Deck 18: Air Pollution

Question 1

Volcanoes are an important natural source of

A) benzene.
B) ozone.
C) sulfur dioxide.
D) carbon monoxide.
E) chlorofluorocarbons.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The urban heat island is

A) warmer air temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas.
B) a concentration of energy use in an urban area.
C) locating factories in a single location downwind from cities.
D) use of conservation techniques to reduce energy use in cities.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The mixing depth is

A) a very stable layer that extends from the surface up to the base of an inversion.
B) an unstable layer that extends from the surface up to the base of an inversion.
C) a very stable layer found upward from an inversion.
D) an unstable layer that extends upward from an inversion.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A coning shape exhibited by a smokestack plume is indicative of ____ conditions.

A) inversion
B) stable
C) neutral
D) unstable
E) both inversion and stable

Question 5

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)reacts with ____ in the atmosphere to form nitric acid (HNO₃).

A) hydrogen
B) water vapor
C) ozone
D) carbon dioxide
E) sulfur dioxide

Question 6

Atmospheric stagnation is a condition normally brought on by

A) thunderstorms.
B) slow-moving anticyclones.
C) overcast skies.
D) tall buildings in a city.
E) movement of an upper level trough overhead.

Question 7

A looping smoke plume indicates relatively unstable atmospheric conditions.

Question 8

Which of the following would probably result in polluted conditions over a fairly long duration?

A) a radiation inversion
B) a subsidence inversion
C) persistent winds
D) overcast skies

Question 9

Pollution is most severe in urban areas when

A) a cold upper-level low moves into a region.
B) a warm front passes through the area.
C) a large slow-moving anticyclone moves into an area.
D) a storm system begins developing to the west.
E) a cold front passes through the area.

Question 10

Which of the following conditions would act to prevent a buildup of pollutants near the surface?

A) light surface winds
B) a strong subsidence inversion
C) a large,slow-moving anticyclone
D) a deep mixing layer

Question 11

A fanning shape exhibited by a smokestack plume is indicative of ____ conditions.

A) inversion
B) stable
C) neutral
D) unstable
E) both inversion and stable

Question 12

A primary component of photochemical smog is

A) ozone.
B) carbon monoxide.
C) sulfur dioxide.
D) chlorofluorocarbons.

Question 13

A looping shape exhibited by a smokestack plume is indicative of ____ conditions.

A) inversion
B) stable
C) neutral
D) unstable
E) both inversion and stable

Question 14

Which of the following statements is not true of carbon monoxide (CO)?

A) It replaces oxygen in the blood's hemoglobin.
B) It is removed slowly from the atmosphere.
C) It is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels.
D) Roughly half of the CO in the atmosphere is produced by automobiles.

Question 15

Photochemical smog is also termed

A) London-type smog.
B) subsidence smog.
C) mixing layer smog.
D) sea breeze smog.
E) Los Angeles-type smog.

Question 16

The smoke in London smogs came primarily from

A) exhaust from diesel engines.
B) trash fires.
C) factories in Eastern Europe.
D) coal combustion.

Question 17

Collectively,particles of soot,smoke,dust,and pollen are called

A) hydrocarbons.
B) aerosols.
C) carcinogens.
D) haze.

Question 18

Which of the following is not true of fine particulate matter (particles less than one micrometer in diameter)in the atmosphere?

A) Particles may remain suspended in the atmosphere for several weeks.
B) Particles are not readily removed from the atmosphere by rain and snow.
C) Particles are small enough to penetrate into the lungs.
D) Particles can cause a significant reduction in visibility.

Question 19

A mixing layer is characterized by

A) enhanced vertical air motions.
B) suppressed vertical air motions.
C) strong horizontal winds.
D) high concentrations of pollutants.

Question 20

An air quality index value of 35 on a particular day would indicate ____ conditions.

A) good
B) unhealthful
C) extremely hazardous
D) moderately hazardous

Question 21

The so-called "ozone hole" is observed above

A) the continent of North America.
B) the equator.
C) the continent of Australia.
D) the continent of Antarctica.
E) the continent of Asia.

Question 22

Rain with a pH of 5.6 would be considered

A) acidic.
B) alkaline.
C) neutral.
D) polluted.
E) harmful.

Question 23

Polar stratospheric clouds are thought to contribute to the problem of

A) global warming.
B) ozone destruction.
C) acid rain.
D) photochemical smog.
E) radio wave interference.

Question 24

When chlorofluorocarbons are subjected to ultraviolet radiation,____ is released which rapidly destroys ozone.

A) chlorine
B) nitrogen
C) carbon dioxide
D) carbon
E) water vapor

Question 25

The term "ozone hole" refers to a ____ decrease in ozone concentration.

A) permanent
B) seasonal
C) monthly
D) daily

Question 26

A country breeze would probably be associated with

A) a large high-pressure area that forms over a city.
B) a hot and humid summer day in a large city.
C) a period of heavy rain that falls over a city.
D) a strong urban heat island.

Question 27

Which is not correct about acid deposition?

A) It is only a problem in New England and Scandinavia.
B) It can damage plants and water resources.
C) It is caused mainly by the release of oxides of sulfur and nitrogen.
D) It can fall to ground in dry or wet forms.

Question 28

On clear,cold winter nights,cities tend to cool ____ than rural areas and have ____ temperatures.

