Human impact on ecosystems

Question 1

What are non-renewable energy sources

Answer 1

coal,oil,gas,nuclear

Question 2

what are renewable energy sources

Answer 2

water,wind,solar,geothermal,biofuel

Question 3

what does burning fossil fuels produce

Answer 3

water and carbon dioxide

Question 4

What do human activities have an impact on

Answer 4

land,water and atmosphere

Question 5

What can be used as indicators to see if their is pollution around

Answer 5

lichens are used as biological indicators since they are very sensitive to pollution

Question 6

What percentages of each gas is consisted in the air

Answer 6

78% Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
0.9% Argon
0.1% other gases (0.04% carbon dioxide)

Question 7

What is the greenhouse effect

Answer 7

A natural phenomenon where greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere trap heat and warm the surface of the earth

Question 8

what are the greenhouse gases

Answer 8

carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour

Question 9

How does the greenhouse effect work

Answer 9

Sun radiation hits the earth
Some is reflected by the earth’s surface and heat
Some of the reflected radiation escapes to space but some is absorbed by the greenhouse gases which reflect it back to earth warming it up

Question 10

What is enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 10

the impact on the climte due to additional heat

Question 11

What is the reason for enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 11

level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have risen

Question 12

Why have carbon dioxide levels risen

Answer 12

Due to increased burning of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution

Question 13

What else contributes to the greenhouse effect

Answer 13

deforestation increases atmospheric carbon dioxide level by reducing photosynthesis

Question 14

what does enhanced greenhouse effect lead to

Answer 14

more heat is trapped leading to global warming

Question 15

what are the consequences of global warming and climate change

Answer 15

organisms are effected because they cannot tolerate higher temperature
more frequent and extreme phenomenas
melting of ice resulting to habitat loss
melting of ice results to rice in sea levels which cause flooding
more forest fire
droughts or storms can cause shortage of food

Question 16

What is ozone

Answer 16

it’s a molecule consisting of 3 oxygen atoms

Question 17

how was the ozone substance produced

Answer 17

UV rays from the sun reacted with the oxygen

Question 18

What does the ozone layer do

Answer 18

it prevents harmful UV radiation from the sun from reaching the Earths surface

Question 19

What is damaging the ozone layer

Answer 19

CFC damage the ozone layer and make holes in it.

Question 20

What substances are produced by the burning of oil and coal

Answer 20

carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogens, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide

Question 21

what are the substances produced by burning fuels that form acid rain

Answer 21

sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen

Question 22

what acidic gases are produced

Answer 22

sulfuric acid and nitric acid

Question 23

how is the acid rain produced

Answer 23

the acidic gases dissolve in the water droplets in clouds forming acids

Question 24

what are the consequences of acid rain

Answer 24

it kills plant and animals by lowering the pH and they dissolve minerals in the soil and carries them away. They also destroy limestone in buildings

Question 25

how is soot made

Answer 25

when burning coal, soot particles from the smoke settle on the organisms and buildings

Question 26

what is the consequence of soot

Answer 26

soot covers leaves, less light can be absorbed and photosynthesis decreases

Question 27

how is smog made

Answer 27

smoke from burning coal combines with water droplets in the air forming smog

Question 28

what is the consequence of smog

Answer 28

smog destroys the lining of the respiratory airways in humans

Question 29

what can fertilisers lead to

Answer 29

they can lead to eutrophication

Question 30

what are fertilisers used for

Answer 30

they are used in agriculture to provide nutrients for plants

Question 31

what happens when fertilisers leak into lakes

Answer 31

they cause excessive growth of algae (algal bloom)

Question 32

why is an algal bloom a problem

Answer 32

it causes more aquatic plants to die because they block the sunlight so they prevent photosynthesis and there is excessive decomposition

Question 33

why is excessive decomposition a problem

Answer 33

decomposers use the oxygen in the water for their respiration so fish and other animals suffocate

Question 34

why are oil spills a problem

Answer 34

oil spills in the sea remain for years and can kill organisms

Question 35

why are heavy metals a problems

Answer 35

heavy metals accumulate and their concentration increases as you go up the food chain. They are toxic to animals and can damage organs and lead to death

Question 36

why are microplastics a problem

Answer 36

they are eaten by fish causing suffocation and death

Question 37

why is intensive farming a negative impact on land

Answer 37

forests are cleared to create fields, usage of fertilisers to provide mineral ions to plants, pesticides are used to kill pests, herbicides are used to kill weeds so there is less competition for light, water and minerals, insecticides are used to kill insects that attack the crop.

Question 38

why is deforestation a negative impact

Answer 38

it destroys habitats, disrupts food chains, may lead to extinction of species, increases soil erosion and increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Question 39

why are fertilisers a negative impact

Answer 39

if they leak into leaves they can lead to eutrophication

Question 40

why are insecticides a negative impact

Answer 40

they can also be harmful to beneficial insects e.g pollinators. They can also affect other animals eating the plant and disrupt the food chain.

Question 41

what are some ways to reduce pollution

Answer 41

minimise energy use
reuse materials
recycle materials
use renewable energy sources
use catalytic converters in car engines to reduce nitrogen oxides
sewage treatment
desulfurisation of flue gas emissions in factories to reduce sulfur dioxide
ban the use of certain pollutants (polythene plastic bags, CFC’S, lead