Environmental Issues in Europe Flashcards
What is Smog?
Fog mixed with smoke; Smog is air pollution caused by sunlight
What happened during the Great Smog of 1952?
The smog was so dense that the people couldn’t see what was right in front of them. Transportation slowed, crime increased, and thousands of people died.
What are 3 of the United Kingdom’s natural resources?
Oil, natural gas, and coal
How do these 3 natural resources cause air pollution?
Much of the kingdom’s manufacturing burns these fossil fuels.
What is coal used for?
It is used to fuel the Country’s power plants also burns in fireplaces and stoves in many homes.
What is causing the problem of air pollution today in the United Kingdom?
Exhaust from gasoline and diesel powered vehicles.
What are 4 effects of air pollution?
Asthma, pneumonia, blackens buildings, and threatens animals.
What are five solutions the government created for air pollution?
Smokeless zones, electric cars, laws against burning gas, check air quality, and bike more, drive less
Air pollution can cause _________ for other Western European countries.
Acid Rain
What is acid rain?
Acid rain is rain with increased acidity caused by air pollutants
What 3 effects has acid rain had on Germany?
- damage the soil and trees, ruined nearly half of the black forest
- sulfur and hydrogen eat holes in the surfaces of statues and buildings
- acid rain pollutes rivers like the Danube and the Rhine, and kills the wildlife living there
What are 2 main causes of acid rain in Germany?
- smoke from factories and power plants… the facilities burn fuels like natural gas, coal, and oil
- cars and buses that run on gasoline and diesel produces these gases too
Why can’t Germany just stop using the power plants?
- because Germany depends on manufacturing to provide jobs and income for its people
- because the industry that produce its leading exports — cars, steel, and chemical products – have many coal burning factories
How does the United Kingdom impact Germany’s acid rain problem?
Air currents bring the chemical filled smoke.
What are 3 ways the German government are trying to solve its acid rain problem?
- in southern Germany power plants use water/hydroelectric power
- passed laws to reduce emissions from factories and automobiles
- factories that are not close to rivers are switching to cleaner fuels