Human Influences on the Environment Flashcards
define pollution
the release of substances into the environment that cause harmful effects
types of pollution
water
air
land
what causes air pollution
CO2: - burning fossil fuels (cars, industry, heating) - deforestation methane: - rice paddies, cattle waste
what chemicals pollute the air
- carbon dioxide
- carbon monoxide
- sulphur monoxide
- nitrogen oxides
- methane
- CFCs
what are the consequences of air pollution
- global warming
- acid rain
- ozone hole
- smog
explain the greenhouse effect
high energy, short-wave radiation from the sun reaches the earth
some energy is re-emitted as longer wave radiation
some long wave radiation is absorbed by the greenhouse gases and re-emitted back to the earth
as a consequence the earth’s surface and the lower atmosphere is warmed up
define global warming
when there is an increased concentration of greenhouse gases more long wave radiation is absorbed by them and re-emitted back to the earth, increasing the overall temperature of the globe
consequences of global warming
- polar ice caps would melt and sea levels rise
- change in rainfall patterns: flooding/drought
- extremes of weather e.g. hurricanes, storms, flooding
- the change in climate would affect ecosystems and threaten biodiversity
greenhouse gases
carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4) nitrous oxide (N2O) water vapour (H20 (g))
combustion equation
fossil fuel + oxygen –> carbon dioxide + water + energy
define deforestation
the removal of a forest with the land into non-forest uses
deforestation:
… photosynthesis –> less CO2 … away more CO2 in …
less
locked
atmosphere
deforestation:
… of trees –> … CO2 released –> … CO2 (and less O2) in atmosphere
burning
more
more
deforestation:
loss of … –> some species …
habitats
endangered
deforestation:
loss of soil … –> soil washed away > leaching + …
anchor
erosion
deforestation:
disturbances of water …
- less … > reduced …. > ….
- lacks of stems, litter, trunks > increased water … after rainfall > …
cycle transpiration rainfall droughts run off flooding
how much methane do cattles belch annually out of the worlds methane production and rice paddies
16% each!
when is methane produced naturally
when organic matter is broken down by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen (rice paddies, landfill sites)
acid rain is made up of what
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides both from burning fossil fuels (cars, industries and heating)
acid rain formation
nitrogen + oxygen –> nitrogen oxides
sulphur + oxygen –> sulphur dioxides
nitrogen oxides + water vapour–> nitric acid
sulphur dioxide + water vapour–> sulphuric acid
ALL + rain –> acid rain
what PH is acid rain
4-5 unlike normal rain of around 5.3
what does acid rain lead to
- death of trees
- acidification of lakes (aquatic animals killed)
- acidification of soil
- corrosion of buildings
types of water pollution
inorganic fertiliser
sewage
pesticides
chemical waste
what do inorganic fertilisers contain
- nitrates
- potassium
- phosphorus
how do inorganic fertilisers reach healthy water ecosystems
run off (especially nitrates)
explain what happens in eutrophication
1) excessive nitrates are washed into pond from runoff fertiliser
2) as nitrate levels rise, algae and aquatic plants rapidly reproduce (algal bloom)
3) the algae prevent light from penetrating through the water, so submerged plants cannot photosynthesise and die
4) the algae also die as they run out of nitrates. bacteria decay the dead plants and algae and use up more and more oxygen in respiration
5) the water may become totally anoxic (without oxygen) and all life in the water will die
how does sewage pollute water:
Decomposers such as … and … decay the organic matter in sewage and thereby use up … as they respire
The water becomes … in the same way as in eutrophication and fish and other animals …
bacteria fungi oxygen anoxic die
define sustainable development
improving the quality of life without compromising future generations
