Air Quality And Climate
Overview
The air looks empty, but it is a carefully balanced mixture, mostly nitrogen and oxygen with a little carbon dioxide and the noble gases. Burn fuels, run engines and farm animals, and that balance shifts: pollutants build up, the air over cities turns hazy, and the planet slowly warms.
In this lesson you will learn the composition of clean air, the source and harmful effect of each major air pollutant, and how greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane trap heat to cause global warming and climate change. You will be able to match each pollutant to where it comes from and the damage it does.
Objectives
- State the composition of clean, dry air as approximately 78% nitrogen, N₂, 21% oxygen, O₂ and the remainder as a mixture of noble gases and carbon dioxide, CO₂.
- State the source of each of these air pollutants, limited to: (a) carbon dioxide from the complete combustion of carbon-containing fuels (b) carbon monoxide and particulates from the incomplete combustion of carbon- containing fuels (c) m ethane from the decomposition of vegetation and waste gases from digestion in animals (d) oxides of nitrogen from car engines (e) sulfur dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels which contain sulfur compounds.
- State the adverse effect of these air pollutants, limited to: (a) carbon dioxide: higher levels of carbon dioxide leading to increased global warming, which leads to climate change (b) carbon monoxide: toxic gas (c) particulates: increased risk of respiratory problems and cancer (d) methane: higher levels of methane leading to increased global warming, which leads to climate change (e) oxides of nitrogen: acid rain, photochemical smog and respiratory problems (f) sulfur dioxide: acid rain.
- [Supplement] Describe how the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane cause global warming, limited to: (a) the absorption, reflection and emission of thermal energy (b) reducing thermal energy loss to space.
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Air Quality And Climate. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Approximately what percentage of clean, dry air is nitrogen? A. 21% B. 50% C. 78% D. 1% Answer: C
- Which pollutant is produced by the incomplete combustion of a carbon-containing fuel? A. Carbon dioxide B. Carbon monoxide C. Sulfur dioxide D. Nitrogen Answer: B
- Which gas is mainly responsible for acid rain from fossil fuels containing sulfur? A. Carbon dioxide B. Methane C. Sulfur dioxide D. Oxygen Answer: C
- Which pair of gases are greenhouse gases that cause global warming? A. Carbon dioxide and methane B. Nitrogen and oxygen C. Carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide D. Argon and neon Answer: A
- What is the main source of oxides of nitrogen as air pollutants? A. Decay of vegetation B. Car engines C. Burning sulfur D. Photosynthesis Answer: B
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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