Deck 17: Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Question 1

The stratospheric ozone layer is important to ecosystems because it .

A)provides the air we breathe
B)keeps atmospheric gases balanced
C)absorbs and scatters UV light
D)ensures lakes and oceans do not lose water
E)keeps the temperature of Earth stable

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In industrialized nations, the two most deadly sources of indoor pollution are .

A)pesticides and cleaning agents
B)pesticides and cigarette smoke
C)radiation from electronic equipment and pesticides
D)radon and cigarette smoke
E)synthetic furniture materials and radiation from electronic equipment

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Weather patterns are largely determined in the .

A)stratosphere
B)lithosphere
C)mesosphere
D)biosphere
E)troposphere

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
Which of the following is a consequence of acid deposition?

A)It is increasing the rate of global warming.
B)It increases the likelihood of low- lying ground fogs.
C)It leaches important minerals from soils.
D)It results in offshore eutrophication, damaging coral reefs.
E)It creates rainwater that can damage skin cells or cause cancers.

Question 5

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
One key to the puzzle of Los Angeles smog is the fact that .

A)incoming tides in the harbor push air pollution ahead of them
B)the offshore breezes carry inland pollution to coastal Los Angeles
C)there are so many rainy days, increasing the acidic deposition
D)the Hadley cell for that area drops cool air, and pollution, right over Los Angeles
E)Los Angeles and its suburbs are all ringed by mountains

Question 6

Near the equator, the patterns of convection currents are called .

A)Coriolis cells
B)Ferrel cells
C)Hadley cells
D)high- pressure cells
E)El Niño events

Question 7

Photochemical smog differs from industrial smog in that it .

A)is an unhealthy mixture of pollutants
B)is formed only in the presence of sunlight
C)consists of primary pollutants
D)is primarily composed of carbon monoxide
E)has large quantities of soot

Question 8

One problem that occurs as a consequence of CFC pollution is _ .

A)respiratory irritation and lung cancer
B)movement of toxins into lakes and rivers, which poisons fish
C)increasing skin cancer in humans
D)eutrophication
E)damage to human red blood cells

Question 9

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
In the mid- 1950s, a researcher in Los Angeles was able to create smog by setting up a large, clear chamber and using it to expose auto exhaust to sunlight. He was demonstrating _ .

A)the cause of acidic deposition
B)non- point source pollution
C)the cause of ozone depletion
D)point source pollution
E)photochemical reactions

Question 10

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
In the 1950s, Los Angeles became famous for its smog. One part of the problem was .

A)heavy industry along the coastline
B)the increase in the number of automobiles
C)natural gas leaks from wells
D)dust from inland farms
E)pollution from the dams on the Colorado River

Question 11

The huge dust storms that took place in the United States in the 1930s .

A)were the result of glacier melt
B)were the result of polar cells
C)were the result of ozone depletion
D)were the result of poor farming techniques
E)were triggered by tornados, worsened by global climate change

Question 12

Residence time is the _.

A)chemical change that occurs with time, when substances are altered by the sun or metabolized by microorganisms
B)length of time it takes to produce toxic chemicals in the environment
C)average length of time a molecule of a substance spends in the environment
D)chemical change that occurs with time, when substances alter the growth and development of humans
E)length of time it takes for chemicals to be stored in the tissues of living organisms

Question 13

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
is a device designed to remove airborne pollutants from smokestack emissions.

A)A tall stack
B)A scrubber
C)A coal washer
D)A boiler
E)An air filter

Question 14

Radon .

A)contributes to the breakdown of the ozone layer
B)in the atmosphere limits the availability of sunlight for plants
C)is caused by the breakdown of the ozone layer
D)binds with hemoglobin, preventing binding with oxygen
E)may cause lung cancer when inhaled

Question 15

Seasons are a result of .

A)differences in the amount and intensity of sunlight brought about by the tilt of Earth's axis
B)alterations in Hadley cells
C)differences in the distance between Earth and the sun
D)changes in day length
E)the phases of the moon

Question 16

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
The Los Angeles smog problem is made much worse by _ .

