Download Test Review - Atmosphere Unit ANSWERS

Name: ____________________________________________ Block:_____ Date: ____________
TEST REVIEW SHEET FOR UNIT 5: THE ATMOSPHERE
Atmosphere Composition & Atmospheric Layers
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What is the atmosphere? Gaseous envelope surrounding Earth
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What are the two predominant gases in dry air? nitrogen & oxygen
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What is the importance of the stratospheric ozone layer? Protects from excessive
UV radiation
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Be able to match the layer of the atmosphere with a description of that layer.
Atmospheric Pollution
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What is air pollution? Can air pollution come from natural processes? Various
chemicals present in the atmosphere in high enough levels to harm living things or
materials; yes (e.g., volcanic activity)
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What is the difference between primary & secondary air pollutants? Identify
examples of each. PAP – harmful chemicals that enter directly into the
atmosphere due to either human activities or natural processes (e.g., particulate
matter; hydrocarbons, HAPs, nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides); SAP – harmful
chemicals that form in the atmosphere when primary air pollutants react
chemically with one another or with natural components of the atmosphere (e.g.
ozone & some particulate matter and sulfur oxides)
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What are the two main human sources of primary air pollution? Mobile sources
(e.g. transportation) & power plants (agricultural fires also contribute but not as
much)
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Be able to identify examples of the different classes of air pollutants. e.g. benzene
& methane are hydrocarbons
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What are some adverse health effects of air pollutants? eye irritation,
inflammation of respiratory tract, increasing susceptibility to infection What are the
effects of tropospheric ozone on human health? lung tissue irritant
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What are the primary chemicals responsible for ozone thinning in the
stratosphere? chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
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What is photochemical smog? brownish-orange haze formed by chemical
reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons
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How does carbon monoxide adversely affect humans? Reduces the blood’s
ability to carry oxygen (it binds with hemoglobin in the blood & reduces the
blood’s capacity to carry oxygen to the tissues)
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What is urban heat island? local heat buildup in an area of high population; can
contribute to buildup of pollutants, especially particulate matter, in form of dust
domes over cities
Class: Investigating the Environment Teacher: Ms. Manzella
Unit 5: Atmosphere Test Review
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What is sick building syndrome? eye irritations, nausea, headaches, respiratory
infections, depression, & fatigue caused by indoor air pollution
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Who overseas the Clean Air Act? Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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Which countries have worse outdoor and indoor air pollution: developing
countries or highly developed countries? Developing Countries
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Which indoor pollutant is particularly serious in developing countries, and is
estimated to kill 1.6 million people each year? Smoke from burning solid fuels
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What is radon? Where/why is it a problem? North Jersey, Pennsylvania, & New
York – uranium in soil ; radon leaks through crack in foundation & buildup in home
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What was the result of the Montreal Protocol? phase out CFC production
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What is acid deposition/ acid rain? Secondary pollutant where chemicals react in
atmosphere & create lower acidity in the precipitation; can cause chemical
weathering of statues & buildings What is the relationship between coal-burning
power plants & acid deposition? Coal-burning power plants emit compounds like
sulfur oxides which can cause acid deposition
Weather, Climate, & Climate Change/Global Warming
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What is the Coriolis effect? the deflection of air and ocean currents due to rotation
of the Earth.
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What is the difference between weather and climate? weather – short term;
climate long-term
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What are the two most important factors that determine an area’s overall
climate? precipitation and temperature What are reason’s for regional
precipitation differences? closeness to water, altitude, geographic location,
topographic features, water vapor in air
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What is the greenhouse effect? Be able to identify a diagram depicting it.
Which greenhouse gases are most associated with automobile exhaust? CO2 &
nitrogen oxides
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What are some potential effects of global warming? spread of disease, sea level
rise, more erratic precipitation patterns
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What is the relationship between trees and greenhouse gases/climate change?
less trees – less photosynthesis taking CO2 out of the air – increase levels of CO2
greenhouse gas in the air  global warming