population and pollution Flashcards
what are the three main types of pollution?
- Carbon dioxide
- CFCs
- sulfur dioxide
where did carbon dioxide come from? and why is it bad for the environment?
it came from the combustion of fossil fuels, it increases the greenhouse effect and global warming by forming a layer of insulation around the earth atmosphere
where do CFCs come from and why are they bad for the environment?
they were the propellant in aerosols but were banned, they destroy the ozone layer that protects the earth from harmful UV rays
where does sulfur dioxide come from and why is it bad for the environment?
it comes from the combustion of fossil fuels and causes acid rain
what is exponential growth?
growth at an ever-increasing rate
why is the human population increasing to rapidly?
because the birth rate is higher than the death rate
where is the greatest rise in population figures occuring?
underdeveloped contries
which countries use the most fossil fuels?`
developed countries
what is the amount of pollution caused by a person or organisation called?
their carbon footprint
what effect does population have on pollution and why?
if population increases so will pol;lution levels because the more people the more resources needed so they build factories. The more factories and cars the more pollution
what does a carbon footprint measure?
the amount of greenhouse gasses given off by a person or organisation
what are the two ways to measure pollution in air and water?
direct method or via indicator species
what is the direct method?
the use of chemicals and probes to accurately give the levels of things such as oxygen levels and amount of fertilisers present
Is the direct method better? why?
both have their pros and cons, indicator species is cheaper, gives a more long term picture of the pollution level. It also means that there isn’t the risk of computer error or malfunction. however the direct method is much more accurate and gives a quick snapshot of the pollution level
why can we use indicator species?
indicator species are used to see how polluted the river is as certain organisms will only be present at different levels of pollution