A)nearby mountains and the warm sunshine, which cause inversion layers
B)the high cloud levels, which deplete the local ozone layer
C)the foggy climate, which leads to acidic deposition
D)the onshore breezes, which prevent pollution from dispersing
E)the convection cells, which bring pollutants from other cities

Question 17

The Earth's atmosphere is mostly composed of _ .

A)oxygen and carbon dioxide
B)nitrogen and carbon dioxide
C)water and oxygen
D)water and carbon dioxide
E)nitrogen and oxygen

Question 18

The Coriolis effect .

A)is caused by the moon
B)is caused by earth's rotational forces
C)results in ice and dark at the poles in winter
D)keeps Earth from spinning too fast
E)keeps the wind circulating at constant speed around the planet

Question 19

The primary causes of acid deposition are _.

A)soil dust and sand
B)carbon monoxide and formaldehyde
C)sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
D)radon gas and fuelwood smoke
E)tropospheric ozone

Question 20

The Coriolis effect contributes to .

A)global wind patterns
B)increased acidic deposition
C)global warming
D)an increase in eutrophication
E)a reduction in eutrophication

Question 21

Part of the reason that people's eyes would sting was .

A)the lead emissions from the burning trash
B)the plastics and chemicals in the burning trash
C)the carbon monoxide from the burning trash
D)the smoke and particulates from the burning trash
E)the excess water vapor from the burning trash

Question 22

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
You have been hired by a rapidly growing small city to improve the air quality, which has deteriorated in the past 10 years. What would be a logical action to take?

A)decrease the amount of CFCs used locally
B)try to negotiate with the large city downwind whose factories produce large amounts of pollution
C)remove the hydroelectric dam on the river
D)improve transportation options, including carpool lanes, buses, and light rail
E)move or close the cattle feed lots near the river

Question 23

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
What gas comprises the largest portion of Earth's atmosphere?

A)sulfur
B)oxygen
C)argon
D)ozone
E)nitrogen

Question 24

The Montreal Protocol .

A)is an example of a failed attempt to reduce international air pollution
B)addressed transnational movement of acid- forming pollutants
C)developed the international treaty for eliminating radon emissions from nuclear power plants
D)resulted in significant reduction in the production of CFCs by signatory nations
E)developed the framework for reduction of carbon dioxide in the United States and Canada

Question 25

Bacteria and fungal spores are potential _ .

A)problems in degrading the ozone layer
B)sources of radon in the home
C)VOCs and POPs
D)causes of "sick- building syndrome"
E)the cause of high pesticide use in the home

Question 26

Air moving along Earth's surface near the equator tends to be .

A)cooler than air at higher altitudes; it rises as it is displaced by Coriolis forces
B)cooler and wetter than air at higher latitudes; it then rises, is warmed by the sun, and sinks again
C)warmer and drier than air at higher latitudes; it then rises, condensing and gathering moisture
D)warmer and wetter than air at higher latitudes; it then rises, expands and cools
E)cooler and drier than air at higher latitudes; it rises when it is displaced by sinking warm air

Question 27

Match the following.

A)thermocline
B)Ferrel cells
C)thermal inversion
D)stratosphere
E)thermosphere
F)mesosphere
G)troposphere
H)high- pressure system
I)low- pressure system
J)Hadley cells
The layer of Earth's atmosphere in which we live

Question 28

Match the following.

A)thermocline
B)Ferrel cells
C)thermal inversion
D)stratosphere
E)thermosphere
F)mesosphere
G)troposphere
H)high- pressure system
I)low- pressure system
J)Hadley cells
A system containing cool air that spreads outward as it descends

Question 29

Match the following.

A)thermocline
B)Ferrel cells
C)thermal inversion
D)stratosphere
E)thermosphere
F)mesosphere
G)troposphere
H)high- pressure system
I)low- pressure system
J)Hadley cells
Convective cells near the equator

Question 30

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
Temperature increases with altitude through most of the stratosphere because _ .

