Deck 15: Air Pollution, Climate Change and Ozone Depletion

Question 1

Despite increases in gross domestic product, vehicle miles traveled, and energy use, emissions of the 6 major air pollutants have decreased in the United States between 1980 and 2015.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Some U.S. power plants have switched to low-sulfur coal, but this move has actually increased carbon emissions because more coal must be burned to generate a given amount of electricity.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

At one time, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana had 150 glaciers, but only 25 remained in 2016.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Smokestacks can increase regional pollution.

Question 5

High temperatures can promote chemical reactions that lead to the formation of photochemical smog.

Question 6

While climate change is a serious threat to natural ecosystems, it is not a threat to human health.

Question 7

Nitrogen oxides can combine with water in the atmosphere and form nitric acid, one of the components of harmful acid deposition.

Question 8

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves restoring degraded wetlands so that they will absorb massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.

Question 9

The reality of the greenhouse effect is accepted by the vast majority of scientists.

Question 10

A worst-case scenario predicted by some climate models includes more frequent fires within a century.

Question 11

Removing your shoes before entering your house does not help reduce indoor air pollution.

Question 12

Over 90% of the world's climate scientists agree that climate change is happening now and is caused mostly by human activities.

Question 13

Some research suggests that outdoor air pollution, mostly in the form of fine-particle pollution, contributes to the deaths of approximately 200,000 Americans every year.

Question 14

In 2016, China's per capita carbon dioxide emissions rate was greater than that of the United States.

Question 15

A good way to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution is to have your home tested for radon and formaldehyde.

Question 16

The EPA estimates that running a typical gas-powered riding lawn mower for an hour creates as much air pollution as driving 34 cars for an hour.

Question 17

Nine of the ten warmest years on record since 1861 took place prior to 1950.

Question 18

The power of prevention was made clear by the 99% drop in atmospheric lead emissions after lead in gasoline was banned in 1976.

Question 19

Global warming will cause flooding and increased precipitation in some areas, and yet severe droughts in other areas.

Question 20

The current climate problem is urgent because you face a rapid projected increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere during your lifetime.

Question 21

The formation of photochemical smog forms as a reaction between VOCs, NOx, heat, and ____.

A) ground level ozone
B) automobile exhaust
C) sulfur dioxide
D) carbon dioxide
E) sunlight

Question 22

Which air pollutant is a colorless gas with an irritating odor, and mostly comes from human sources such as smelting?

A) Nitric acid
B) Ozone
C) Nitrogen oxide
D) Sulfur dioxide
E) Carbon monoxide

Question 23

Photochemical smog is composed of secondary pollutants such as oxidants, aldehydes, and ____.

A) ozone
B) carbon dioxide
C) sulfur dioxide
D) NOx
E) VOCs

Question 24

Photochemical smog is characteristic of urban areas with many vehicles and a climate that is ____.

A) cool and cloudy
B) cool, dry, and sunny
C) warm and sunny
D) warm, wet, and cloudy
E) cool, wet, and sunny

Question 25

What do we call an unhealthy mix of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid, and a variety of suspended particles in outside air?

A) Photochemical smog
B) Industrial smog
C) Suspended particulate matter
D) Aerosols
E) Greenhouse gasses

Question 26

The Paris agreement specifies that wealthier countries must help poorer countries meet emissions targets.

Question 27

The primary way in which the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be increased is by ____.

A) burning fossil fuels
B) fertilizing croplands
C) planting more forests and grasslands
D) increasing solar radiation
E) increasing use of chlorofluorocarbons

Question 28

Which form of air pollution is most directly linked to increased incidence of asthma and bronchitis?

A) Carbon monoxide
B) VOCs
C) Radon
D) Suspended particulate matter
E) Sulfur dioxide

Question 29

The ozone hole over Antarctica is better described as a thinning of the ozone layer, not a hole.

Question 30

Which of the following is/are primary pollutants that eventually result in acid deposition?

A) Volatile organic compounds
B) Methane
C) Particulates
D) Carbon monoxide
E) Sulfur dioxide

Question 31

Which conclusion has been made by the world's major scientific bodies about climate change?

A) The recent harsh winters have placed some doubt on projected atmospheric warming.
B) We do not know enough about how climate works to make any definite conclusions.
C) Climate change is projected to slow down during the latter half of this century.
D) Climate change is real and is happening now.
E) The current climate change is caused primarily by natural processes.

Question 32

What is the gas that makes up most of the air that we breathe?

A) Carbon dioxide
B) Ozone
C) Nitrogen
D) Oxygen
E) Argon

Question 33

What is a healthcare issue that can be caused directly by ozone?

A) Skin cancer
B) Reduced resistance to colds/pneumonia
C) Nervous system disorders
D) Mutations
E) Stomach cancer

Question 34

What is a volatile organic compound?

