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Ch. 18
environmental geology
13
Geology
Undergraduate 2
12/02/2008

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Cards

Term
Air Quality Standards
Definition
Levels of air pollutants that define acceptable levels of pollution generally over a particular time period.
Term
Air Toxins
Definition
Air pollutant known to cause cancer or other serious health conditions
Term
Area Sources
Definition
Type of nonpoint air or water pollution that is diffused, such as runoff from an urban area or automobile exhaust
Term
Atmospheric Inversion
Definition
When warm air overlies cool air in the lower atmosphere
Term
Fugitive Sources
Definition
Stationary air pollution sources that generate pollutants from open spaces exposed to wind processes.
Term
Mobile Sources
Definition
Moving sources of air pollution such as automobiles
Term
Particulate-Matter Pollutants
Definition
With respect to air pollutants, refers to small particles of solid or liquid substances that are released into the atmosphere by natural processes and human activities. Examples include smoke, soot, or dust, as well as particles of heavy metals such as copper, lead, and zinc.
Term
Photochemical Smog
Definition
Usually referred to as LA smog or brown air; forms as a result of interactions between solar radiation and automobile exhaust.
Term
Primary Pollutants
Definition
with respect to air pollutants, refers to those pollutants emitted directly into the atmosphere, including particulates, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons.
Term
Scrubbing
Definition
Process of removing sulfur dioxide from gases emitted from burning coal in power plants producing electricity
Term
Secondary Pollutants
Definition
with respect to air pollution, refers to pollutants produced when primary pollutants react with normal atmospheric compounds; an example is ozone, which forms through reactions between primary pollutants, sunlight, and natural atmospheric gases.
Term
Stationary Sources
Definition
With respect to air pollutants, refers to those sources that are relatively fixed in location
Term
Sulfurous Smog
Definition
Sometimes referred to as London-type smog or gray air, produced primarily by burning coal or oil at large powerplants where sulfur oxides and particulates produced by the burning produce a concentrated smog.
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