Deck 14: Human Effects on the Atmosphere

Question 1

Which of the following are sources of particulates?

A)natural fires
B)volcanic eruptions
C)wind-blown pollen
D)all of these

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Air pollutants can take the form of

A)gasses.
B)particulates.
C)liquids.
D)all the above

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Carbon monoxide

A)has a pungent odor.
B)is consumed in volcanic eruptions.
C)is consumed by some microorganisms.
D)catalyzes the production of high levels of carbon dioxide.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Atmospheric sulfur compounds

A)originate primarily from natural sources.
B)occur only in the gaseous form.
C)occur primarily in the form of sulfur monoxide.
D)do not have a role in acid precipitation.

Question 5

Acid precipitation

A)reaches lakes and rivers primarily by leaching through soil.
B)is less of a problem downwind of areas that burn large amounts of coal.
C)is caused by only one compound.
D)is less of a problem in Scandinavia than in northern Canada.

Question 6

Sulfur trioxide

A)easily combines with water to form sulfuric acid.
B)most commonly enters the atmosphere as a primary pollutant.
C)helps counter the effects of acid rain.
D)is one of the major components of air pollution.

Question 7

Carbon monoxide tightly binds to ________.

Question 8

Acid precipitation,historically,is the most concentrated in the

A)Pacific Northwest.
B)Desert Southwest.
C)Gulf Coast.
D)Ohio River Valley.

Question 9

This form of air pollution is created when sunlight transforms gases and aerosols: ________.

Question 10

Air is often much cleaner after a rain primarily because

A)droplets and crystals scavenge particulates.
B)particulates act as condensation nuclei.
C)gravitational settling works faster when the air is saturated.
D)the lower temperature increases the efficiency of automobile engines.

Question 11

This secondary pollutant is the source of most acid precipitation problems in the Northeast: ________.

Question 12

This chemical tightly binds to hemoglobin,blocking its ability to deliver oxygen to red blood cells.

A)sulfur dioxide
B)nitrogen dioxide
C)sulfuric acid
D)carbon monoxide

Question 13

All of the following statements about particulates are true,except

A)they can be solid.
B)they can be liquid.
C)they can have natural sources.
D)they are larger than aerosols.

Question 14

Particulate pollution can be removed through

A)settling.
B)scrubbing.
C)washing.
D)All of these ways

Question 15

The most famous air pollution disaster in North America occurred in

A)New York, NY.
B)Los Angeles, CA.
C)Donora, PA.
D)none of these

Question 16

These compounds are made entirely of hydrogen and carbon: ________.

Question 17

Small suspended solids and liquids are called

A)precipitation.
B)particulates.
C)smog.
D)all of these

Question 18

Sulfur dioxide

A)is yellowish in color.
B)is produced primarily through the burning of fossil fuels.
C)does not have any established detrimental effects on humans.
D)is not corrosive.

Question 19

This area of the United States has the greatest acidity in its precipitation.

A)West
B)Southeast
C)northern Plains
D)Northeast

Question 20

Acid precipitation is primarily associated with

A)the Ohio Valley.
B)the Southwest.
C)the Pacific Northwest.
D)the western Great Lakes.

Question 21

Pollutants that are formed as a result of chemical reactions with the atmosphere are called

A)primary pollutants.
B)secondary pollutants.
C)ash.
D)sediment pollutants.

Question 22

All of the following statements about nitrogen dioxide are true,except

A)it can lead to increased numbers of acid molecules in the atmosphere.
B)it is corrosive.
C)it breaks down slowly.
D)it is bad for the pulmonary system.

Question 23

Carbon monoxide is

A)a non-lethal gas that forms as the result of combustion.
B)an extremely deadly gas because it emulates oxygen in the blood stream.
C)a solid that can be filtered.
D)a particulate that settles via gravity.

Question 24

Acid rain is the result of

A)carbon monoxide.
B)the dioxides of carbon going into solution with rain water.
C)the dioxides of sulfur going into solution with rain water.
D)particulates deposited on buildings and then being brought into solution by rain water.

Question 25

Photochemical smog is produced

A)when conditions for acid rain are at their peak.
B)when secondary pollutants are present.
C)only in industrial areas.
D)when sunlight transforms certain gasses and aerosols.

Question 26

Pollutants that are formed in a manufacturing process or in the combustion process are called

A)primary pollutants.
B)secondary pollutants.
C)acid rain.
D)smog.

Question 27

What proportion of sulfur compounds in the atmosphere come from natural sources?

A)1/10
B)1/5
C)1/3
D)2/3

Question 28

Discuss the effects of acid precipitation on the environment.

Question 29

Define and distinguish between primary pollutants and secondary pollutants.

