Human Impact on the Environment Our actions today

Human Impact on the Environment Our actions today do impact the future!

How does human pop’n growth affect the environment? 1. Our pop’n is rising b/c we can alter our environment Click for ticker • 2. 3. 4. Improved health care, hygiene, and large food supply Humans have a CC just like other orgs We are using more resources, producing more waste, taking up more space WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO CONTROL POP’N GROWTH!

What are the natural processes that occur on our planet? Process #1: MAINTAINING AIR QUALITY • Biotic: Recycling of O 2 and CO 2 by plants and animals • Abiotic: Rain cleans air 2. Process #2: SOIL FORMATION • Soil forms from erosion and decaying orgs • Roots of plants help keep down soil so it doesn’t blow away 3. Process #3: THE WATER CYCLE • Evaporation Clouds Rain 1. • Fresh water supply is maintained

What are the natural processes that occur on our planet? 4. Process #4: WASTE REMOVAL AND RECYCLING OF NUTRIENTS • Decomposers put nutrients back in soil • So minerals are RECYCLED through food chains 5. Process #5: FLOW OF ENERGY • Energy is passed through environment but NOT RECYCLED • Always need a constant source of energy (THE SUN!!)

What is the impact of technology on natural processes? 1. Industrialization: • Pollution of air and water • Increased demand for energy, water, and fossil fuels • EX: Nuclear Power Plants • Cause thermal pollution of waterways • Disposal of radioactive wastes big problem • Solution: Practice the 3 R’s • Alternative sources of energy – name some? • Reuse and recycle materials already made

What is the impact of technology on natural processes? 2. WATER POLLUTION: • • Depletion of O 2 in water: • Cause: by dumping of sewage and animal parts • Result: Can act as fertilizer for some bacteria and algae and they will consume all available O 2 Toxic Wastes: • Cause: Fertilizers and pesticides used get into water supply • Result: Organisms are poisoned - Get’s stronger as you move up the food chain!

What is the impact of technology on natural processes? • • Thermal pollution: • Cause: Warmed water from power plants dumped back into lakes and rivers • Result: Less dissolved O 2 in warmer water causing orgs to suffocate Solutions for Water Pollution: 1. Use alternative pest control instead of pesticides • • 2. Sterility treatments, hormone controls Add a natural predator Stop dumping things into water that shouldn’t be there!

What is the impact of technology on natural processes? 3. AIR POLLUTION: • • • Cause #1: Burning wastes Result: waste materials end up in water cycle anyway and make acid rain Cause #2: Burning Fossil Fuels – Brain Pop Video Result: adds too much CO 2, sulfur and other harmful gases into air and make acid rain Acid Rain causes much damage to orgs that cannot survive in low p. H Solutions for Air pollution: • Set limits for how much a factory can burn

How do pollutants affect the atmosphere? 1. GLOBAL WARMING • CAUSE: • • • “Greenhouse Gases” trap sun’s heat to keep our planet warm • EX: CARBON DIOXIDE ( CO 2) Greenhouse Gases have increased since early 1900’s b/c of industrialization • BURING FOSSIL FUELS PUTS EXCESS CO 2 INTO THE ATMOSPHERE As a result avg. Earth temp is increasing

How do pollutants affect the atmosphere? • • POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING: Change in climate patterns Melting of ice caps could cause flooding SOLUTIONS TO STOP GLOBALWARMNG: PLANT TREES b/c they use CO 2 STOP cutting down trees Find alternative fuel sources that do not release CO 2 into air

How do pollutants affect the atmosphere? 2. OZONE LAYER DEPLETION – Brain Pop Video • OZONE LAYER PROTECTS US FROM HARMFUL RADIATION FROM SUN • CAUSES OF DEPLETION: • Release of CFC’s into atmosphere • Come from refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosol cans • EFFECTS OF OZONE DEPLETION: • Excess radiation cause: • Genetic mutations • More skin cancer • Destroy producers in oceans • CFC’S no longer used in those things