Deck 12: Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion

Question 1

Greenhouse gases

A)warm the earth's lower atmosphere.
B)are vital human nutrients.
C)block all ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth's surface.
D)cause the earth's rotation on its axis.
E)create rain.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Acid deposition is properly defined as the ____ deposition of ____ pollutants onto the earth's surface.

A)wet; primary
B)wet; secondary
C)wet and dry; primary
D)wet and dry; secondary
E)dry; primary

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The layer of the atmosphere that plays a major role in earth's weather and long-term climate is the

A)thermosphere.
B)mesosphere.
C)stratosphere.
D)troposphere.
E)tropopause.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Acid deposition is best classified as a

A)local problem.
B)state problem.
C)regional problem.
D)national problem.
E)international problem.

Question 5

Outdoor air pollutants

A)can travel via prevailing winds.
B)are a low risk human health problem.
C)mostly occur in rural areas.
D)are increasing in developed countries.
E)are not regulated in the United States.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true of temperature inversions?

A)Temperature inversions occur when a layer of cold air prevents warm air from rising.
B)Temperature inversions exacerbate pollution problems.
C)Temperature inversions are temporary.
D)Temperature inversions cause cool air near the earth's surface to expand and rise, carrying pollutants higher into the troposphere.
E)Temperaturel inversions help prevent air pollution.

Question 7

____ acid deposition usually occurs near to emission point sources, whereas ____ acid deposition usually takes place in more distant down wind areas.

A)Dry; wet
B)Wet; dry
C)Wet; wet
D)Dry; dry
E)Primary; secondary

Question 8

Photochemical smog can most easily reduced by a drop in emissions of ____.

A)carbon monoxide
B)nitrous oxides
C)ozone emissions
D)water
E)PANs

Question 9

A temperature inversion is the result of

A)precipitation.
B)cold air drainage.
C)a layer of warm air lying atop cooler air near the ground.
D)a cold blanket of air that prevents warm air from rising.
E)mixing of cool and warm air.

Question 10

Industrial smog consists mostly of

A)nitrous oxide and suspended particles.
B)ozone and lead.
C)sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, and suspended solid particles.
D)lead and cement.
E)methane, nitrous oxide, and sulfuric acid.

Question 11

Photochemical smog is formed when primary pollutants interact with

A)sunlight.
B)water vapor.
C)sulfur dioxide.
D)oxygen.
E)carbon.

Question 12

The atmospheric layer containing most of the mass of the earth's air is the

A)thermosphere.
B)mesosphere.
C)stratosphere.
D)troposphere.
E)tropopause.

Question 13

The two most important factors describing climate are

A)temperature and insulation.
B)precipitation and pressure.
C)humidity and wind.
D)average temperature and average precipitation.
E)relative humidity and clouds.

Question 14

The troposphere is composed of 99%

A)hydrogen and oxygen.
B)nitrogen and oxygen.
C)hydrogen and methane.
D)carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
E)helium and hydrogen.

Question 15

Prevailing winds blowing over the oceans produce

A)global warming.
B)ocean acidification.
C)air pollution.
D)SPM.
E)ocean currents.

Question 16

Temperature inversions increase outdoor air pollution because they

A)accelerate photochemical reactions.
B)are taller than most smokestacks.
C)prevent brown air smog.
D)prevent the natural mixing of air.
E)accelerate the emission of primary pollutants.

Question 17

Primary pollutants are

A)chemicals or substances emitted directly into the air.
B)those formed from reactions with other pollutants in the atmosphere.
C)found only in stratospheric ozone.
D)also known as natural pollutants.
E)found only in fossil fuels.

Question 18

Secondary pollutants are

A)chemicals or substances emitted directly into the air.
B)those formed from reactions with other pollutants in the atmosphere.
C)found only in stratospheric ozone
D)also known as natural pollutants.
E)found only in fossil fuels.

Question 19

Stratospheric ozone prevents 95% of the

A)earth's carbon dioxide from contributing to global warming.
B)earth's population from getting skin cancer.
C)troposphere from escaping.
D)ozone layer from forming.
E)sun's harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth's surface.

Question 20

Photochemical smog is worst in urban areas with a climate that is

A)cool, wet, and cloudy.
B)cool, dry, and sunny.
C)warm, dry, and sunny.
D)warm, wet, and cloudy.
E)warm, wet, and sunny.

Question 21

Which of the following statements about the potential effects of global warming on human health is false?

