Download APES Unit 6 - King Philip Regional School District

Chapters 15 & 16 – Air, Weather, & Climate; Air Pollution
Unit 6: Atmosphere
AP Environmental Science
Mrs. Pickart
Overview:
The atmosphere is responsible for protecting life on Earth and shielding us from excess amounts
of the sun’s radiation while also absorbing thermal energy emanating from the Earth, thereby
keeping the Earth warm. The unique balance of gases in the atmosphere allows life to exist on
earth and is what distinguishes this planet from the others. Studying the atmosphere allows us to
understand and predict weather and climate patterns. Climate is the long term weather pattern
for a particular region and is influenced by natural factors as well human factors. Climate
change has occurred throughout geologic history but it appears that there has been a discernible
anthropogenic influence over the past 150 years. We will explore the history of climate change
and sort through the facts in order to gain a better understanding of this controversial topic.
More people die each year from air pollution related illnesses than any other cause and air
quality is often one of the most overlooked factors with respect to environmental health. The
majority of the air pollution problems we experience today come from the production and
combustion of fossil fuels as well as from the chemicals we use on a daily basis. Air pollution is
not just a localized problem but has now become a global issue. Both indoor and outdoor air
quality play a significant role in the health and well-being of the entire planet.
Objectives:
Students should be able to do the following:
1. Describe the general composition and structure of the atmosphere.
2. Explain why weather events follow general patterns.
3. Outline some factors in natural climate variability.
4. Explain how we know recent climate change is human-caused.
5. List some effects of climate change.
6. Identify some solutions being developed to slow climate change.
7. Identify natural sources of air pollution.
8. Discuss anthropogenic (human-caused) air pollution.
9. Define and provide examples of primary and secondary air pollutants.
10. Explain how climate topography and atmospheric processes affect air quality.
11. Compare the effects of air pollution.
12. Evaluate air pollution control.
Key Terms
Chapter 15
wedge analysis
jet streams
weather
monsoons
climate
cold front
aerosols
warm front
troposphere
hurricanes
convection currents
tornadoes
stratosphere
Milankovitch cycles
ozone
El Nino
albedo
La Nina
positive feedback loop*
ENSO
greenhouse effect
IPCC
greenhouse gases
global climate change
latent heat
Kyoto Protocol
Coriolis effect
carbon neutral
Chapter 16
ambient air
criteria pollutants
primary pollutants
secondary pollutants
fugitive emissions
sulfur dioxide
nitrogen oxides
nitric oxide
nitrogen dioxide
nitrous oxide
carbon monoxide
ozone
photochemical oxidants
volatile organic compounds
industrial smog
electrostatic precipitator
vacuum baghouse
sick building syndrome
particulate matter
aerosols
hazardous air pollutants
Toxic Release Inventory
aesthetic degradation
temperature inversions
stratospheric ozone
chlorofluorocarbons
Montreal Protocol
bronchitis
chronic obstructive lung
disease
synergistic effects
acid precipitation
Clean Air Act
photochemical smog
wet scrubber
tropospheric ozone (groundlevel)
NAAQS
anthropogenic
Classwork/Homework:
 Pre-Quiz on Climate Change (Padlet link: https://padlet.com/pickartg/inesks3u6d8)
 Atmosphere Basics (Padlet)
 GHE and Carbon Cycle (Padlet)
 Criteria Pollutants Data Table
 Complete online HW questions (McGraw Hill)
 Current events – choose articles that pertain to the themes of the chapters
 Questions for Review (see below)
Materials:
 Power point notes (download from KP Fusion Page under Staff Profiles)
 McGraw Hill online resources
 Bozeman Science video clip (Padlet)
 HHMI Video Lecture Series on Climate (Padlet)
Activities:
 Albedo
 CO2 Measurement in Car Exhaust
 Ocean Acidification
 Air Pollutant Vocabulary Mix-Up
 Air Pollutant Criteria – AQI and NAAQS
 Particulate Collection Activity
Labs:
 Urban Tree Sequestration
 Air Quality Index
Assessments:
o Reading Questions/Quizzes (HW)
o Vocab Quizzes for key terms (Assessment)
o 2 FRQs (HW)
o Unit Test Ch. 15 & 16 (Assessment)
Suggested Videos:
An Inconvenient Truth
Before the Flood
Questions for Review Chapter 15:
1. What are the first two layers (starting on Earth’s surface) of the atmosphere? How does burning fossil
fuels affect each of these layers?
2. What property of water allows it to moderate different conditions on land?
3. What action is the most important contributing factor to global climate change? Using current
technologies, what is an affordable plan to reverse the trend?
4. How does global climate change affect natural ecosystems?
5. Why is global climate change controversial?
Questions for Review Chapter 16:
1. What are secondary pollutants and how are they formed from chemical reactions with primary
pollutants?
2. What are natural sources of air quality degradation? What are anthropogenic sources of air pollution?
3. What is the difference between stratospheric ozone and tropospheric ozone?
4. Why is indoor air pollution more dangerous than outdoor air pollution? What is an example of one such
pollutant in your house and what could you do to eliminate this pollutant from your indoor air?