Global Change and the Human Impact

Environmental services and goods Q: What are some services you get from the environment? Renewable They can be used over again or replenished There is not always an unlimited supply Ex: trees, fresh water, grass Nonrenewable They can not be brought back via natural processes Ex: coal, oil, The tragedy of the commons The free resources may eventually be destroyed

Land Resources The services we get Fertile soil is good for agriculture Problem Overgrazing Plowing digs up roots Solutions Plot rotations to keep minerals high Various forms of plowing practices

Forest Resources The services we get Habitats, fuel, oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide, food, medicines, climate control Problem Deforestation or loss of forests Loss of species of animals and plants Solutions Replant tree farms Genetically alter trees to grow faster

Air Resources The services we get Clean air to breathe Problem Pollution-- harmful materials enter the environment Solutions Stricter rules and regulations of pollutants in the air Better technologies to help clean smokestacks

Global Change Changes in the environment caused by human interactions with the ecosystem These changes can affect every ecosystem on Earth Acid Rain Ozone Destruction Global Warming

Acid Rain Sulfur is put into the atmosphere when fossil fuels (coal,oil … ) are burned It is also emitted from smokestacks of industrial factories Sulfur in the atmosphere mixes with water vapor creating sulfuric acid Sulfuric acid comes back to the surface through rain and snow This can damage plants and ecosystems by changing the acidity of the environment.

Ozone Destruction What is ozone? O3O3 Absorbs 90% of ultraviolet radiation from the sun Q: What types of diseases are caused by UV radiation? A: skin cancer, cancer of retina, destruction of crops

Ozone Destruction ‘cont. How is the ozone being destroyed? Chloroflourocarbons (CFC ’ s) Found in aerosol cans, coolants for air conditioners and refrigerators Convert ozone (O 3 ) to oxygen (O 2 )

Climate Change - Global Warming Average increase in global temperature Greenhouse effect CO 2 can trap solar energy and heat in the atmosphere creating a “ warming effect ” This occurs naturally to maintain a livable climate Humans have caused a quickening of this process Q: Which biogeochemical cycle is involved in global warming and where does human interaction take place in this cycle?

Global Warming ‘cont Why is it a problem? Changes in ecosystems because of draughts Changes in rainfall patterns Changes in ecosystems because of floods as polar icecaps melt The loss of habitats and species

References crops_11.html