NATS 101 Practice Quiz Study Guide

*** Chap. 1 (pps 1-7), Chap. 12 (pps 317-325, 337-339) ***
Composition of the atmosphere. The five most abundant gases in the atmosphere (listed here in alphabetical order): argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and water vapor (H2O) (you should know approximate concentrations of most of these). Greenhouse gases: water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and others. What do they do?  International agreement has led to a decrease in the usage of one of the greenhouse gases? Which one?  Why else is that particular gas of concern?  What important roles does water vapor play in the atmosphere? What weather variable is commonly used to measure atmospheric water vapor content?

Atmospheric evolution. About how old is the earth? What was the earth's first atmosphere composed of? Where is our present atmosphere thought to have come from? What are the three most abundant gases emitted by volcanoes. What important atmospheric constituent in our present atmosphere did not come from volcanoes? What is the principal source of this gas?

Carbon dioxide and climate change.   Concentrations of CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) are increasing.  When did this increase begin?  What processes (natural and man-made) add CO2 to (source) and remove CO2 from (sink) the atmosphere? Atmospheric CO2 concentrations have been measured since 1958 (Keeling curve).  How were CO2 concentrations determined before 1958?  Why is increasing CO2 concentration of concern?  What changes have there been in global average surface temperature in the past 150 years or so?  Can you give any examples of natural changes in climate that have occurred in the past 1000 years, in the past 10 or 20 thousand years?

Air pollution. Primary and secondary pollutants. Air Quality Index (AQI). A pollutant is considered unhealthful when the AQI exceeds what value?

Sulfur dioxide (SO2). Toxic and aggravates existing respiratory diseases. The world's first pollutant. Natural and manmade sources. Involved in some of the world's worst air pollution disasters: Great London Smog of 1952, Donora (Pennsylvania) 1948 (see p. 335). The word smog was first used to describe the combination of sulfurous smoke + fog; the term London-type smog is now used.  Reacts in clouds to form acid rain.  Acids, bases, and the pH scale.

Tropospheric ozone (O3). Ozone aggravates existing respiratory diseases, is harmful to plant life, and damages materials such as rubber. Ozone is a secondary pollutant and is a key component of photochemical smog (also known as Los Angeles-type smog). To produce smog, ozone reacts with hydrocarbons. Peak ozone and photochemical smog concentrations occur on summer afternoons.

Carbon monoxide (CO). Toxic. Most abundant of the primary pollutants. What produces most of the CO in Tucson air? Incomplete combustion (what would complete combustion produce). Early morning and wintertime pollutant. What is a surface radiation inversion layer, when do they form? Would a surface inversion layer act to concentrate or disperse CO?

Particulate Matter (aerosols). Examples of particles found in the atmosphere that might remain suspended for long periods of time. Why are particulates of concern? How are particulates removed from the atmosphere?

Sample questions (from the Fall 2000 quiz packet)
Practice Quiz: 1, 3, 4-7, 9, 12, 13, 20?, EC1          Quiz #1: 1, 2, 3a, EC1?
*** Chap. 1 (pps 8-13), Chap. 6 (pps 143-148) ***
Layers of the atmosphere. Troposphere: lowest layer in the atmosphere, decreasing temperature with increasing altitude (why is the warmest air found near the ground), contains most of the water vapor and clouds, can be unstable (strong vertical air motions possible). Tropopause. Stratosphere: isothermal layer and temperature inversion layer (what causes the warming in the stratosphere), stable layer, contains the ozone layer. Approximate altitudes of these layers. Units: meters, kilometers, feet, miles.

Sample questions
Practice Quiz: 16          Quiz #1: 4b-e, EC2          Final Exam: 19, 48

Reviews
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
 4-5 pm
4-5 pm
4-5 pm
ILC 141
Harvill 318
Harvill 302

DON'T LOSE THIS STUDY GUIDE! Quiz 1 will cover this material as well as some newer material.