A) Organic matter that is unstable at warmer temperatures
B) Acidic gases generated by combustion of fossil fuels
C) Gases that exist in the atmosphere or evaporate from sources on earth
D) Colorless and highly reactive gases
E) Any solid particle or liquid compound that mostly come from natural sources.

Question 35

Because _____ is colorless and odorless but can be highly toxic, it is important to have home detectors for it.

A) carbon monoxide
B) carbon dioxide
C) methane
D) nitrous oxide
E) ozone

Question 36

Which of the following is categorized as a secondary pollutant?

A) Carbon monoxide
B) Ozone
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Sulfur dioxide
E) Hydrocarbons

Question 37

The correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere from innermost to outermost is the ____.

A) mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, and troposphere
B) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere
C) stratosphere, thermosphere, troposphere, and mesosphere
D) thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and troposphere
E) thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere

Question 38

The world's average sea level is rising at an accelerated rate.

Question 39

The best approaches to reduce acid deposition are those that____.

A) draw out sulfur dioxides and acids directly from the soil
B) prevent or reduce emissions of particulates, sulfur dioxides, and nitrogen oxides
C) filter particulates from precipitation
D) reduce precipitation levels
E) prevent deposition of carbon oxides

Question 40

Where is most of the ozone layer located?

A) The troposphere
B) The stratosphere
C) The ionosphere
D) The mesosphere
E) The thermosphere

Question 41

The ultimate success of an emission trading approach depends on ____.

A) how well the stock market is doing
B) the supply and demand of clean energy
C) how the initial cap is set and how often it is lowered
D) what kinds of government regulations are in place
E) the availability of subsidies and tax breaks

Question 42

What important form of natural capital has allowed human civilization to grow over the past 10,000 years?

A) Fossil fuels
B) Agriculture
C) Technology
D) Increasingly warmer climate
E) Relatively stable climate

Question 43

The ____ for any given place on the planet often fluctuates widely from day to day and from year to year.

A) weather
B) climate
C) pollution level
D) global warming
E) concentration of VOCs

Question 44

Pipe insulation and vinyl ceiling and floor tiles may be sources of ____.

A) chloroform
B) formaldehyde
C) carbon monoxide
D) asbestos
E) sulfur dioxide

Question 45

To measure concentrations of carbon dioxide over time, scientists use ____.

A) samples from different levels of the atmosphere
B) samples from trees around the world
C) samples from fossils
D) samples from air bubbles in ice core at varying depths
E) samples from plants of various ages

Question 46

Where are pollution levels up to 18 times higher inside than they are outside in traffic-clogged urban settings?

A) Office buildings
B) Construction sites
C) Fuel stations
D) Homes located near freeways
E) Inside automobiles

Question 47

Which of the following would make a greater contribution to rising sea levels?

A) Melting sea ice
B) Melting land-based ice
C) Increased levels of precipitation in some areas
D) Increased levels of atmospheric water vapor
E) Increased levels of global evaporation and transpiration

Question 48

Why do coal-burning power plants and oil refineries have tall smokestacks?

A) To utilize the scrubbers in the smokestacks that remove pollutants
B) To make use of the natural vertical movements of air
C) To vent exhausts high into the atmosphere for dilution and dispersal
D) To exploit the presence of mountains
E) to avoid photochemical reactions with ozone near the ground

Question 49

What value do the oceans have in moderating climate change?

A) Oceans remove about 25% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by humans.
B) Oceans reflect sunlight back into space before the ultraviolet wavelengths are converted into infrared radiation.
C) Oceans absorb about 40% of the methane out of the atmosphere that has been produced by rice paddies and livestock.
D) Oceans help to reduce the level of water vapor in the atmosphere through condensation and transpiration.
E) Oceans serve as a layer of insulation between the atmosphere and magma deep with the earth.

Question 50

When the global average atmospheric temperature changes over a period of at least three ____, the earth's climate can be said to have changed.

A) decades
B) years
C) days
D) months
E) centuries

Question 51

Why do cities in warm and dry climates tend to have more air pollution?

A) There are more automobiles in these areas.
B) These locations are usually surrounded by mountains that trap the air pollution.
C) There are more plants and trees that promote the formation of VOCs.
D) There are more chemical reactions that can happen in dry climates.
E) There are fewer natural pollution reduction factors such as precipitation and salty sea spray.

Question 52

An emissions trading policy on the emissions of ____ cut U.S. emissions by 76%.

A) carbon oxides
B) sulfur dioxide
C) asbestos
D) lead
E) carbon dioxide

Question 53

What is the potential risk associated with furniture stuffing, paneling, particleboard, and foam insulation?

A) These all contain methylene chloride.
B) These use asbestos in the manufacturing process.
C) These materials emit high levels of particulates.
D) These are plastic-based materials that contain lethal levels of styrene.
E) These materials contain formaldehyde.

Question 54

What natural factor removes suspended particulate matter from the troposphere?

