AEP Air Quality & Atmospheric Science Flashcards

Which greenhouse gas has the highest 100-year global warming potential (GWP) among common industrial gases?

Answer: Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) has a 100-year GWP of approximately 23,900, making it the most potent greenhouse gas regulated under common frameworks.

What term describes the formation of a temperature inversion that traps air pollutants near the ground surface?

Answer: Subsidence inversion

A subsidence inversion occurs when descending air warms and creates a stable layer that traps pollutants below, commonly associated with high-pressure systems.

Under the Clean Air Act, which program specifically regulates emissions of mercury, dioxins, and other toxic air pollutants from industrial sources?

Answer: NESHAP

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulate emissions of 187 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from major and area source categories.

What is the primary purpose of a Title V Operating Permit under the Clean Air Act?

Answer: Consolidate all applicable air requirements into a single permit

Title V operating permits consolidate all applicable Clean Air Act requirements into one document, providing a clear and enforceable record of a facility's air compliance obligations.

Which Pasquill-Gifford stability class represents the most unstable atmospheric conditions?

Answer: Class A

Class A represents the most unstable atmospheric conditions, occurring under strong solar radiation and light winds, leading to vigorous vertical mixing and rapid pollutant dispersion.

The Montreal Protocol primarily targets which class of air pollutants?

Answer: Ozone-depleting substances

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to phase out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).