All Flashcards
How does using public transportation promote sustainability?
Reduces personal car use, lowering emissions and improving air quality.
How does transitioning to renewable energy help protect the environment?
Reduces reliance on fossil fuels, decreasing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
How can improving fuel efficiency in vehicles promote sustainability?
Reduces fuel consumption and emissions, leading to cleaner air.
What causes air pollution?
Primarily the burning of fossil fuels (combustion) which releases byproducts and impurities into the air.
Why are cities in valleys prone to thermal inversions?
Valleys trap cool air, allowing a layer of warm air to settle above, trapping pollutants.
Why is indoor air pollution a concern?
People spend significant time indoors, and poor ventilation can trap harmful contaminants.
How does sunlight contribute to smog formation?
Sunlight provides the energy for NOx and VOCs to react and form tropospheric ozone, a major smog component.
What makes tropospheric ozone a secondary pollutant?
It's formed by the interaction of primary pollutants (NOx, VOCs) with sunlight.
Explain the role of nitrogen oxides in smog formation.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight to form photochemical smog.
What is the impact of thermal inversion on air quality?
It traps polluted air, leading to prolonged periods of poor air quality and increased health risks.
Why are older buildings more likely to have asbestos?
Asbestos was commonly used as a building material in the past due to its fire-resistant properties.
How does public transportation reduce air pollution?
By reducing the number of individual car trips, it lowers overall emissions from vehicles.
What is the relationship between combustion and air pollution?
Combustion, especially of fossil fuels, releases pollutants like CO, NO2, SO2, and particulate matter into the atmosphere.
What are the steps in photochemical smog formation?
- NOx and VOCs are released. 2. They react with heat and sunlight. 3. Tropospheric ozone and other components of smog form.
Describe the formation of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).
Nitric oxide (NO) oxidizes in the atmosphere to form Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).