Human-Environment Interaction

Air Pollution Smog is a thick haze of fog and chemicals. Smog occurs when polluting chemicals mix with the ozone. It can be hazardous to breathing. Acid rain is a mixture of chemical air pollutants and precipitation. Acid rain can kill fish, eat away at buildings, and kill trees.

Acid Rain and Smog Smog in Los Angeles Acid rain damage

The Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect is when gases in the earth’s atmosphere trap the sun’s warmth. Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold to live on. Some scientists believe pollution is strengthening the greenhouse effect, making temperatures rise across the world. Rising temperatures could lead to polar ice caps melting and oceans flooding low coastal lands.

The Lithosphere Lithosphere is another name for the earth’s crust. Human activities such as farming, logging, and mining can have negative effects on the lithosphere

Deforestation Deforestation is the cutting down of trees without replanting. Without tree roots, topsoil can be lost when wind or water carries it away. Rainforests are being cut down at high rates. This is a big concern because forests support the water cycle and help replace the oxygen in the atmostphere.

Deforestation: South American Rain Forests

How can we practice conservation?