Atmospheric Pollution Reduction

In addition to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which of the following components must be present in the atmosphere to create photochemical smog?

• NOx and particulates

• Particulates and UV light

• NOx and UV light

• UV light and CO2

Which of the following best describes one way the Clean Air Act helped reduce air pollution?

• Implemented a program to manage hazardous and nonhazardous wastes

• Proposed incentives for countries to reduce carbon emissions

• Created a fund to aid developing countries in reducing ozone-depleting emissions

• Introduced regulatory measures to control the amount of lead in fuels

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

An experiment to evaluate the efficiency of wet and dry scrubber networks that filter particulate gas at different flow rates was conducted under different flow rate conditions. The results are shown below. Which of the following best describes the efficiency of dry scrubbers at removing particles that are less than 2 micrometers in diameter?

• Dry scrubbers are less than 20% efficient at removing particles less than 1uM and increase to over 50% efficiency at removing particles between 1 and 2 uM.

• Dry scrubbers are between 50% and 90% efficient at removing particles less than 2uM, depending on the flow rate

• Dry scrubbers are between 5% and 40% efficient at removing particles less than 2uM in size.

• Dry scrubbers are less than 10% efficient at removing particles less than 1uM in size.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

Scientists are testing the effect of different scrubber technologies on the removal of pollutants from coal power plants. The scrubbers use a slurry of limestone and water. Which of the following best describes the impact of modifying the slurry by increasing the amount of limestone?

• The amount of sulfur dioxide released will decrease

• The amount of ground-level ozone released will decrease

• The amount of water released will increase

• The amount of carbon monoxide released will increase

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-ETS1-4

Which of the following devices is correctly paired to the air pollutant it would be used to measure?

• Gas sensor - CO2

• Electrostatic precipitator - CO

• Sound pressure level sensory - Particulate matter

• Catalytic converter - VOCs

Atmospheric deposition is receiving increased attention in the scientific community, and has become the subject of a specific research area in the environmental sciences. Acid rain is detrimental to our ecosystems and can be measured in several ways. Which of the following methods would best identify changes from acid deposition in an area over time?

• Calculating the change in sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-burning power plants over time

• Mapping out coal-burning power plant locations over the past 50 years

• Measuring the pH of rainwater and surface water in affected areas

• Monitoring the long-term chemical and biological parameters of an ecosystem

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-5

A researcher wants to determine if ponds and lakes downwind of a coal-burning power plant are affected by the plant's emissions. Which of the following would be the best parameter from the water in the ponds and lakes to measure in order to determine the effect of the plant's emissions on the aquatic ecosystems?

• pH

• Biological oxygen demand (BOD)

• Carbon dioxide

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Describe how a thermal inversion would form in the city shown in the diagram.

• A thermal inversion forms when a warm layer of air traps a cooler layer of air close to Earth's surface. The cold air ends up at the surface when the mountains block the morning sunlight from warming the floor of the valley

• The temperature gradient of the atmosphere is altered when the cool ocean breezes bring air to Earth's surface that is cooler than the air at higher altitudes

• A and B

• None of the above

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Describe the relationship between a thermal inversion and pollution.

• Thermal inversions reduce air pollution by trapping warm air at the surface.

• Thermal inversions increase air pollution by trapping cool air at the surface

• Thermal inversions reduce pollutants like smog and ozone but increase pollutants like Mercury and Lead

• Thermal inversions are the direct result of pollutants like CO2 and NOx.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

Describe on effect acid deposition has on trees in a forest ecosystem

I. Acid deposition leaches nutrients from the trees

II. Acid deposition improves leaf production

III. Acid deposition reduces tree growth

• I and II

• II and III

• I and III

• II only

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-3