Photochemical smog
Definition
Photochemical smog is an atmospheric condition caused by chemical reactions between sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It results in hazy, brownish-colored air containing high levels of ozone near ground level.
Analogy
Picture yourself walking into a room filled with smoke from burning candles. The combination of light from candles and chemicals in the smoke creates a hazy environment. Similarly, photochemical smog forms when sunlight reacts with pollutants in urban areas.
Related terms
Ozone depletion: The reduction in ozone concentration in Earth's stratosphere due to human-made substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Organic chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and contribute to photochemical smog formation.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx): Gases produced by combustion processes such as vehicle emissions or industrial activities that contribute to the formation of photochemical smog.
"Photochemical smog" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Additional resources (3)
Practice Questions (12)
- Which is a respiratory irritant and can worsen the effects of photochemical smog?
- What is the correlation between temperature inversion and photochemical smog?
- Which is a primary compound related to photochemical smog?
- Which is an effect of photochemical smog?
- What is a human health effect of photochemical smog?
- Which is a secondary pollutant in photochemical smog?
- What type of conditions helps increase photochemical smog production?
- What is the primary effect of sunlight in photochemical smog?
- How does photochemical smog affect vegetation?
- Why is photochemical smog more prevalent in urban locations?
- What is an attribute of photochemical smog?
- What is the reason for the brownish color that photochemical smog has?
Resources
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