acid deposition 381
acid rain 381
carbon dioxide (CO2) 386
carbon monoxide (CO) 375
carcinogenic 376
chlorofluorocarbons 388
greenhouse effect 386 		hydrocarbons (HC) 375
nitrous oxide 389
oxides of nitrogen
      (NO and NO2) 377
ozone 393
particulates 376
photochemical smog 377
primary air pollutants 374 		radon 394
secondary air pollutants 374
sulfur dioxide (SO2) 376
thermal inversion 378

On-line Flashcards
      Is it global warming or a natural cycle? Does it seem that almost everything is attributed to global warming? Check out these articles and see if you think the event is linked to global warming. Why would hurricane damage point to global warming? Take a look at Hurricane Mitch Brings Unusually Severe and Unusually Late Damage to Honduras to see what climatologists are saying about the 1998 hurricane season.
      Look over Low Water Levels in the Great Lakes to find out if lake levels vary much throughout history.
      Read the varying opinions of scientists as they react to ice losses in Portion of Antarctic Ice Sheet Weakening and More Large Icebergs Calve from Antarctica's Ice Shelves. 		      Why is the ozone layer still being depleted when we aren't using as many chlorofluorocarbons as we did in the past? Read Antarctic Ozone Hole Continues to Grow for an explanation of how ozone is broken down and why the hole keeps on expanding. Aerosols in hair spray and refrigerants in air conditioners taught us a valuable lesson.
      Have you ever been surprised by how much something that seems so harmless can be so harmful to the environment? Take a look at Personal Watercraft Pollute Air and Water: Restrictions Proposed and decide if you think this popular sport is the way to go.
      The greenhouse effect is caused by human air pollution such as increased carbon dioxide . . . right? Make sure you have the facts straight with global warming and the greenhouse effect by studying the Global Warming animation.
      How do chlorofluorocarbons break down the ozone layer? You've read about it, now see it in action! View Ozone Layer Depletion for an excellent animation that shows how ozone forms and how a CFC molecule affects ozone molecules.
      What causes acid rain, and why isn't it a problem near all big cities? Check out the Acid Rain animation to see what pollutants lead to the formation of acid rain and how air circulation affects the distribution of these pollutants. 		      Check out Global Air Circulation for an excellent explanation of world air movement patterns.
      Another pattern of air movement that affects our weather in North America is the El Niņo-Southern Oscillation.
      Look at the animation to see how water and air movement in the Pacific Ocean affects air circulation in many other parts of the world.
Review Questions
  1. List the five primary air pollutants commonly released into the atmosphere and their sources.
  2. Define secondary air pollutants, and give an example.
  3. List three health effects of air pollution.
  4. Why is air pollution such a large problem in urban areas?
  5. What is photochemical smog? What causes it?
  6. Describe three actions that can be taken to control air pollution.

  1. What causes acid rain? List three probable detrimental consequences of acid rain.
  2. Why is carbon dioxide (a nontoxic normal component of the atmosphere) called a "greenhouse gas"?
  3. What would the consequences be if the ozone layer surrounding the earth was destroyed?
  4. How does energy conservation influence air quality?
Critical Thinking Questions
  1. What could you do to limit the air pollution you create?
  2. Do you agree with a ban on smoking, like in California, that includes all indoor public places, even privately owned restaurants and bars? Why or why not?
  3. Some developing countries argue that they should be exempt from limits on the production of greenhouse gases and that developed countries should bear the brunt of the changes that appear to be necessary to curb global climate change. What values, beliefs, and perspectives underlie this belief? What do you think about this argument?
  4. As a nation, the United States provides many subsidies to make energy cheap, figuring that development depends on cheap energy. If these subsidies were withdrawn, or taxes on energy were added, what effect would this have on your own energy consumption? Would you be willing to support high gasoline prices, in the $3-4/gallon range as in many European countries, if it would cut greenhouse gas emissions?
  1. Why do you think air pollution is so much worse in developing countries than in developed countries? What should developed countries do about this, if anything?
  2. What common indoor air pollutants are you exposed to? What can you do to limit this exposure?
  3. What kinds of noise pollution do you encounter? How important is noise pollution to you? What can you do to reduce noise pollution?
  4. Is it possible to have zero emissions of pollutants? What level of risk are you willing to live with?