Question 30

First define particulates.Then discuss their sources,how they are removed from the atmosphere,and the effects particulates have on health.

Question 31

Nitric oxide

A)is a highly toxic compound.
B)easily oxidizes to form nitrogen dioxide.
C)takes thousands of years to break down once released into the atmosphere.
D)primarily affects the pulmonary system.

Question 32

What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

Question 33

List three important sources of pollutants in the United States.

Question 34

Fog forms at humidity values less than 100 percent

A)because of a large concentration of condensation nuclei.
B)because of a relatively small concentration of condensation nuclei.
C)only over ocean areas.
D)only over inland swamps and stagnant water areas.

Question 35

Photochemical smog

A)is a major component of London type smog.
B)is caused by primary pollutants.
C)includes ozone as a component.
D)has few if any health effects.

Question 36

Hydrocarbons

A)typically contain other elements besides carbon and hydrogen.
B)occur only in particulate forms.
C)are released into the atmosphere primarily through natural processes.
D)cause substantial health problems in cities with high levels of air pollution.

Question 37

Smog is

A)a combination of smoke and fog.
B)a combination of smoke and organic waste.
C)only found in California.
D)more of a nuisance than a threat to health.

Question 38

This compound or group of compounds is primarily responsible for the yellow to reddish-brown color of Los Angeles smog.

A)carbon monoxide
B)sulfur dioxide
C)volatile organic compounds
D)nitrogen dioxide

Question 39

Describe how carbon monoxide is produced by both humans and nature.Then discuss why it is so toxic to humans.

Question 40

Which of the following types of fog would be associated with areas where smoke combines with damp air?

A)London-type smog
B)Los Angeles-type smog
C)Cairo-type fog
D)Albuquerque-type fog

Question 41

Pollution concentration is

A)determined solely by the quantity of emissions.
B)determined solely by the wind speed.
C)the quantity of a pollutant found within a specific volume of air.
D)always higher during the day than at night.

Question 42

In the United States,acid precipitation is least likely to be related to compounds of

A)nitrogen.
B)sulfur.
C)carbon.
D)oxygen.

Question 43

Los Angeles type smog is primarily a result of

A)smoke.
B)fog.
C)photochemical reactions.
D)advected coastal fog laden with salt crystals.

Question 44

This is the least important reason why Los Angeles has such a substantial smog problem.

A)noncompliance with environmental regulations
B)location in a basin bounded by mountains
C)a subsidence inversion in warmer months
D)a large number of cloudless days

Question 45

Which of the following is considered to be the smoggiest of U.S.national parks?

A)Grand Canyon National Park
B)Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park
C)Crater Lake National Park
D)Shenandoah National Park

Question 46

Cloud conditions influence

A)the quantity of pollution emitted into the atmosphere from industrial and mobile sources.
B)the vertical and horizontal dispersion of pollutants.
C)the rate of photochemical reactions taking place.
D)the increased use of fuel for heating or cooling.

Question 47

The chief source of Los Angeles air pollution is

A)automobile exhaust.
B)coal-burning electricity plants.
C)industrial pollutants.
D)fog from the ocean.

Question 48

The most important source of airborne pollutants is ________.

Question 49

Explain the historical significance of the Donora,Pennsylvania pollution episode.

Question 50

Atmospheric stability and wind conditions control

A)the quantity of pollution emitted into the atmosphere from industrial and mobile sources.
B)the vertical and horizontal dispersion of pollutants.
C)the rate of photochemical reactions taking place.
D)the increased use of fuel for heating or cooling.

Question 51

The Environmental Protection Agency considers this city to have the worst ozone pollution.

A)Los Angeles
B)Chicago
C)New York
D)Phoenix

Question 52

This city typically has the worst pollution in the United States: ________.

Question 53

Subsidence from the semipermanent Hawaiian high-pressure system

A)contributes to the poor air quality of Los Angeles.
B)improves the poor air quality of Los Angeles.
C)is irrelevant to the poor air quality of Los Angeles.
D)causes adiabatic cooling of pollution.

Question 54

List two pollutants that are monitored to calculate the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Question 55

The first major US initiative to clean up the nation's air was

A)the 1870 Clean Air Act.
B)the 1920 Clean Air Act.
C)the 1970 Clean Air Act.
D)the Magna Carta.

Question 56

This is the largest source of atmospheric pollutants.

A)volcanic eruptions
B)human activities
C)forest fires
D)heavy winds in dry deserts

Question 57

The responsibility for complying with US federal air quality standards lies with

A)individuals.
B)individual states.
C)tri-state regions.
D)the federal government.

Question 58

The most important source of carbon monoxide emissions in the United States is

A)natural emissions.
B)automobile engines.
C)coal-fired energy plants.
D)industrial processes.

