Download 5-1 What is the nature of the atmosphere

5-1 What is the nature of the atmosphere?
CONCEPT 15-1 The two innermost layers of the atmosphere are the troposphere, which supports life, and the
stratosphere, which contains the protective ozone layer.
1. List and briefly describe the two bottom layers of the atmosphere. Compare the function of ozone in the
troposphere with the function of ozone in the stratosphere. List and define the two categories of outdoor air
pollutants. Distinguish indoor from outdoor air pollutants.
15-2 What are the major air pollution problems?
CONCEPT 15-2A Three major outdoor air pollution problems are industrial smog mostly from burning coal,
photochemical smog from motor vehicle and industrial emissions, and acid deposition from coal burning and motor
vehicle exhaust.
CONCEPT 15-2B The most threatening indoor air pollutants are smoke and soot from wood and coal fires (mostly
in developing countries) and chemicals used in building materials and products.
1. List the major classes of outdoor air pollutants. Distinguish photochemical from industrial smog. Explain
how outdoor air pollution is commonly reduced, and how it is commonly increased.
2. Distinguish between acid rain, wet and dry deposition. Mention the primary causes of acid depositions.
Discuss the difficulties involved in reducing acid depositions. Summarize the progress made in reducing
U.S. acid deposition. List the effects of acid deposition.
3. Assess the significance of the problem of indoor air pollution. List the common and most dangerous indoor
air pollutants.
15-3 How should we deal with air pollution?
CONCEPT 15-3 Legal, economic, and technological tools can help us clean up air pollution, but the best solution is
to prevent it.
1. Summarize air pollution effects on human health, plants, aquatic life, and materials. Understand how the
human lungs protect us from the effects of air pollutant exposures.
2. Summarize the Clean Air Act. List six ways to strengthen the Clean Air Act. Summarize the concept of
“emissions trading.” Evaluate the pros and cons of this strategy. Evaluate the effectiveness of pollution
prevention versus pollution cleanup strategies. Contrast this with the efforts to reduce indoor air pollution
in the U.S.
15-4 How might the earth’s climate change in the future?
CONCEPT 15-4 Considerable scientific evidence indicates that emission of greenhouse gases into the earth’s
atmosphere from human activities will lead to significant climate change during this century.
1. Summarize consensus views of the scientific community about climate change. Describe patterns of timing
of past glacial and interglacial periods. List the four greenhouse gases that humans contribute to the lower
atmosphere. Outline the correlation between historical CO2 records and atmospheric temperature. Note the
five findings of the IPCC.
15-5 What are some possible effects of projected climate change?
CONCEPT 15-5 The projected change in the earth’s climate during this century could have severe and long-lasting
consequences, including increased drought and flooding, rising sea levels, and shifts in locations of agriculture and
wildlife habitats.
1. Distinguish between some of the projections from models on future global warming. Briefly discuss the
major effects from the projected global warming. Discuss both the beneficial and the harmful effects of
global warming.
2. Note the major challenges of dealing with global warming. Note the two schools of thought about potential
global warming actions and the four strategies associated with them. Summarize the role of individual
governments and the international community.
15-6 What can we do to slow projected climate change?
CONCEPT 15-6 To slow the rate of projected climate change, we can increase energy efficiency, sharply reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, rely more on renewable energy resources, and slow population growth.
1. Summarize the recommendations to slow the rate of projected climate change. Discuss some of the
challenges of implementing these recommendations.
15-7 How have we depleted ozone in the stratosphere and what can we do about it?
CONCEPT 15-7A Widespread use of certain chemicals has reduced ozone levels in the stratosphere and allowed
more harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach the earth’s surface.
CONCEPT 15-7B To reverse ozone depletion, we need to stop producing ozone-depleting chemicals and adhere to
the international treaties that ban such chemicals.
1. Define ozone depletion and the ozone hole. Briefly describe what is happening to ozone in the stratosphere.
Evaluate the status of the ozone holes over Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean. Describe the effects of
increased ultraviolet radiation at the earth’s solid and liquid surfaces. Note the proposed remedial strategies
for the ozone-thinning problem.