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Contemporary Urban Environments

Urban Winds and Air Quality

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 2

Overview

Recall questions on how tall buildings and the Venturi effect alter urban winds, on particulate pollution, PM10 and PM2.5, photochemical smog and temperature inversions, and on emission standards, low emission zones, congestion charging, transport and industrial controls, urban greening and air quality monitoring.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is the Venturi effect in an urban context?

Key term

Name three secondary pollutants found in photochemical smog.

Key term

How do congestion charging schemes help reduce urban air pollution?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How do tall buildings affect average wind speeds within urban areas?

    Model answer

    They create a frictional drag effect that reduces average wind speeds compared to open rural surroundings.

  2. 2

    What is the Venturi effect in an urban context?

    Model answer

    Wind is channelled along urban canyons (streets between buildings), causing localised acceleration of airflow.

  3. 3

    What gusty conditions can tall buildings create at street level?

    Model answer

    They deflect wind downwards, creating strong, gusty conditions at ground level.

  4. 4

    How do urban structures affect local wind patterns compared to regional prevailing winds?

    Model answer

    They create turbulent eddies and variable wind directions that differ from the prevailing regional wind patterns.

  5. 5

    Define particulate pollution.

    Model answer

    Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere, including dust, soot, smoke and aerosols.

  6. 6

    What is the difference between PM10 and PM2.5?

    Model answer

    PM10 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less; PM2.5 refers to fine particles of 2.5 micrometres or less.

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