NOTES 12.4: HUMAN ISSUES, IMPACTS, & SOLUTIONS. Pages ,

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1 NOTES 12.4: HUMAN ISSUES, IMPACTS, & SOLUTIONS Pages ,

2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE The study of the interactions between humans and their own environment

3 Earth s Layers Geosphere Earth s rock interior Extends from core to crust, includes ocean floor Hydrosphere Earth s water layer Includes oceans, lakes, rivers, and water vapor

4 Earth s Layers Atmosphere Mixture of gases surrounding the planet 78% N 2, 21% O 2, 1% other gases (H 2 O & CO 2 ) Biosphere Portion of the Earth that contains life ~11km below surface to ~ 9 km above surface

5 POLLUTION Release of environmental contaminants Types: land, water, air, noise, light

6 Vocabulary Biodiversity Hotspot: regions with high diversity that are most in danger

7 Vocabulary Conservation Biology: identify, protect, and maintain areas at risk

8 Vocabulary Restoration Biology: rebuilding damaged ecosystems Children s Forest

9 Vocabulary Bioindicators: Species that are sensitive to change, show early warning signals of environmental problems

10 Vocabulary Ecotourism: educates travelers about ecosystem while raising funds for conservation

11 Vocabulary Ecological (carbon) footprint: amount of land and sea required to supply the resources to fit your lifestyle needs how much we impact the environment Humanity s current total ecological footprint is ~1.7 Earths! Explore:

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13 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS

14 Issue: Invasive Species CAUSE: Non native species is introduced into an ecosystem

15 Issue: Invasive Species IMPACT: Affect biodiversity of native species Have no natural predators Causes food web to get out of balance

16 Issue: Invasive Species POSSILE SOLUTIONS: Clean boats when moving to new location Clean all camping gear Do not bring in certain foods from other states/countries

17 ISSUE: Biomagnification CAUSE: Bioaccumulation: pollutant enters the organism and builds up over time Biomagnification: concentration of pollutant increases as you move up the food chain

18 ISSUE: Biomagnification

19 ISSUE: Biomagnification IMPACT: Species can eventually go extinct Ex: Mercury in fish Infants/unborn babies: affects developing nervous system Children/adults: affects brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, & immune system

20 ISSUE: Biomagnification POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Banning of toxic pollutants (worst ones have already been banned, like DDT) Regulate or even eliminate processes that create toxins (ex. Burning coal)

21 ISSUE: Eutrophication CAUSE: Eutrophication is the enrichment of an ecosystem with chemical nutrients containing nitrogen or phosphorus Run-off from fertilizers used in agriculture, sewage

22 ISSUE: Eutrophication IMPACT: Can lead to harmful toxic algal blooms or hypoxia (oxygen depletion) Kills of many species in freshwater water systems High rates of photosynthesis can raise ph to extreme levels during the day

23 ISSUE: Eutrophication POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Reducing use of fertilizers Better control of sanitation practices

24 ISSUE: Climate Change

25 ISSUE: Climate Change CAUSE: Greenhouse Effect: the ability of our atmosphere to trap heat keeps our planet warm and habitable (this is a good thing) CO 2 and other greenhouse gases trap heat Combustion of fossil fuels releases excess CO 2, enhancing the greenhouse effect

26 ISSUE: Climate Change IMPACT: Global temperature to rise about 4 o C by 2100 Highest temperatures in 30 million years

27 ISSUE: Climate Change IMPACT: Ice Cap melts causing sea levels to rise 3-6 feet Drought over 40% of land Half of current known species EXTINCT

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29 ISSUE: Climate Change IMPACT: Positive feedback is now driving climate change The warming increases the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, which in turn leads to further warming, which increases water vapor, and so on

30 ISSUE: Climate Change POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Eliminate the burning of fossil fuels Carpool or use public transportation! Buy less stuff Wind Power, Solar Power, Hydropower

31 ISSUE: Ozone Thinning

32 ISSUE: Ozone Thinning CAUSE: CFC s from refrigerants and propellants break down ozone (O 3 ) Ozone Hole started in the Southern Hemisphere but increases in size over time

33 ISSUE: Ozone Thinning IMPACT: Ozone is found in the upper atmosphere and blocks radiation Increased UV radiation leads to skin cancer

34 ISSUE: Ozone Thinning POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Ban CFCs and other pollutants (much of this has already been done)

35 ISSUE: Acid Rain

36 ISSUE: Acid Rain CAUSE: Burning of coal and fossil fuels releases pollutants (sulfuric and nitric acids) into the atmosphere Water vapor condenses around the pollutant particles to form acidic water (acid rain) Some bodies of water can buffer the effects of acid rain

37 ISSUE: Acid Rain IMPACT: Disease and death of trees, fish, and other organisms, especially those sensitive to ph change Degradation of stone

38 ISSUE: Acid Rain POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Reduce/eliminate use of fossil fuels Be sustainable Sustainable: able to maintain needs at a reasonable rate Watch your ecological (carbon) footprint How much do your actions affect the environment?

39 ISSUE: Ocean Acidification

40 ISSUE: Ocean Acidification CAUSE: Excess carbon dioxide gas produced from burning of fossil fuels is absorbed by the ocean Carbon dioxide (CO2) reacts with bicarbonate (H2CO3) to produce carbonic acid (HCO ) Leads to acidification

41 ISSUE: Ocean Acidification IMPACT: Causes coral bleaching Shelled organisms have problems making shells Disrupts and destroys food webs and ecosystems

42 ISSUE: Ocean Acidification POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Reduce/eliminate use of fossil fuels Rebuild reefs

43 ISSUE: Ocean Pollution

44 ISSUE: Ocean Pollution CAUSE: Plastic pollution on land is carried out to sea by wind and rain We're surrounded by plastic. Think about every piece you touch in a single day: grocery bags, food containers, coffee cup lids, drink bottles, straws for juice boxes the list goes on and on. Plastic may be convenient, but its success carries a steep price. Every single piece of plastic ever made still exists today!

45 ISSUE: Ocean Pollution IMPACT: Entanglement: organisms become twisted in or caught in plastics Ingestion: organisms eat plastics Rafting Organisms: barnacles, sea anemones, and other rafters make their home on plastics

46 ISSUE: Ocean Pollution Possible Solutions: USE LESS PLASTIC Use reusable bags, bottles, etc. Use biodegradable products Watch where you throw away/recycle your plastics

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