burning of fossil fuels is producing greenhouse gases faster
than they can be removed by natural processes.
This may be responsible for an increase in the average
temperature over the past century – Global Warming
The Earth would grow warmer and warmer
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What would happen if the energy did
not return to outer space?
What is air pollution?
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How are pollutants classified?
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When are gases considered
pollutants?
What are particulates?
In cities/suburbs, where does most
air pollution come from?
What is smog?
What are some natural sources of air
pollution?
What are some health problems
caused by air pollution?
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It returns to outer space
Air Pollution: smoke and other harmful materials that are added
to our air.
Gases (ex.): carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxides, sulfur
dioxides, ground level ozone
Particulates (ex.) dust, dirt, pollen, bits of salt, ash
Not all air pollutants can be seen
When they are likely to cause harm
Tiny particles or droplets that are mixed with air
Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline, diesel fuel,
propane, & natural gas
Combination of smoke and fog
Dust
plants (pollen)
Soil
Volcanoes
Forest fires
Irritates eyes, nose, throat, and lungs
Makes it hard to breathe
Besides people, what else is affected
by air pollution?
Describe how air pollution is
harmful to bees.
What does the Clean Air Act do?
What does the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) do?
What are some natural sources of
greenhouse gases?
What human activities add carbon
dioxide to the atmosphere?
Why are scientists concerned about
human activities that produce
greenhouse gases?
What is happening to Earth’s
average temperature?
What are some effects that global
warming can have?
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
What are scientists doing to help
fight Global Warming?
What does chlorine do to ozone?
Where does 85% of the chlorine in
the atmosphere come from?
Destruction of ozone.
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Develop lung disease
Cause extra problems for those with asthma
Plants
Animals (including insects)
Buildings
Other objects outdoors
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LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF AIR POLLUTION THAT FACTORIES
AND POWER PLANTS ARE ALLOWED TO RELEASE.
SETS RULES FOR MAKING CAR EXHAUST CLEANER
Measures air pollution and works to enforce laws passed by
congress
Forest fires
farming
plant growth
Volcanoes
other natural processes
Use of fossil fuels in power plants, cars, factories, and homes
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They are producing greenhouse gases faster than natural
processes can remove these gases from the atmosphere
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It has gone up by about 1 degree since 1980.
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Shortages in sources of food, amount of water and other
resources available, human health
An international agreement for reducing greenhouse gases.
Require developed nations to release roughly 5% less greenhouse
gases each year than they did in 1990.
Developing ways to heat and cool buildings, transport people and
goods, and make products using less energy
Developing alternative sources of “clean” energy.
Break it apart and form regular oxygen
Human activities, chlorofluorocarbons used in cooling systems,
spray cans, and foam packaging
The amount of ozone in the stratosphere varies from place to
place and changes with the seasons.
Cold temperatures and sunshine make the ozone over the south
pole very sensitive to the chemicals that destroy ozone.
The amount of ozone over the south pole has decreased by half
over the last 20 years.
Man-made chemicals or pollutants burn a hole in the ozone layer.
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What causes holes in the ozone
layer?
Protecting the ozone.
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How can we find out what the air
pollution is like each day?
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What does the Air Quality Index
(AQI) tell us?
What is stewardship?
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In 1987, more than 180 nations signed an agreement called the
Montreal Protocol, a plan to stop the making and using of
chemicals that harm the ozone layer. This was meant to help
protect and restore the ozone.
In 2002, North Carolina’s General Assembly enacted the North
Carolina Clean Smokestacks Act, a landmark piece of legislation
designed to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants.
The Air Quality Index, which can be found in newspapers,
reported on TV or radio, and at many websites on the internet.
Reports are specific information for ozone, particulates, nitrogen
compounds, sulfur compounds, carbon monoxide.
Possible health impacts of the air quality that day, and who is
most likely to be affected.
The responsibility of all people to protect the Earth’s natural
resources, manage their use, and preserve the Earth for future
generations.