Key Environmental Cycles and the Effects of Human Activity on the Environment Flashcards
Define Environment
ISO 14001:2015 – the surroundings in which an organisation operates, including air, water, land, flora, fauna, humans and their relationships………surroundings can extend from within an organisation to local, regional, global and can be described in terms of biodiversity, ecosystems, climate and other characteristics
Describe the Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle is described as the ways in which carbon moves between plants and animals and the physical components of the environment (atmosphere, ground and water bodies)
What are the major stores of carbon?
these are linked by the carbon exchange pathways
G - geological
O - Oceans
A - Atmosphere
L - Land Biosphere
Atmosphere - How Carbon naturally enters and leaves this system
Carbon exits (the atmosphere) by:
> photosynthesis
> dissolving in rain water
> directly into water bodies - and then absorbed by rocks
Carbon Enters (the atmosphere)
> respiration of plants and animals
> volcanic activity
Land Biosphere - How Carbon naturally enters and leaves this system
Carbon Leaves (the Land Biosphere)
> respiration of plants and animals
Carbon Enters (the Land Biosphere)
> the death of plants and animals
> waste carbon consumed by bacteria/fungi - they then respirate
Oceans - How Carbon naturally enters and leaves this system
Carbon Enters (the Ocean)
> mainly through dissolution
> then converted to organic carbon by photosynthesis and enters the food chain
> it can then pass through
> accumulate in shells as calcium carbonate
Geological - How Carbon naturally enters and leaves this system
most carbon stored in the upper mantle
> 80% in calcium carbonated rocks
> 20% in ketones (oil, gas, coal)
Leaves - by volcanic activity
Effects of Human Activity on Carbon Cycle
> burning of fossil fuels and biomass - releasing carbon dioxide
> deforestation and other changes to land use - removing a carbon sink carbonate rocks used in cement manufacture
Nitrogen cycle - why vital to all life processes on Earth
proteins and genetic material (DNA and RNA)
How can Nitrogen be extracted from the atmosphere?
> lighting - causes di-atomic nitrogen particles to divide
> The Haber Process - chemical process to react Nitrogen and Hydrogen reaction to manufacture Ammonia
> Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria - present in soil and legumous plant root nodules
> Excretion and Egestion from animals - nitrogen compounds returned to the soil
> Animal and plant decay - nitrogen compounds returned to the soil
Effects of Human Activity on the Nitrogen Cycle
> Fertiliser run off and sewage discharge causing nutrient enrichment
> Fossil Fuel combustion resulting in acidification
> Emissions of ammonia from intensive (pig & chicken) farming
What is eutrophication?
Nutrient enrichment
Why is Phosphorus important?
It is an integral part of the energy production in all living cells
What are the stages of the phosphorus cycle?
> rocks and other terrestrial deposits weathered over time leading to discharge of phosphorus into water bodies
> phosphorous (in phosphate form) extracted from soil by plants
> animals fed on those plants take up phosphorus
> discharge of phosphorus to soil & water by animal excretion
> following death bacteria & fungi aid decomposition which changes form of phosphorus and transfers back to soil
What are the effects of Human Activity on the Phosphorus Cycle?
> phosphorus containing fertilisers can run off into rivers and cause nutrient enrichment
> increased erosion - due to deforestation - release phosphorus resulting in nutrient enrichment
Define the Hydrological Cycle
The process of water movement around the earth
Describe the Steps in the Hydrological Cycle
> initial input into the cycle by precipitation
> plant roots take up water that has seeped into the soil
> water can continue through soil horizon and into aquifers (water bearing rocks)
> As both processes occuring water is evaporating. Rises into atmosphere and becomes the vapour involved in condensation
How do humans effect the Hydrological Cycle?
> depletion of aquifers
> damming of rivers - which will harm fish and other aquatic organisms
> deforestation causing flooding by allowing unrestricted run off
> climate change altering the location and amount of water around the planet
> changes in land use increase or decrease the flow of water in a catchment
Define Ecology
The study of the relationships between and the interactions of living things to one another and their physical surroundings
Define Ecosystem
a community of interdependent organisms and the physical and chemcial environment they inhabit (eg estuaries/woodland)
How do Ecosystems Work?
energy and chemicals are constantly cycled through the system.
The system can be disrupted by pollutants which can enter the food chain and are eventually absorbed into our bodies
What is a food web?
A collection of food chains
Define Biodiversity
the diversity, or variety, of plants, animals and other living things in a particular area or region
What are the benefits of biodiversity?
> ecological
> Economic
> Cultural/spiritual/aesthetic
> Recreation/tourism
> Education/Information
What principle do food chains work on?
the principle of food chains.
Energy is cycled through the system.
What are the parts of a food chain?
> plants
> herbivores
> carnivores
> decomposers
How do humans benefit from ecosystem services?
> Provisioning - obtaining products from the ecosystem
> Regulating - trees taking up water/decomposition of waste/pollinators
> Cultural - such as tourism and scientific discovery
> Supporting - for the production of other services, such as soils and nutrient cycling
What is Bioaccumulation?
the gradual buildup of substances within a living organism by all means possible (such as contact, respiration, and ingestion)
What is Bio-concentration?
the intake and retention of a substance from water in an aquatic system or a land based system
Define Biomagnification
the increase in bioaccumulated/bio-concentrated pollutants from the base of the food chain to the top
What is deforestation?
the removal of trees from a large area of land, eg Amazon basin
What are the negative effects of deforestation?
> climate change
> local climate alterations (dryer)
> soil erosion
> flooding
> biodiversity reduction
> habitat destruction
What is desertification?
the deterioration of land in arid or sub-humid areas as a result of loss of soil moisture and vegetation
What could be the causes of desertification?
> overgrazing
> taking of too much drinking water
> diversion of rivers for industry
> removal of too much ground water
How can habitat destruction occur?
> may be a single event (oil spill, road building, deforestation)
> or cumulative effect (gradual air/water pollution,)
What are invasive species?
non-native species that may have the ability to significantly affect natural biodiversity
What are the negative effects of invasive species?
> financial cost of remedying the damage caused to native
> biodiversity and ecosystem
> cost of eradicating the invasive species
> impacts on human health
What are the two main principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992)?
Principle 15 - precautionary principle
Principle 16 - ‘polluter pays’
Define Principle 16 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) - ‘Polluter Pays’
the polluter should pay for any significant damage to the environment that is created by pollution released
Define Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) - precautionary principle
identifies a need to implement changes in the absence of absolute scientific proof, as further delays could lead to adverse effects on society and have significant adverse effects on future generations
What is ‘proportionality’ in respect of Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992)
it must be ensured that all environmental benefits of precautionary measures are greater than economic and societal costs
What are the non-Governmental bodies who may influence environmental standards?
> trade unions
> professional bodies - CIWEM and IEMA
> pressure groups - Greenpeace by direct action or lobbying
> the media - by promoting and advising details
> the public - by not buying products from a firm