A) Temperature inversions
B) The carbon cycle
C) Filtration
D) evaporation
E) gravity

Question 55

What has released toxic ions of cadmium and aluminum into the soils, causing trees to weaken?

A) Air pollution
B) Photochemical smog
C) Volatile organic compounds
D) Nitric acid
E) Acid deposition

Question 56

The most dangerous indoor pollutants are ____.

A) tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, radon, and ultrafine particles
B) formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, and particulates
C) volatile organic compounds, radon, nitrogen oxides, and carbon oxides
D) styrene, radon, formaldehyde, and lead
E) lead, formaldehyde, tobacco smoke, and radon

Question 57

What is likely the most effective way to reduce acid deposition?

A) Offer tax breaks to companies that emit SO₂.
B) Add phosphate fertilizer to acidified lakes.
C) Add more topsoil to thin soil with little buffering capacity.
D) Add lime to neutralize the acids.
E) Implement prevention approaches that reduce or eliminate emissions.

Question 58

Which statement about emissions trading is false?

A) The success of emissions trading programs depends on how low the initial cap is set.
B) Sulfur dioxide emissions were reduced by the emissions trading system in the United States.
C) Cheating is possible without strict government oversight.
D) The success of emissions trading programs depends on how often the cap is lowered to promote continuing innovation in air pollution prevention and control.
E) It forces all utilities to reduce the amount of pollution they emit.

Question 59

Which population is least vulnerable to air pollution?

A) Infants
B) Elderly people
C) Adult males
D) People with heart and respiratory disease
E) Pregnant women

Question 60

A warmer world is least likely to result in ____.

A) decreased food production
B) reductions in biodiversity
C) a rise in sea level
D) more moderate weather
E) spread of tropical diseases

Question 61

____________________ are synthetic compounds that have been widely used as refrigerants and in spray propellants and foam blowing.

Question 62

____________________ is a mixture of primary and secondary pollutants formed under the influence of UV radiation from the sun.

Question 63

In 1987, 36 nations meeting in Montreal, Canada, developed the Montreal Protocol to reduce production of ____.

A) carbon dioxide
B) nitrous oxide
C) CFCs
D) toxic wastes
E) halons

Question 64

Satellite data and other measurements and models indicate that 75-85% of the observed ozone losses in the stratosphere since 1976 resulted from people releasing ____ and other ozone-depleting chemicals into the troposphere beginning in the 1950s.

A) CO₂
B) CO
C) NOx
D) CFCs
E) UVB

Question 65

The ____________________ is the layer of the atmosphere that contains the protective ozone layer.

Question 66

What is a disadvantage of cap-and-trade policies?

A) There is no clear legal limit on emissions.
B) There are no rewards to cut emissions.
C) There is no record of success.
D) The expense to consumers is very high.
E) The revenues are not predictable.

Question 67

Life as we know it could not exist without the protective layer of ____________________ in the stratosphere.

Question 68

Scientists can use evidence from radioisotopes, air trapped in ice cores, and pollen trapped deep in lake bottoms to estimate changes in ___________________ over time.

Question 69

The emission of ____________________ from certain trees and plants in urban areas can promote the formation of photochemical smog.

Question 70

The latest scientific research indicates that the net global effect of ____ cover changes is likely to increase atmospheric warming.

A) ice
B) water
C) soot
D) aerosol
E) cloud

Question 71

The estimated tipping point of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere is ____________________ ppm.

Question 72

Compounds that can react and help neutralize acid deposition are called _________________________.

Question 73

CFCs break down due to ____.

A) exposure to acids
B) reacting with volatile organic compounds
C) reacting with chlorine
D) exposure to uv radiation in the stratosphere
E) exposure to water

Question 74

In comparing CO₂emissions sources, scientists use the concept of a(n) ____________________, which is the amount of CO₂generated by an individual, an organization, a country, or any other entity over a given period of time.

Question 75

Avoiding the use of tanning parlors or sunlamps is one of the best ways to ____.

A) decrease your carbon footprint
B) limit the amount of CFC pollution
C) reduce your exposure to UV radiation
D) prevent exposure to harmful photochemical reactions
E) save energy

Question 76

What is a major problem with carbon capture and storage strategies?

A) They are extremely expensive.
B) They create other kinds of pollution.
C) They require large amounts of water.
D) They decrease the efficiency of automobiles.
E) Huge amounts of biochar are required.

Question 77

When a cool layer of air is below a warm layer of air, this is called a(n) ____________________.

Question 78

What is an advantage to placing taxes and fees on carbon and energy usage?

A) Tax laws are typically very simple and straightforward.
B) Tax laws tend to have few, if any, loopholes.
C) Lower emissions are nearly guaranteed.
D) Tax laws and fees tend to be politically popular.
E) The administration is simple and revenues are predictable.

Question 79

In cities, urban ____________________ worsen pollution because they block the movement of wind and make it harder for pollutants to disperse.

Question 80

____________________ is a colorless gas used in foam insulation and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat, skin, and lungs.