Questions and Answers
What is the extent of air pollution exchange described in the content?
What significant health risk did WHO identify related to air pollution in 2014?
Which activities are noted as contributors to air pollution?
What historical measure was taken in London regarding air pollution?
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How many premature deaths did air pollution cause worldwide in 2012 according to WHO?
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What is the average temperature maintained by the atmosphere that is favorable for life forms on Earth?
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Which layer of the atmosphere filters out 95% of harmful ultraviolet radiation?
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At what height does the exosphere start above the Earth?
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What is the main purpose of the atmosphere in relation to objects in outer space?
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What defines the stratification of the atmosphere based on the concentration of gases?
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Which level of air pollution typically concerns a region within a maximum of 5 km radius?
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Which of the following gases is primarily associated with acidifying substances in air pollution?
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How much oxygen does the atmosphere contain today?
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Study Notes
Importance of Atmosphere
- Atmosphere is a thin layer of gases around Earth, extending about 100-150 km above sea level.
- Maintains a global surface average temperature of 15°C, crucial for life forms.
- Contains approximately 1.20×10^18 kg of oxygen, a level established not later than 25 million years ago, essential for respiration of humans and animals.
- Acts as a filter for harmful solar radiation, blocking 95% of ultraviolet rays via the ozone layer.
- Regulates the flow of energy through the climate system through gas interactions with solar radiation.
- Interacts continuously with the hydrosphere (water) and lithosphere (land).
- Protects Earth from potentially dangerous objects by incinerating them in the atmosphere before they hit the surface.
Composition of Atmosphere
- The atmosphere is stratified into layers based on temperature, pressure, density, and composition.
- Homosphere: Extends from the Earth's surface to 80-100 km; uniform gas composition.
- Heterosphere: From the upper layer of homosphere to about 500 km; varying gas composition.
- Exosphere: The outermost layer above 500 km.
Scales of Air Pollution
- Local Level: Pollution typically confined to a maximum 5-km radius; often includes simple smog.
- Urban Level: Pollution found in cities characterized by winter-type smog and photochemical smog.
- Regional Level: Affects areas 50-1000 km wide, including tropospheric ozone and acidifying substances like SO2 and NO2.
- Transboundary Level: Involves air pollution exchange between countries or continents over distances of about 1000 km.
- Global Level: Concerns global warming and the depletion of stratospheric ozone.
Health Effects of Air Pollution
- Industrial activities, agriculture, and daily life contribute numerous pollutants to the atmosphere.
- Air pollution dates back to medieval times, exemplified by coal burning bans in London to combat smog.
- In 2014, WHO identified air pollution as the largest environmental health risk, linked to 7 million premature deaths globally in 2012, equating to one in eight total deaths worldwide.
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Description
This quiz explores the significance of Earth's atmosphere, which, despite being relatively thin, plays a crucial role in sustaining life on our planet. Discover how the atmosphere maintains the global temperature and supports the oxygen levels necessary for life forms. Test your understanding of this vital component of our environment.