A) more slowly,higher
B) more quickly,higher
C) more slowly,lower
D) more quickly,lower

Question 29

The ozone hole is found in this atmospheric layer:

A) thermosphere
B) troposphere
C) stratosphere
D) ionosphere
E) mesosphere

Question 30

A greenhouse gas used as a refrigerant,a solvent,and during the manufacture of foam:

A) water vapor (H₂O)
B) carbon dioxide (CO₂)
C) methane (CH₄)
D) polyvinylchloride (PVC)
E) chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Question 31

Studies suggest that downwind of a large industrial area

A) average annual precipitation can increase.
B) higher surface temperatures are observed.
C) breezy conditions are frequently observed.
D) all of the above

Question 32

If the concentration of ozone were to decrease significantly,which of the following might also occur?

A) less absorption of ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere.
B) an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer
C) The stratosphere would cool.
D) More ultraviolet radiation would be absorbed at the earth's surface.
E) all of the above

Question 33

About 97 percent of all ozone in the atmosphere is found in the

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

Question 34

A decline in the health of forests in Germany has been attributed to

A) erosion caused by excessive lumber cutting.
B) acid rain.
C) increased CO₂ concentrations and global warming.
D) urbanization.

Question 35

When contrasted to a rural area,cities usually do not have higher

A) concentrations of pollution.
B) frequency of fog.
C) temperatures.
D) visibilities.
E) frequency of thunderstorms.

Question 36

Which of the following contribute(s)to the formation of an urban heat island?

A) a large part of the incident sunlight in rural areas is used to evaporate water in vegetation and the soil
B) heat is released by vehicles in urban areas
C) heat is released slowly in cities at night
D) all of the above

Question 37

Sunshine in a city is typically less intense than in surrounding rural areas because

A) of the higher pollution levels in cities.
B) of the air temperature in cities.
C) tall structures in cities block our view of the horizon.
D) cement and asphalt in cities absorb a larger percentage of the incident sunshine.

Question 38

A country breeze blows

A) from the city toward the country at night.
B) from the city toward the country during the day.
C) from the country toward the city at night.
D) from the country toward the city during the day.

Question 39

The problem of acid rain is probably most severe in which of the following regions?

A) Gulf Coast
B) New England
C) Desert Southwest
D) Pacific Northwest
E) Central Plains

Question 40

Erosion of limestone buildings,fountains,and sculptures is caused largely by

A) acid rain.
B) ozone.
C) vibrations caused by automobile traffic.
D) urban heat island.

Question 41

What is the urban heat island effect? How could an urban heat island affect atmospheric conditions nearby?

Question 42

Would you expect to find the same environmental conditions upwind and downwind of a large city? Explain.

Question 43

Explain why locating industrial facilities on the perimeter of a city might not always prevent air pollution in the city.

Question 44

How does Los Angeles-type smog differ from London-type smog?

Question 45

What atmospheric conditions would you expect to find associated with a major air pollution episode?

Question 46

What stability condition is most favorable for improving urban air quality? What time of day or night does this stability condition typically occur?

Question 47

Particulate pollution with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers are particularly dangerous because

A) they can penetrate deep into the lungs.
B) they dissolve easily in water.
C) they are chemically neutralized by dissolved carbon dioxide.
D) they dissolve easily in water and they are chemically neutralized by dissolved carbon dioxide.
E) none of the above

Question 48

The Los Angeles area has shown a steady decline in the number of unhealthful days due to ozone.

Question 49

The country breeze tends to ____ pollutants in the urban air.

A) dilute
B) concentrate

Question 50

Which of the following are capable of destroying ozone in the stratosphere?

A) oxygen atoms
B) chlorine atoms
C) other ozone molecules
D) all of the above

Question 51

Once released into the atmosphere,chlorofluorocarbons remain about

A) 10 days.
B) 100 years.
C) 1 year.
D) 1 month.

Question 52

What causes acid rain? What are some of the environmental concerns associated with acid rain? Are problems with acid rain confined to a small area or do they extend over a large region?

Question 53

How can topography contribute to pollution in a city or region?

Question 54

What gas is produced naturally in the stratosphere and is also a primary component of photochemical smog in polluted air at the surface?

A) carbon dioxide
B) carbon monoxide
C) ozone
D) nitrogen dioxide
E) hydrocarbons

Question 55

Thunderstorms are most likely to form on a day when smokestack plumes have a

A) fanning shape.
B) looping shape.
C) coning shape.
D) lofting shape.

Question 56

Suspended particles in the atmosphere can affect climate by

A) reflecting incoming radiation.
B) absorbing outgoing infrared radiation from the earth's surface.
C) all of the above

Question 57

List some of the ways that pollutants are removed from the atmosphere.Does this occur quickly or slowly?

Question 58

Describe some of the measures that are being taken to reduce the problem of acid precipitation.

Question 59

Which of the following is a major way in which chlorofluorocarbons can enter the stratosphere?

A) from the exhaust of high-altitude aircraft
B) in an inversion
C) in building thunderstorms that penetrate into the lower stratosphere
D) from the rupture of radiosonde balloons

Question 60

Indoor air is typically more polluted than outdoor air.

Question 61

Why doesn't an acidified lake look polluted?

Question 62

Describe how the use of a tall smoke stack might improve air quality in the vicinity of a large industrial facility.

Question 63

Would highly polluted cities tend to have more clouds than less-polluted cities? Explain your answer.

Question 64

Describe some of the ways an industrial facility that is constructed in or near a large urban area could attempt to reduce emissions of air pollutants.

Question 65

Would you expect the concentrations of air pollutants to vary significantly during the day in the city where you live? If so,when would you expect to find the highest concentrations of pollutants?

Question 66

Explain how ozone might be thought to have both a beneficial and a detrimental role in the earth's atmosphere.