AP Environmental Unit 7 Air Pollution Vocabulary

Scientists have discovered that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted from trees can contribute to photochemical smog formation. Data in the table above were collected in 2006 and 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Isoprene is a VOC released by some tree species. Impact factor refers to the percentage of ozone attributed to the isoprene. Which of the following best describes the relationship between variables in the data table?

• Impact factor causes a change in temperature maximum.

• Isoprene levels vary depending on traffic and urbanization.

• Ozone maximum is correlated to average and maximum temperature.

• Changes in average temperature are linked to changes in land use in Berlin.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

Scientists have discovered that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted from trees can contribute to photochemical smog formation. Data in the table above were collected in 2006 and 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Isoprene is a VOC released by some tree species. Impact factor refers to the percentage of ozone attributed to the isoprene. Which of the following claims is best supported by the data shown in the table?

• Ozone levels are not a serious air quality concern in Berlin.

• Ozone levels in Berlin were consistently higher in 2014 than in 2006.

• Isoprene’s contribution to ozone levels in Berlin was greatest in July of both years.

• Isoprene levels were negatively correlated with maximum temperature.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Which of the following best describes the process shown in the diagram above?

• Less-dense, cool air rises up and mixes with the denser warm air above it, increasing the amount of thermal pollution in the atmosphere.

• Less-dense, warm air creates a temperature inversion between more-dense layers, trapping pollutants near the ground.

• Dense, warm air from the mountains on the right pushes into the less-dense, cool air mass, causing an inversion layer.

• Movement of air currents over urban areas decreases the amount of photochemical smog during summer months.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following points on the graph best illustrates the location where pollutants are most likely to accumulate as a result of a thermal inversion?

• Point A

• Point B

• Point C

• Point D

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

An air pollution expert set up a monitoring program to determine the amount of particulate matter (PM) leaving a farmer’s field after crops were harvested and the soil was bare. She set up high-volume air samplers 10 meters from each edge of the square field and collected samples weekly for two months. When she looked at her data, she was surprised by how much the PM levels varied, both from site to site on a given date and over time at each site. Which of the following parameters would have been best to measure to help explain the variation in her results?

• Percent of cloudy days over the two months

• Particle size of the soils in the field

• Depth of the organic matter in the soil

• Wind direction and speed

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

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Scientists have been collecting atmospheric CO2 data for many years to monitor changes over time. Which of the following best describes why an island location, such as the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, is an ideal location to measure global CO2 concentrations?

• The island is also a dormant volcano, so there will be only anthropogenic atmospheric CO2 measured at the site.

• The location is below the inversion layer, making it less prone to local effects from industry and transportation.

• The location is far from any continent, providing atmospheric air samples that are less likely to be affected by industry and transportation.

• The impact of primary producers in the surrounding Pacific Ocean is negligible, reducing the effect of photosynthesis and respiration on CO2 levels.

Which of the following is the most likely reason for the trend shown in the graph of fluctuating indoor radon levels over the course of a year?

• Some windows are often closed during summer months, causing the levels of radon in the house to build up.

• Barometric pressure changes from summer storms can cause radon levels to increase.

• Radon levels tend to increase in the colder months because of the difference in temperature inside and outside the home, which creates a vacuum pulling radon into the home at a higher rate.

• Increased levels of radon are linked to burning biomass indoors, which increases in winter months when more biomass is burned for cooking and heating.

Which of the following is most likely responsible for the indoor air pollutant shown in the graph?

• Cracks in the basement foundation

• Synthetic fiber in carpets and furniture

• Leaking water

• Pet hair

Based on the data in the graph, which of the following insulation options is ineffective at insulating a home and greatly contributes to indoor air pollution?

• Blown cellulose

• Mineral Fiber Batt

• Expanded polystyrene

• Rigid Foam

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2