Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect Earth would be too cold to live on without the Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and ozone. Gases absorb solar energy that has been reflected or converted to heat from Earth’s surface.

Human activities: burning coal, oil, and gas (fossil fuels) increases amount of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. Increase in greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, increase the activity of the Greenhouse Effect. Increase in activity causes greater average global temperatures (global warming)

CFC’s and ozone depletion Ozone reduces UV radiation reaching Earth UV radiation causes DNA damage, cancer. CFC: chemical found in aerosals reduces the ozone layer Result: More UV radiation reaches Earth, more cancer.

Habitat Destruction Habitats are destroyed by: acid rain, land pollution, slash and burn techniques, urbanization. Effect: Local species become extinct, exotic species can invade easier, changes in climate, more fires, disrupt ecological processes.

Non-native Species Upset the normal ecological balance Do not have natural competitors or predators to keep their growth in check Unchecked non-native species will use the resources usually available to native species. Native species will decrease in number Decrease of biodiversity