Key Environmental Cycles and the Effects of Human Activity on the Environment

Question 1

Define Environment

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Describe the Carbon Cycle

Answer 2

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)

Question 3

What are the major stores of carbon?

Answer 3

these are linked by the carbon exchange pathways

G - geological
O - Oceans
A - Atmosphere
L - Land Biosphere

Question 4

Atmosphere - How Carbon naturally enters and leaves this system

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Land Biosphere - How Carbon naturally enters and leaves this system

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Oceans - How Carbon naturally enters and leaves this system

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Geological - How Carbon naturally enters and leaves this system

Answer 7

most carbon stored in the upper mantle
> 80% in calcium carbonated rocks
> 20% in ketones (oil, gas, coal)

Leaves - by volcanic activity

Question 8

Effects of Human Activity on Carbon Cycle

Answer 8

> 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

Question 9

Nitrogen cycle - why vital to all life processes on Earth

Answer 9

proteins and genetic material (DNA and RNA)

Question 10

How can Nitrogen be extracted from the atmosphere?

Answer 10

> 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

Question 11

Effects of Human Activity on the Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 11

> Fertiliser run off and sewage discharge causing nutrient enrichment

> Fossil Fuel combustion resulting in acidification

> Emissions of ammonia from intensive (pig & chicken) farming

Question 12

What is eutrophication?

Answer 12

Nutrient enrichment

Question 13

Why is Phosphorus important?

Answer 13

It is an integral part of the energy production in all living cells

Question 14

What are the stages of the phosphorus cycle?

Answer 14

> 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

Question 15

What are the effects of Human Activity on the Phosphorus Cycle?

Answer 15

> phosphorus containing fertilisers can run off into rivers and cause nutrient enrichment

> increased erosion - due to deforestation - release phosphorus resulting in nutrient enrichment

Question 16

Define the Hydrological Cycle

Answer 16

The process of water movement around the earth

Question 17

Describe the Steps in the Hydrological Cycle

Answer 17

> 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

Question 18

How do humans effect the Hydrological Cycle?

Answer 18

> 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

Question 19

Define Ecology

Answer 19

The study of the relationships between and the interactions of living things to one another and their physical surroundings

Question 20

Define Ecosystem

Answer 20

a community of interdependent organisms and the physical and chemcial environment they inhabit (eg estuaries/woodland)

Question 21

How do Ecosystems Work?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is a food web?

Answer 22

A collection of food chains

Question 23

Define Biodiversity

Answer 23

the diversity, or variety, of plants, animals and other living things in a particular area or region

Question 24

What are the benefits of biodiversity?

Answer 24

> ecological

> Economic

> Cultural/spiritual/aesthetic

> Recreation/tourism

> Education/Information

Question 25

What principle do food chains work on?

Answer 25

the principle of food chains.

Energy is cycled through the system.

Question 26

What are the parts of a food chain?

Answer 26

> plants

> herbivores

> carnivores

> decomposers

Question 27

How do humans benefit from ecosystem services?

Answer 27

> 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

Question 28

What is Bioaccumulation?

Answer 28

the gradual buildup of substances within a living organism by all means possible (such as contact, respiration, and ingestion)

Question 29

What is Bio-concentration?

Answer 29

the intake and retention of a substance from water in an aquatic system or a land based system

Question 30

Define Biomagnification

Answer 30

the increase in bioaccumulated/bio-concentrated pollutants from the base of the food chain to the top

Question 31

What is deforestation?

Answer 31

the removal of trees from a large area of land, eg Amazon basin

Question 32

What are the negative effects of deforestation?

Answer 32

> climate change

> local climate alterations (dryer)

> soil erosion

> flooding

> biodiversity reduction

> habitat destruction

Question 33

What is desertification?

Answer 33

the deterioration of land in arid or sub-humid areas as a result of loss of soil moisture and vegetation

Question 34

What could be the causes of desertification?

Answer 34

> overgrazing

> taking of too much drinking water

> diversion of rivers for industry

> removal of too much ground water

Question 35

How can habitat destruction occur?

Answer 35

> may be a single event (oil spill, road building, deforestation)

> or cumulative effect (gradual air/water pollution,)

Question 36

What are invasive species?

Answer 36

non-native species that may have the ability to significantly affect natural biodiversity

Question 37

What are the negative effects of invasive species?

Answer 37

> financial cost of remedying the damage caused to native

> biodiversity and ecosystem

> cost of eradicating the invasive species

> impacts on human health

Question 38

What are the two main principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992)?

Answer 38

Principle 15 - precautionary principle

Principle 16 - ‘polluter pays’

Question 39

Define Principle 16 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) - ‘Polluter Pays’

Answer 39

the polluter should pay for any significant damage to the environment that is created by pollution released

Question 40

Define Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) - precautionary principle

Answer 40

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

Question 41

What is ‘proportionality’ in respect of Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992)

Answer 41

it must be ensured that all environmental benefits of precautionary measures are greater than economic and societal costs

Question 42

What are the non-Governmental bodies who may influence environmental standards?

Answer 42

> 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