AP Environmental Science – Unit 9 Test Study Guide
Test date: March 26, 2014
Chapter 17– Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution
Page #
Terms
Concepts
461-468
atmosphere
troposphere
tropopause
stratosphere
stratopause
mesosphere
mesopause
thermosphere
ozone layer
atmospheric pressure
relative humidity
convective circulation
weather
climate
warm front
cold front
high pressure system
low pressure system
thermal (temperature) inversion
microclimate
Hadley cell
Ferrell cell
Polar cell
tradewind
westerlies
polar easterlies
Coriolis effect
Compare and contrast regions of the world with poor air quality and decent
air quality to determine factors that might contribute to each situation.
Identify the characteristics of the atmospheric layers.
Explain convective circulation and how it gives rise to the patterns of
convective cells on our planet.
Explain how the patterns of convective cells contribute to wind belts, surface
currents, and the locations of different biomes on the Earth
Contrast weather and climate.
Contrast warm fronts and cold fronts.
Contrast high pressure and low pressure systems.
Give examples of the kinds of weather phenomena associated with different
fronts and different air pressure systems.
Explain what an inversion layer is and how it can contribute to increased air
pollution in a localized region.
Explain how the Coriolis effect influences the movement of air and water on
the Earth.
toxin
Silent Spring
carcinogen
mutagen
teratogen
thalidomide
neurotoxin
Minimata Bay
allergen
endocrine disruptor
hormone mimic
hormone blocker
phthalates
pesticide drift
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
global distillation
persistent
bioaccumulation
biomagnification
DDT (diphenyl-trichloroethane)
wildlife toxicology
Understand the importance of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring for exposing the
effects of synthetic toxicants in humans and their environment.
Compare the different types of toxicants and their effects on the body; give
examples.
Explain the concept of pesticide drift.
Describe global distillation (how polar ecosystems tend to concentrate
toxins.)
Figure 14.15
Explain what is meant by a chemical’s persistence.
Understand bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
Figure 14.16
468-486
486-490
386-392
Explain the role of wildlife toxicology.
392-397
case history
epidemiological study
dose-response analysis
dose
response
dose-response curve
LD-50
ED-50
threshold
acute exposure
chronic exposure
synergistic effects
risk
risk assessment
comparative risk analysis
risk management
innocent-until-proven guilty
approach
precautionary principle
Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide,
and Fungicide Act of 1947
Toxic Substances Control Act of
1976
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of
1938
FDA (Food and Drug
Administration)
CDC (Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention)
EPA (Environmental Protection
Agency)
Stockholm Convention on POPs
Describe the process of epidemiology.
Be able to interpret a dose-response curve.
Understand the toxicity information conveyed by an LD-50 or an ED-50.
Explain what is meant by a threshold dose of a chemical.
Explain why dose-response curves for organisms affected by endocrine
disruptors often do not display the classic pattern.
Differentiate between acute and chronic effects of toxicants.
Define synergistic effects; Explain why these pose a particular difficulty for
toxicologists.
Explain the role of risk assessment, risk analysis, and risk management.
Understand the role of government agencies and legislation in identifying
toxicants and regulating their use and distribution.
Differentiate between the innocent-until-proven-guilty approach and the
precautionary principle.
The test will involve 20 multiple choice questions and one free-response question.