Air+Pollution+Study+Guide+-+Updated

Miami Palmetto Senior High School - Pinecrest

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Pamela J. Shlachtman March 9, 2023

AIR POLLUTION STUDY GUIDE – LOCAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL

1. List the criteria air pollutants. What determines whether a pollutant is classified as a criteria pollutant? List the sources of

these pollutants and describe their impacts on the environment. List and discuss the strategies that are used to address these

pollutants.

2. Describe the Greenhouse Effect. Name and identify the sources for various Greenhouse gasses (GHG). Describe the causes

of global warming / climate change. Be able to discuss the major impacts of climate change on ecosystems. List and

describe ways to slow down or reverse climate change. What methods are used to mitigate the situation? Name and describe the

major agreements on climate change. Be able to describe / analyze the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and global

temperature. Know the relative GWP of the various GHGs. Describe the impact of climate change on sea level rise and ocean

acidification.

3. Be able to differentiate between primary and secondary air pollutants. Be able to give examples of each and be able to

identify / describe their sources. Discuss the factors that influence air pollution (temperature inversions, topography,

location, precipitation, and wind patterns).

4. Differentiate between grey air (industrial) pollution and brown air (photochemical) SMOG. Identify the components of each,

the sources for these pollutants, input and output methods of control. Describe the time dynamics associated with typical LA

(photochemical) SMOG (explore a graphical depiction of the time dynamics)

5. Differentiate between tropospheric and stratospheric ozone. Know the reactions for the formation of each. List and describe

the reactions responsible for the depletion of stratospheric ozone. Identify and describe the sources for the ozone

(stratospheric) depleting chemicals. Describe the relationship between stratospheric ozone concentrations and the time of

year. Explain the role of stratospheric clouds and the polar vortex and ozone depletion. List and describe the major actions

taken to reverse ozone depletion including international agreements. List and describe the impacts on ecosystems

(including plant and animal populations) of a thinning ozone layer. Explain the benefits of the stratospheric ozone layer.

6. List the layers of the atmosphere and describe the major characteristics of each layer (including chemical composition and

temperature profiles). What is the major difference between the primitive atmosphere and today’s atmosphere?

7. Calculations 🡪 half-life and pH

8. Compare the pH of normal rainfall to that of acid rainfall. List the major causes of acid deposition and describe the

impacts on ecosystems, including biotic and abiotic components. List and describe the steps that have been taken to reduce

the sources of acid deposition. Include both input and output controls as well as remediation strategies. Identify the areas

of the country most impacted by acid deposition. Identify the type of soils and lakes are most impacted by acid deposition

and explain why they are susceptible to the impacts of acid deposition.

9. Identify and describe natural and anthropogenic sources of air pollutants.

10. Identify and describe the major sources of methane in the environment.

11. Give examples of both positive and negative temperature feedbacks.

12. Describe the trends in the concentration of the criteria air pollutants and discuss the major reasons for those declines.

13. Identify the pollutants each of the following techniques will reduce:

i) fluidized bed combustion ii) wet scrubbers iii) coal washing iv) electrostatic precipitators

v) Selective catalytic reduction units (SCR) vi) catalytic converters vii) sorbents

14. Explain / describe the following: heat islands, dust domes, albedo, and ENSO.

15. List and describe the major indoor air pollutants, their sources, and their impacts.

16. Briefly describe each of the following:

a. Copenhagen Agreements d. International Law of the Sea g. Acid Rain Program

b. Kyoto Protocol e. Clean Air Acts and Amendments h. Cap and Trade Program

c. Montreal Protocol f. Clear Skies Initiative i) CAFÉ standards

j) IPCC k. Paris Climate Agreements

17. Briefly describe the events that occurred in each of these areas:

a) London in 1952 c) Donora, Pennsylvania in 1948

b) Meuse, Belgium in 1930 d) China - Asian Brown Cloud

Pamela J. Shlachtman March 9, 2023

18. Differentiate between weather and climate.

19. Identify the major source of the atmospheric deposition of mercury. Describe strategies that can reduce these emissions.

Air+Pollution+Study+Guide+-+Updated

Topic : Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution

Subject : AP Environmental Science

AP

1. List the criteria air pollutants. What determines whether a pollutant is classified as a criteria pollutant? List the sources of

these pollutants and describe their impacts on the environment. List and discuss the strategies that are used to address these

2. Describe the Greenhouse Effect. Name and identify the sources for various Greenhouse gasses (GHG). Describe the causes

of global warming / climate change. Be able to discuss the major impacts of climate change on ecosystems. List and

describe ways to slow down or reverse climate change. What methods are used to mitigate the situation? Name and describe the

major agreements on climate change. Be able to describe / analyze the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and global

temperature. Know the relative GWP of the various GHGs. Describe the impact of climate change on sea level rise and ocean

3. Be able to differentiate between primary and secondary air pollutants. Be able to give examples of each and be able to

identify / describe their sources. Discuss the factors that influence air pollution (temperature inversions, topography,

4. Differentiate between grey air (industrial) pollution and brown air (photochemical) SMOG. Identify the components of each,

the sources for these pollutants, input and output methods of control. Describe the time dynamics associated with typical LA

5. Differentiate between tropospheric and stratospheric ozone. Know the reactions for the formation of each. List and describe

the reactions responsible for the depletion of stratospheric ozone. Identify and describe the sources for the ozone

(stratospheric) depleting chemicals. Describe the relationship between stratospheric ozone concentrations and the time of

year. Explain the role of stratospheric clouds and the polar vortex and ozone depletion. List and describe the major actions

taken to reverse ozone depletion including international agreements. List and describe the impacts on ecosystems

(including plant and animal populations) of a thinning ozone layer. Explain the b enefits of the stratospheric ozone layer.

6. List the layers of the atmosphere and describe the major characteristics of each layer (including chemical composition and

temperature profiles). What is the major difference between the primitive atmosphere and today’s atmosphere?

8. Compare the pH of normal rainfall to that of acid rainfall. List the major causes of acid deposition and describe the

impacts on ecosystems, including biotic and abiotic components. List and describe the steps that have been taken to reduce

the sources of acid deposition. Include both input and output controls as well as remediation strategies. Identify the areas

of the country most impacted by acid deposition. Identify the type of soils and lakes are most impacted by acid deposition

12. Describe the trends in the concentration of the criteria air pollutants and discuss the major reasons for those declines.