1. Human Impacts on the Environment
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Human Impacts on the Environment

2. Human Population Growth
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As the human population continues to increase there is a greater need for resources causing greater stress on the environment.
Human population

3. Finite Resources Deforestation Over Hunting Global Warming Acid Rain
Human Impacts on the Environment Click on the links below to learn about how humans are impacting the environment
Finite Resources
Deforestation
Over Hunting
Global Warming
Acid Rain

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Finite Resources
A finite resource is something needed by humans that is only available in a limited amount.
Examples of Finite Resources
gas
oil
coal
iron

5. Finite Resources
Increased human population means an increased need for each of these resources causing humans to overuse them.
Ex: gas and oil for cars
These resources are being used at a rate that means that we will eventually run out.
resources
time
Solutions

6. Finite Resources Solutions
Humans have begun looking for alternative energy sources
Engineering designs to use less of each resource
Recycling or reusing when possible
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7. Deforestation Deforestation: The cutting down and removal of forests
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Deforestation: The cutting down and removal of forests
Reasons: Need land to build houses, apartment buildings, shopping plazas, parking lots, etc.

8. Affects of Deforestation
Decreased amounts of O2 given off as plants/trees are decreased
Destroying habitats for many species; causing them to go extinct or on the endangered species list
Some unknown plants which could have been medicine sources are being destroyed.
Solutions

9. Deforestation Solutions Limiting the amount of land builders can use
Naming some land forever wild (can never be knocked down)
Replanting: builders must replant trees in a different area for every tree they knock down
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10. Over Hunting
Over hunting is when humans hunt so much of a population or decrease the numbers so severely that it is not able to recover.
Example:
Poachers who killed elephants for the ivory in their trunks have caused some species to nearly go extinct.
Solutions

11. Over hunting Solutions Humans have created the endangered species list
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Solutions
Humans have created the endangered species list
Breeding animals in captivity and releasing them to increase populations
Creating stricter hunting laws

12. Animals on the endangered species list
Over Hunting
Animals on the endangered species list
Manatee
Bald eagle
Sea turtle
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13. Also called the greenhouse effect.
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Global Warming
Also called the greenhouse effect.

14. Global Warming
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Causes: Burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas in cars and factories releases CO2.
The CO2 creates a blanket around the Earth.

15. Global Warming
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High energy waves from the sun enter the blanket and hit the Earth. When they bounce back they have less energy and can’t escape the CO2 blanket (they get trapped) and warm the Earth.

16. Global Warming
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The change in temperature is not drastic… Since 1860 the average temperature has only increased 0.8 degrees Celsius.

17. Global Warming Effects
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Increase in Earth’s temperature
Melting of Polar Ice Caps
Thinning of ice allowing polar bears less time to find food
Changing climate causing some stress on organisms

18. Global Warming Solutions
Decrease the burning of fossil fuels (alternative energy sources)
Increase laws on amount of CO2 factories can release
Develop technology to reduce the amount of pollution from cars and factories
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Acid Rain
Acid rain is rain with an acidic pH. Normal water is neutral.
The pH scale to the right will give you an idea of different acid and base values.

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Acid Rain
Causes: Factories burn fuel high in sulfur. The waste from this burning is released through smoke stacks high into the atmosphere. The sulfur combines with water to make sulfuric acid and then when it rains it is raining this acid rather than pure water.

21. Acid Rain Effects of Acid Rain Pollutes water supplies
Solutions
Effects of Acid Rain
Pollutes water supplies
Kills organisms in the area that rely on the water
Destroys buildings and statues

22. Acid Rain
Solutions
Limit the amount of pollution factories are allowed to release
Introduce smokestack scrubbers which clean the smoke removing most of the sulfur before it is released
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