Human impact on environment

Question 1

what is climate?

Answer 1

Refers to the long-term pravalent weather conditions of an area

Question 2

what is the atmosphere made up of

Answer 2

nitrogen
oxygen
trace gases

Question 3

what is the function of greenhouse gases

Answer 3

they absorb long wave radiation emitted from the e earth and prevent it escaping into atmosphere

Question 4

what happens if there is an increase in concentration of greenhouse gases

Answer 4

leads to the enhanced greenhouse effect

Question 5

what 3 things happen because of global warming

Answer 5

increased concentration of CO2

increased methane concentration

increased temperatures

Question 6

what causes an increase in CO2 concentration in atmosphere?

Answer 6

burning of fossil fuels

deforestation

Question 7

what causes an increase in methane concentration

Answer 7

livestock

coal mining

expansion of rice agriculture and landfill

Question 8

impact of increasing temperatures

Answer 8

more evaporation

rising sea levels

increased wildfires
loss of biodiversity
more droughts

Question 9

what is the ozone

Answer 9

greenhouse gas found at low concentrations 15-50km above earths surface. Its function is to aborb UV rays from the sun.

Question 10

causes of ozone depletion

Answer 10

caused by chemicals called CFCs released by refridgerators, aerosol, packaging.

Question 11

impacts of ozone depletion

Answer 11

more skin cancer

eye damage

Question 12

what is carbon footprint

Answer 12

measure of total amount of greenhouse gas emissions of an individual, defined population or company per year.

Question 13

5 strategies to reduce carbon footprint

Answer 13

reuse/recycle 
drive less 
reduce need for heating 
reduce carbon emissions 
reduce energy needs

Question 14

what are the 2 main things that influence the availability of water

Answer 14

destruction of wetlands

construction of dams

Question 15

why is upping the price of water a clever strategy to reduce wastage

Answer 15

people are less likely to over use water if it is more expensive

Question 16

expalin how poor farming practice leads to waste in water

Answer 16

fertilizers and pesticides

overgrazing

Question 17

benefits of wetlands

Answer 17

improve quality 
increase availability of water 
improves irrigation 
water for irrigation 
purifies water

Question 18

why are exotic plants viewed as bad

Answer 18

use large quantities of water

Question 19

briefly explain eutrophication

Answer 19

agricultural water contains pesticides and herbicides which pollute natural river sources and cause excessive growth of algae in rivers. (algal bloom) it then depletes the O2 levels depleting the O2 for other species, they then die and cause the river to become highly toxic.

Question 20

why is heated water less useful

Answer 20

heated water has a lower O2 content - difficult to support life.

Question 21

why are alien plants problematic

Answer 21

blocks waterways

reduces light to other plants

Question 22

what is food security

Answer 22

acess by all people at all times to adequate, safe and nutritios food for a healthy and productive life.

Question 23

list 7 causes of food security

Answer 23

exponential growth of humans 
drouights and floods 
poor farming practice 
alien plants 
loss of wild varieties and it impacts gene pools 
genetically engineered food 
food wastage

Question 24

what is biodiversity

Answer 24

variety of plant and animal species on Earth.

Question 25

factors that reduce our biodiversity

Answer 25

• Habitat destruction
• poaching
• alien plant invasions

Question 26

list 6 ways in which habitats can be destroyed

Answer 26

• farming methods
• golf estates
• mining
• urbanization
• deforestation
• loss of wetlands and grasslands

Question 27

ways in which biodiveristy can be maintained

Answer 27

control alien plant invasions

suistainable use of the environment

Question 28

how can one control alien plant invasions

Answer 28

mechanically removal
chemical removal
biological removal

Question 29

what is solid waste

Answer 29

any solid material that is of no use to humans and which needs to be disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

Question 30

how is a landfill rehabilitated

Answer 30

covering the old landfill site with clay (impermeable to water) and then covered with topsoil and then vegetation

Question 31

why are landfills toxic

Answer 31

contributes to soil and groundwater pollution ( rain seeping)

Question 32

name of the toxic substance produced by a landfill

Answer 32

leachate