Human impact on environment

Humans affect regional and global environments through… Agriculture Development Industry WHICH IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF EARTH’S NATURAL REOURCES (SOIL, WATER, AND ATMOSPHERE)

Agriculture Monoculture- practice of clearing large areas of land to plant a single highly productive crop year after year PROS ENABLES EFFICIENT SOWING, TENDING, AND HARVESTING OF CROPS USING MACHINES PROVIDING FOOD FOR 7 BILLION PEOPLE CONS FRESH WATER AND FERTILE SOIL IMPACT FERTILIZER PRODUCTION AND FARM MACHINERY ALSO CONSUME LARGE AMOUNTS OF FOSSIL FUELS

DEVELOPMENT The growth of cities and suburbs is tied to the high standard of living that Americans enjoy BUT has environmental effects Dense human communities produce lots of waste which can affect air, water, and soil resources Development consumes farmland and divides natural habitats into fragments

Industrial growth Provide us with the conveniences of life homes, clothes, cars, phones, etc. BUT, they require a lot of energy to produce and power Burning fossil fuels– coal, oil, and natural gas Discards wastes directly into the air, water, and soil

Sustainable development: provides for human needs WHILE preserving the ecosystem that produce natural resources Renewable resources Nonrenewable resources Can be produced or replaced by a HEALTHY ecosystem Trees Water Air Not always renewable Natural processes cannot replenish them within a RESONABLE amount of time Fossil Fuels Coal Oil Natural gas

Using resources wisely Soil, water, air

soil Desertification Deforestation Soil erosion Soil use & sustainability Desertification Deforestation Affect soil quality supports agriculture and forestry Minimize soil erosion through careful management of both agriculture & forestry Most dangerous when completely bare Keeping roots and stems from previous years crops Crop rotation Contour plowing Selectively harvesting MATURE trees

Water Water Quality & Sustainability Water pollution Primary sources are industrial and agricultural chemicals, residential sewage, and nonpoint sources Biological magnification- pollutant (DDT, mercury) is picked up by an organism and is not broken down by organism. Instead collects and increases as it moves down the food chain Flushing your toilet large amount of sewage can stimulate algal blooms Oxygen poor areas called DEAD ZONES Protect natural water cycle Protecting plants and forests Watershed conservation Pollution control Sewage treatment Water conservation Drip irrigation Turning off faucet when brushing teeth

atmosphere Very difficult Doesn’t “belong” to anyone Air pollution Air Quality & Sustainability Common forms include: smog, acid rain, greenhouse gases, and particulates Ozone high in the atmosphere is good but not to breathe in Acid rain nitrogen and sulfur combine with water vapor in the air to form acids that erode buildings and kills plants when it falls Carbon Dioxide Excess in atmosphere from burning fossil fuels lead to global warming and climate change Very difficult Doesn’t “belong” to anyone Automobile emission standards and clean- air regulations Example: unleaded gasoline from previous leaded gasoline has increased air, soil, and water quality in the U.S.

Biodiversity: total of all genetically based variation in all organisms in the biosphere Types Threats Ecosystem- variety of habitats, communities, and processes in the biosphere Species- number of different species in the biosphere, or in an area Genetic- sum total of all different forms of genetic information carried by a particular species Habitat fragmentation- leaving habitat “islands” Hunting and demand for wildlife products Introduced species Pollution Climate change

Conserving biodiversity Protecting individual species Preserving habitats and ecosystems Ecological hot spot-significant numbers of species and habitats are endangered Considering local interests Ecotourism