AP Environmental Science Chapter 1 Environmental Problems Causes

AP Environmental Science Chapter 1 Environmental Problems, Causes, and Sustainability

Exponential vs. Linear • Exponential growth is currently occurring with our population – doubles quickly, “sneaky” – 6. 2 billion – another billion in 12 - 15 years (from 2000) • Linear growth is obvious – straight line

Types of growth J-curve, exponential growth Linear growth

Solar and Earth Capital • Solar - energy 99% • Earth - resources, support systems – climate control – air and water purification – recycling matter (iron, sulfur, nitrogen, etc. ) – renewable energy – renewable matter resources – Pest and disease control – and more.

Sustainability • Are we living sustainably? • A sustainable society manages its economy and population size without exceeding all or part of the planet’s ability to absorb environmental insults, replenish its resources, and sustain human and other forms of life over a specific period (usually a human lifetime of 100 years)

Carrying Capacity • The maximum size of a population an area can support and maintain over a period of time • Carrying capacity of the Earth for people is around 12 billion. What may affect that number?

16 15 ? 14 13 12 ? 10 9 8 ? 7 6 Billions of people 11 5 4 3 2 Black Death–the Plague 2 -5 million 8000 years Hunting and gathering 6000 4000 2000 Time Agricultural revolution 1 2000 B. C. 0 2100 A. D. Industrial revolution Fig. 1. 1, p. 2

World Population reached 1 billion in 1804 2 billion in 1927 (123 years later) 3 billion in 1960 (33 years later) 4 billion in 1974 (14 years later) 5 billion in 1987 (13 years later) 6 billion in 1999 (12 years later) World Population May Reach 7 billion in 2013 (14 years later) 8 billion in 2028 (15 years later) 9 billion in 2054 (26 years later) Fig. 1. 3, p. 5

Doubling Time • Rule of 70 • divide 70 by the percent growth rate and you will find how long it takes the population to double. • 70/1. 43(current growth rate approx. ) = 49 years (we started counting in 2000)

Populations and Economy • Developed - highly industrialized – 20% population, 85% wealth, 88% resources, 75% pollution and waste, high GNP per capita • Developing - low to moderate industrialization – 80% population, 15% wealth, 12% resources, 15% pollution and waste, low GNP per capita

Resources • Renewable - can be replenished in a lifetime (wind) • Potentially renewable - can be renewable if we change our current habits (soil) • Nonrenewable - only a fixed amount on Earth (minerals)

Resources Perpetual Direct solar energy Nonrenewable Winds, tides, flowing water Fossil fuels Metallic minerals Nonmetallic minerals (iron, copper, aluminum) (clay, sand, phosphates) Renewable Fresh air Fresh water Fertile soil Plants and animals (biodiversity) Fig. 1. 11, p. 11

Per Captia Ecological Footprint (Hectares of land person) Country 10. 9 United States 5. 9 The Netherlands India 1. 0 Fig. 1. 10 a, p. 11

Country Total Ecological Footprint (Hectares) 3 billion hectares United States The Netherlands India 94 million hectares 1 billion hectares Fig. 1. 10 b, p. 11

Major Environmental Degradation to Potentially Renewable Resources • • • Urbanization Salinization of soil Wetland destruction Groundwater depletion Livestock overgrazing Poor soil management Deforestation Pollution Reduction of biodiversity

Production rate of resource Area under curve equals the total amount of the resource. Economic depletion (80% used up) Time Fig. 1. 12, p. 13

Pollutants • Point source vs. nonpoint source • concentration - ppm, ppb, ppt • persistence - degradable, slowly degradable (DDT) or nondegradable $ Always less expensive to prevent, instead of trying to clean up.

Causes of Environmental Problems • • • Rapid population growth wasteful use of resources degradation of earth’s life support systems poverty failure to encourage environmentally and economically sustainable growth • lack of full cost pricing • human urge to “conquer” mother nature

• • Air Pollution Global climate change Stratospheric ozone depletion Urban air pollution Acid deposition Outdoor pollutants Indoor pollutants Noise • • Water Pollution Sediment Nutrient overload Toxic chemicals Infectious agents Oxygen depletion Pesticides Oil spills Excess heat Biodiversity Depletion • Habitat destruction • Habitat degradation • Extinction Major Environmental Problems Waste Production • Solid waste • Hazardous waste Food Supply Problems • Overgrazing • Farmland loss and degradation • Wetlands loss and degradation • Overfishing • Coastal pollution • Soil erosion • Soil salinization • Soil waterlogging • Water shortages • Groundwater depletion • Loss of biodiversity • Poor nutrition Fig. 1. 13, p. 14

Major Environmental Problems • • • Air Pollution Water Pollution Biodiversity Depletion Food Supply Problems Waste Production

• Rapid population growth • Unsustainable resource use • Poverty • Not including the environmental costs of economic goods and services in their market prices • Trying to manage and simplify nature with too little knowledge about how it works Fig. 1. 14, p. 15

Developing Countries X Population (P) X X X Consumption person (affluence, A) Technological impact per unit of consumption (T) X X = = Environmental impact of population (I) = Developed Countries Fig. 1. 15, p. 15

What needs to happen to be sustainable • • • Switch to pollution prevention, not cleanup switch to waste prevention and recycling protecting habitats instead of species environmental restoration of degraded areas lower resource use (less wasteful) ZPG - stabilized population