A)greenhouse gases warm the air
B)heat is released when oxygen and ozone absorb the sun's UV radiation
C)water vapor levels are high and store heat
D)jet stream winds produce frictional heat
E)sunlight is more intense in the stratosphere

Question 31

Match the following.

A)thermocline
B)Ferrel cells
C)thermal inversion
D)stratosphere
E)thermosphere
F)mesosphere
G)troposphere
H)high- pressure system
I)low- pressure system
J)Hadley cells
Reversal of normal vertical temperature distribution in the lower region of the atmosphere

Question 32

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
In 1958 trash collection programs were established, and backyard incinerators were banned in the hope of reducing smog. However, it was estimated that massive amounts of gasoline were evaporating from storage tanks, fuel pump nozzles, and delivery trucks. This was also considered a serious contributor to smog, and over the next 20 years several new rules, and several new devices, were put in place to alleviate it. There was still a great deal of smog, now identified as photochemical smog, despite the changes. The major remaining problem was _.

A)insufficient city funding to improve waste dumps
B)too many coal- fired power plants along the coast
C)the influx of new manufacturing, with new chemicals
D)indoor pollution from new houses, with new furniture
E)the large distances traveled daily by solitary commuters

Question 33

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
Which of the following is the chief cause of industrial smog?

A)indoor air pollution
B)generation of nuclear power
C)burning trash
D)burning fossil fuels
E)fires for heating food

Question 34

Carbon monoxide _.

A)is a major component of the atmosphere
B)blocks oxygen transport in human blood
C)is consumed by plants for photosynthesis
D)is produced by plants during photosynthesis
E)causes ozone depletion

Question 35

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun- filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California.
Lead enters the atmosphere as a particulate pollutant. This is a problem because lead .

A)causes central nervous system damage in humans
B)is a precious metal, and it is being lost to the atmosphere
C)causes excess nutrification of waterways, resulting in eutrophication
D)will cause the ozone hole to increase
E)can become attached to radon

Question 36

The relative humidity is the .

A)amount of oxygen in the atmosphere
B)amount of oxygen a given volume of air holds relative to the maximum amount it could hold at a given temperature
C)difference in available water vapor at midnight and at noon
D)amount of water vapor a given volume of air holds compared to the maximum amount it could hold at a given temperature
E)amount of water vapor in the atmosphere

Question 37

Tropospheric ozone .

A)is produced through the interaction of UV light with nitrogen oxides and carbon- containing compounds
B)binds with hemoglobin, preventing binding with oxygen in red blood cells
C)is caused by poor farming techniques
D)protects Earth from most of the harmful UV radiation
E)is a primary pollutant

Question 38

Match the following.

A)thermocline
B)Ferrel cells
C)thermal inversion
D)stratosphere
E)thermosphere
F)mesosphere
G)troposphere
H)high- pressure system
I)low- pressure system
J)Hadley cells
The highest level of our atmosphere, with relatively few molecules per unit area

Question 39

Today, _ has the worst acid deposition problem, primarily because of _ _.

A)Sweden; methane emissions from cattle and natural gas heating
B)European Union nations; tropospheric ozone
C)China; coal- fired electrical and industrial plants
D)the United States; soil dust aerosols
E)Tehran; burning fuelwood

Question 40

Why is indoor pollution still such a large problem in developed nations? What are the most dangerous indoor pollutants in developing and developed nations?

Question 41

How do interacting masses of warm and cool air generate weather patterns?

Question 42

Define atmospheric deposition in general and explain the causes and effects of acid deposition.

Question 43

What determines the amount of solar radiation that strikes Earth's surface? What is the role of solar energy in creating seasons?

Question 44

Discuss the objective, and the success, of the 1987 Montreal Protocol. To what factors do scientists attribute its success?

Question 45

Using the examples of Mexico City and Los Angeles, discuss the special problems that vehicles create for urban outdoor air pollution.