A)Food and freshwater supplies are likely to be disrupted.
B)People are likely to be displaced from coastal areas.
C)Occurrence of insect-borne diseases is likely to decrease in temperate zones.
D)Sanitation systems in coastal cities may be flooded.
E)Respiratory diseases are likely to increase.

Question 22

The oceans' surface water is

A)not acidic enough to maintain the earth's climate.
B)more able to absorb carbon dioxide as the water temperature increases.
C)less able to absorb carbon dioxide as the water temperature increases.
D)largely stagnant in terms of facilitating temperature changes
E)becoming dramatically cooler in recent decades.

Question 23

For roughly 10,000 years, global climate has been

A)wildly fluctuating.
B)relatively stable.
C)slowly warming.
D)rapidly warming.
E)rapidly cooling.

Question 24

Melting permafrost might accelerate climate change because

A)carbon dioxide is trapped as water melts.
B)polar bears and other arctic species rely on permafrost.
C)sea levels will rise.
D)methane gas stored in the frozen ground will be released.
E)coral reefs rely on methane.

Question 25

Which of the following represents an output strategy for combating climate change?

A)carbon capture and storage schemes
B)energy efficiency laws
C)fossil fuel reductions
D)nonrenewable energy source initiatives
E)tropical forest logging certifications

Question 26

____ emits the most amount of carbon dioxide per unit of energy generated.

A)Coal
B)Natural gas
C)Gasoline
D)Solar power
E)Oil

Question 27

The success of emissions trading programs in limiting pollution depends primarily on

A)the size of the initial cap only.
B)how often the cap is lowered only.
C)the size of the cap and how often it is lowered.
D)the danger of the pollutant being limited.
E)the participation of local airports.

Question 28

Which of the following statements is false?

A)The process of ocean acidification enabled life on land to evolve.
B)CFCs are odorless and stable.
C)CFCs are nonflammable, nontoxic, and noncorrosive.
D)Ocean acidification is responsible for the breakdown of ozone to molecular oxygen.
E)CFCs are cheap to produce.

Question 29

In the short term, some humans may benefit from which of the following climate change effects?

A)melting glacial ice
B)rising sea levels
C)permafrost melt
D)biodiversity loss
E)agricultural shifts

Question 30

The part of the world that has been warming fastest in the last 50 years is ____.

A)the mid-latitudes
B)the Arctic region
C)North America
D)the Tibetan Plateau
E)the oceans throughout the world

Question 31

Mucus lining the human upper respiratory tract

A)causes about 90% of pollution-related lung cancer.
B)is a significant source of radon.
C)generates carbon monoxide.
D)removes particles and dissolves some gaseous pollutants.
E)is a major source of CFCs.

Question 32

Furniture stuffing, paneling, particle board, and carpeting may be sources of

A)chloroform.
B)formaldehyde.
C)carbon monoxide.
D)isoprene.
E)sulfur dioxide.

Question 33

The quickest and cheapest way to slow the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is to

A)switch from fossil fuels to nuclear fuels.
B)increase the efficiency of energy use.
C)put a price on carbon dioxide emissions.
D)stop deforestation.
E)slow population growth.

Question 34

Which method would be least effective in improving U.S. air pollution laws?

A)Refocusing on pollution prevention
B)Increasing vehicle fuel efficiency
C)Better ventilating homes and buildings
D)Increasing regulations on motorcycles and two-cycle engines
E)Better regulation of airports and cruise ships

Question 35

Use of biochar removes carbon from the atmosphere by

A)fertilizing the Amazon Basin.
B)burning biomass such as chicken waste.
C)making an excellent organic fertilizer
D)keeping carbon in the soil for up to 1,000 years.
E)releasing small amounts of carbon dioxide when it is made.

Question 36

Which statement is false?

A)CFCs are persistent chemicals.
B)Ozone depletion is worst in Antarctica.
C)CFCs substitutes have been found.
D)Ozone thinning levels remain steady over seasons.
E)CFCs contribute to global warming.

Question 37

One major way to help protect the atmosphere is to

A)quickly burn all remaining fossil fuels to encourage faster change to alternative fuels.
B)compartmentalize air pollution, water pollution, and energy policies so that each department has its own focus.
C)emphasize local control and responsibility for air pollution.
D)control population growth.
E)decrease use of renewable energy.

Question 38

A cap-and-trade program exists for which pollutant?

