Humans Influences on the Environment

Question 1

What detrimental impacts can sulfur dioxide have on the environment?

Answer 1

• Formed when fossil fuels containing impurities are burnt
• Sulfur dioxide can dissolve in water to form acid rain which can erode buildings and pollute water sources

Question 2

What detrimental impacts can carbon monoxide have on the environment?

Answer 2

• Carbon monoxide is formed from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
• Carbon monoxide binds irreversibly to haemoglobin which prevents it from carrying oxygen
• Too much exposure can cause unconsciousness and death

Question 3

Name 5 greenhouse gases

Answer 3

• Water vapour
• Carbon dioxide
• Nitrous oxide
• Methane
• CFCs

Question 4

Give 3 human activities that contribute to greenhouse gases

Answer 4

• Burning fossil fuels
• Deforestation
• Large scale livestock farming

Question 5

How do greenhouse gases lead to global warming?

Answer 5

• Greenhouse gases allow heat from the sun to enter the atmosphere
• The gases act as a ‘blanket’ and trap the heat in the atmosphere

Question 6

State 3 negative consequences of global warming

Answer 6

• Sea level rise caused by melting icebergs
• Disrupted farming and agriculture
• Increased spread of diseases in warmer climates

Question 7

Describe how sewage in waterways can affect aquatic life

Answer 7

Microorganisms that decompose sewage will use up the oxygen in the water so that there is not enough oxygen left for respiration for other aquatic organisms.

Question 8

What is eutrophication?

Answer 8

An excess of nutrients in a body of water, often due to fertilisers in the water source.

Question 9

Why is eutrophication bad for aquatic life?

Answer 9

It causes an ‘algal bloom’ which decreases oxygen supplies in the water and degrades the water quality.

Question 10

State 5 negative effects of deforestation

Answer 10

• Leaching
• Less CO2 taken out of the atmosphere from photosynthesis
• Soil erosion
• Habitat disruption
• Disruption of the carbon cycle

Question 11

What is leaching?

Answer 11

Trees usually take up lots of nutrients. When lots of trees are cut down, these nutrients can leak out into waterways. Large quantities of nutrients in waterways can cause problems like algal blooms.

Question 12

What is evapotranspiration?

Answer 12

Evapotranspiration is the process involving trees providing lots of water to
the atmosphere from the soil through evaporation and transpiration.

Question 13

What effect does deforestation have on evapotranspiration?

Answer 13

• Less trees means that there will be less evapotranspiration
• This means that less water will be returned to the atmosphere as quickly
• This causes areas to dry up