Question 59

Of the following pollutants,the greatest percentage of this one comes from fuel combustion.

A)nitrogen oxides
B)volatile organic compounds
C)suspended particulate matter
D)sulfur dioxide

Question 60

According to the Environmental Protection Agency,this is the most important agent of photochemical smog: ________.

Question 61

The concentration of air pollution is ________ wind speed.

A)proportional to
B)inversely proportional to
C)unaffected by
D)always half of the

Question 62

Sine 1990,the most dramatic reduction in US aggregate pollution levels is for

A)ozone.
B)PM10.
C)ozone and PM10.
D)CO and SO2.

Question 63

A subsidence inversion

A)increases pollutant concentration aloft and decreases pollutant concentration near the surface.
B)decreases pollutant concentration aloft and increases pollutant concentration near the surface.
C)increases pollutant concentration both aloft and near the surface.
D)decreases pollutant concentration both aloft and near the surface.

Question 64

This type of air leads to the greatest vertical mixing of pollutants.

A)stable air
B)unstable air
C)radiation inversion
D)subsidence inversion

Question 65

Which of the following vertical temperature profiles is most likely to trigger an episode of pollution?

A)inversion
B)lapse
C)isothermal
D)dry adiabatic

Question 66

Great wind speeds favor

A)increased horizontal dispersion.
B)increased vertical dispersion.
C)increased horizontal and vertical dispersion.
D)reduced dispersion.

Question 67

An unstable atmosphere

A)increases pollutant concentration aloft and decreases pollutant concentration near the surface.
B)decreases pollutant concentration aloft and increases pollutant concentration near the surface.
C)increases pollutant concentration both aloft and near the surface.
D)decreases pollutant concentration both aloft and near the surface.

Question 68

A strong radiation inversion

A)increases pollutant concentration aloft and decreases pollutant concentration near the surface.
B)decreases pollutant concentration aloft and increases pollutant concentration near the surface.
C)increases pollutant concentration both aloft and near the surface.
D)decreases pollutant concentration both aloft and near the surface.

Question 69

The figure illustrates the

A)downward trend in the frequency of radiation inversions in the Los Angeles area.
B)consistent improvement in Los Angeles area air quality.
C)downward trend in the frequency of subsidence inversions in the Los Angeles area.
D)increasing trend in pollutant dispersion in the Los Angeles area.

Question 70

Describe the important aspects of wind speed and direction on dispersal of air pollution.

Question 71

Atmospheric stability

A)has no effect on pollution concentration.
B)can have a tremendous effect on pollution concentration.
C)is only a problem during periods of low pressure systems.
D)will affect the concentration rate but not the settling rate of pollutants.

Question 72

The photo provides evidence of

A)effective dispersion.
B)strong eddies.
C)strong dilution.
D)a subsidence inversion.

Question 73

Since 1990,average ________ levels in the US have consistently been below the national standard.

A)CO
B)ozone
C)PM10
D)CO and PM10

Question 74

Which of the following meteorological settings is most favorable for severe air pollution?

A)strong wind; inversion; stable
B)light wind; isothermal; stable
C)light wind; inversion; unstable
D)strong wind; lapse; unstable

Question 75

Radiation inversions

A)lead to substantial vertical mixing of air.
B)typically dissipate just after sunrise.
C)have the greatest impact on pollution in the late afternoon.
D)originate at the surface.

Question 76

Subsidence inversions

A)have little impact on regions where photochemical smog is prevalent.
B)do not often occur in the Los Angeles basin.
C)have a base that delineates the maximum elevation under which air can easily mix.
D)are a subcategory of radiation inversions.

Question 77

The "land-sea breeze" is

A)reversible from day to night.
B)shallow, does not reach to great heights.
C)driven only by a thermal differential.
D)All of these

Question 78

Which of the following is not a contributing factor to the poor air quality in Los Angeles?

A)the city lies in a basin surrounded by mountains
B)frequent subsidence inversions
C)typically cloud-free conditions during afternoon
D)heavy rainfall

Question 79

Near Los Angeles,the sea breeze front

A)separates marine air from polluted air.
B)moves farther off-shore as the day progresses.
C)leads to lowering pollution in the eastern portion of the Los Angeles basin in the late afternoon.
D)does not affect the concentrations of photochemically generated smog components.

Question 80

The effect of winds on pollution dispersal is such that

A)the concentration of air pollutants is directly proportional to the wind speed.
B)forced convection decreases with increased wind speed.
C)strong horizontal winds will lead to some vertical distribution of pollutants.
D)changing direction of wind has no significant impact on the rate of pollution dispersal.