A)SO2.
B)CFCs
C)CO2
D)formaldehyde
E)lead

Question 39

Respiratory illnesses in developing countries are most likely to be caused by

A)formaldehyde.
B)cigarette smoke.
C)suspended particulate matter.
D)asbestos.
E)ozone.

Question 40

Which answer best states the current scientific position about global warming?

A)There is no problem⎯it's a hoax.
B)There is no need to worry. The projected change in temperature is no more than we experience on any given day.
C)The problem is the potential rise in average global temperature.
D)The problem is the quick rate of change in average global temperature.
E)The problem is the slow rate of change in average global temperature.

Question 41

Air pollutants come only from human sources.

Question 42

We can ignore the temporary consequences of a warmer global climate because much of the recent warming is due to natural glacial and interglacial cycles.

Question 43

The atmospheric layer closest to earth's surface is the ____________________.

Question 44

____________________ refers to the long-term average of weather patterns in a particular area.

Question 45

Major U.S. airports are typically among the organizations least responsible for pollution.

Question 46

The ozone hole is a region of the stratosphere with reduced concentrations of ozone.

Question 47

Despite the recent warming of the troposphere, in 2009, the world's oceans were the coolest in 130 years of record keeping.

Question 48

The world's economies are not affected by the climate change.

Question 49

Over the past 30 years, the quality of outdoor air in most developed countries has greatly improved.

Question 50

Even if we immediately halt all new releases of ozone depleting chemicals, the ozone layer can never be restored to its pre-1950s levels.

Question 51

Major companies have increased profits by developing or using cleaner and more efficient energy technologies.

Question 52

Chlorofluorocarbons can be used to combat global warming.

Question 53

Man-made climate change affects the entire planet and will likely have long-term consequences.

Question 54

Future global warming consequences will likely include major heat waves, more intense forest fires, prolonged droughts, glacial melt, and sea level rise.

Question 55

Because it is a metal, lead is not a major air pollutant.

Question 56

____________________ poisoning, mostly affecting children, can cause mental retardation and brain damage.

Question 57

A(n) ____________________ reaction is any chemical reaction activated by light.

Question 58

The health risks of indoor air pollution are generally greater in developed urban areas because people who live and work in these areas spend the majority of their time indoors or inside vehicles.

Question 59

____________________ pollutants are formed by the reactions of ____________________ pollutants and other naturally occurring substances to form new harmful chemicals.

Question 60

An emissions credit trading system in place since 1990 has contributed little to the success of reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from electrical power plants.

Question 61

____________________ is a regional environmental problem that results in respiratory ailments, aquatic fish kills, weakening of forest ecosystems, and damage to buildings and monuments.

Question 62

____________________ are manmade compounds that have been widely used as refrigerants and in spray propellants.

Question 63

Labeling
a.A
b.B
On the accompanying air pollution diagram, choose the letter that represents CO, CO2, SO2, NO, NO2, most hydrocarbons, and most suspended particles.

Question 64

Global warming is causing sea level to rise for two separate reasons. What are they?

Question 65

Labeling
a.A
b.B
On the accompanying air pollution diagram, choose the letter that represents SO3, HNO3, H3SO4, H2O2, O3, PANs, and most NO3− and SO42− salts.

Question 66

An atmospheric carbon dioxide level of 450 ppm is widely considered to be an irreversible climate change, or ____________________.

Question 67

Climate scientists are deeply concerned about tipping points. What are tipping points and why should we avoid crossing them? Provide two examples of tipping points and explain why they are dangerous.

Question 68

The ____________________ is an international agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming.

Question 69

Labeling

In the accompanying atmospheric diagram, choose the letter that represents the boundary in the atmosphere between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

Question 70

____________________ consists mostly of an unhealthy mix of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid and a variety of suspended solid particles.

Question 71

In the face of a warmer climate there are some lifestyle changes that your children and grandchildren will have to learn to make. Providing at least four unavoidable consequences of climate change and discuss some of these changes.

Question 72

Some colleges and universities are taking action to reduce their carbon footprint. What are some strategies that you can do as an individual or as a student group to make your campus greener?

Question 73

There is some evidence that some aerosols and suspended particles in outdoor air pollution may actually slow the rate of atmospheric warming. Why do some scientist expect that these particles will not have a significant effect on counteracting projected climate change within the next 50 years?

Question 74

Labeling

In the accompanying atmospheric diagram, choose the layer that contains ozone and keeps approximately 95% of the sun's ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth's surface.

Question 75

Why were nations and companies been able to work together to solve the global problem of ozone depletion?