Definitions Flashcards
What is Human Induced Environmental Change
Human induced environmental changes are alterations to the natural environment caused by human activity.
Water pollution
Water pollution can be caused by contamination of harmful substances that reach lakes and oceans. An example of this is dumping industrial waste into water which can lead to unsafe living environments for aquatic life.
Atmospheric Pollution
The presence of harmful gases in the air can lead to health issues and environmental change. Emissions released from cars and big factories lead to these harmful gases polluting our earth further resulting in climate change.
Loss of biodiversity
Due to the human induced environmental changes loss of biodiversity occurs, causing many species to go extinct. A big example can be seen in the deforestation of the amazon rainforest, where countless species homes are destroyed.
Degradation of Land
The decline in the quality of the land due to human activities, making it less productive. With overgrazing by livestock causing soil erosion and turning fertile land into desert.
Inland and coastal aquatic environments:
The decline in the health and quality of freshwater ecosystems such as rivers and lakes. Additionally, the deterioration of marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds due to human activities. This is caused by agricultural runoffs carrying pesticides into a lake, causing algal blooms that deplete oxygen and kill fish. Furthermore, Coral reefs being damaged by dynamite fishing, leading to the loss of marine biodiversity.
Causes for Climate change
Climate change is caused by the MILANKOVITCH CYCLE, Sunspots, Fossil Fuels, Agriculture, Deforestation and gas emissions.
What is the MILANKOVITCH CYCLE?
As the earth orbits closer to the sun the earth gets hotter, visa verse. The angle of the earths tilt goes back and forth every 41 000 years. Furthermore, earth wobbles on its axis in 20 000-year cycles.
What are Sunspots and how do they affect climate change?
Sunspots found on the sun mean that more heat is being emitted. If there are no sunspots the sun is at its minimum.
How does Agriculture affect climate change?
Asia produces 44% of the world’s emission from agriculture. As the world’s population increases, the agriculture to support humans increase which subsequently creates more gas emissions.
How does deforestation affect the climate change?
Deforestation accelerates climate change by reducing the number of trees that absorb carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. The loss of forests also disrupts local ecosystems, decreases biodiversity, and contributes to increased temperatures and altered weather patterns, further worsening global warming and its impacts.
Why is Sea level rising?
Over the past 100 years, global sea levels have risen by 10 to 20 centimeters. This increase is largely due to two factors: the expansion of ocean water as it heats up and the melting of land ice, which adds additional water to the oceans.
How do we know Climate change is real?
Climate change can be seen through the sea levels rising, glacial/ice melting, increasing global temperatures, and Ice cores.
How does temp correlate to climate change?
Earths air temperature has increased by 1 degree in the last 100 years. Over the last 3 decades the temperature has been the warmest. Additionally, the hottest years have all been In the 2000s.
what are ice cores?
Ice cores are cylinders of ice drilled from ice sheets and glaciers. They are essentially frozen time capsules that allow scientists to reconstruct climate far into the past. Layers in ice cores correspond to years and seasons, with the youngest ice at the top and the oldest ice at the bottom of the core.
