Human Impact On The Environment

Question 0

Why do developed countries create more pollution per person?

Answer 0

Have higher standards of living, use more resources

Question 1

Why is world population rising exponentially?

Answer 1

Birth rate is higher than death rate

Question 2

Explain global warming

Answer 2

Fossil fuels are burned
Release CO2 - greenhouse gas - traps heat in atmosphere - global warming
Predict will cause seas to rise, weather unpredictable, crops fail
Greenhouse gas given off over a period of time called carbon footprint

Question 3

Explain acid rain

Answer 3

Fossil fuels and waste materials burn to give off sulphur dioxide
Reacts with water in atmosphere to form sulfuric acid - acid rain
Acid rain damages soil and kills trees
Lakes become more acidic - effect ecosystem, organisms can’t survive and die
Damages limestone buildings and statues

Question 4

Explain ozone depletion

Answer 4

CFC’s used to be used in fridges and aerosols, air conditioning and polystyrene
CFC’s break down ozone in upper atmosphere
More harmful UV rays reach earth
Increased skin cancer - can reduce risk with sun cream
UV rays kill plankton in sea - bottom of food chain so fish will die, so less food