Name: ______Date______

Living Environment Unit 10Human Impact Study Outline

  1. Aim # 75: How do natural processes maintain ecosystems?
  2. Aim # 76: How are natural resources cycled through the environment?
  3. Aim # 77: How have humans negatively affect diversity in the environment?
  4. Aim # 78: How has technology and industrialization negatively impacted the environment?
  5. Aim # 79: How have air pollutants affected the atmosphere?
  6. Aim # 80: How can technology be used to help the environment?

KNOW THAT HUMAN POPULATION IS INCREASING DRASTICALLY ….

WHICH IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT

KNOW THE TYPES OF RESOURCES USED TO GENERATE ENERGY

Type of Resource / Definition / Example / Positives / Negatives
Non renewable / Resources that cannot be replenished within a lifetime. They exist in limited (finite) amounts / Fossil Fuels-Coal, oil, and natural gas / - cheap
- easily found
- provides us
with energy / - cannot be
replenished once gone
- release CO2 which leads to global warming
Renewable / Resources that canbe replenished within a lifetime. / Wind power, water power, solar power, geothermal power, biofuels / -Renewable (will not run out)
-Less Pollution / -Expensive
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEM / CAUSE / NEGATIVE EFFECT / SOLUTION
Industrialization /
  • Development of Factories, Cities, etc.
/
  • Increases use of resources, human population, & pollution
  • Acid rain, global warming
  • Habitat loss
/
  • Use cleaner technologies/alternative energy sources
  • Pass laws to regulate development of factories

Acid
Rain /
  • Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur and nitrogen into the air.
  • These gases + rain = acid rain.
/
  • Acidification of lakes and soil
•Damages wildlife/plants
•Increases erosion on buildings /
  • Buffers to neutralize lakes & rivers
  • Use filters on smokestacks
  • Use alternative energy sources to reduce the burning of fossil fuels

Global
Warming /
  • Increase of greenhouse gases (MAINLYCO2 and methane) due to burning fossil fuels (which releases CO2)
  • Deforestationprevents producers from naturally removing CO2from atmosphere during photosynthesis
/
  • Changes in climate/weather which can lead to loss of habitats/species
/
  • Use alternative energy sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric)
  • Decrease burning fossil fuels (reduce, reuse, recycle)
  • Plant trees
  • Decrease deforestation

Depletion of the Ozone Layer
/
  • CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) which are released by aerosols, air conditioners, refrigerator coolants
/
  • More harmful UV rays reach Earth’s surface = increase in mutations and skin cancer
/
  • Don’t use CFC’s/ban them
  • Use safer chemicals

Loss of Habitats /
  • Deforestation
  • Industrialization
  • Farming
/ •Loss of biodiversity
•Loss of potential resources (ex: Medicine from the rainforest)
•Unstable ecosystems /
  • Pass laws to protect natural areas (natural parks, preserves etc.)
  • Control population growth

Loss of
Biodiversity /
  • Habitat Loss
  • Overhunting
  • Overfishing
/ •Unstable ecosystems
•Loss of genes/organisms
•Loss of medicines/resources /
  • Regulate hunting
  • Pass laws to protect species

Invasive (imported or foreign)
Species /
  • Humans moving around the planet causes organisms to be brought to new habitats that lack their natural predators (ex: Purple loosestrife plant, gypsy moth, zebra mussels, Japanese beetle)
/
  • They have no natural predators
  • Overcrowd and outcompete native species.
/ •Control/restrict importation of goods
•Set traps that use chemical scents to attract insects
•Control the population by releasing biological controls = releasing natural diseases/predators if that species

KNOW THE FOLLOWING Ecological Problems, Causes, Effects and Solutions

Station # 1

Human Impact Station Review

Station # 2

Some scientists are urging that immediate action be taken to stop activities that contribute to global warming. Discuss the effects of global warming on the environment and describe some human activities that may contribute to it.

Your answer must include

: • an explanation of what is meant by the term global warming

• one human activity that is thought to be a major contributor to global warming and an explanation of how it may contribute to the problem

• one negative effect of global warming if it continues for many years

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Human Impact Station Review

Station # 3

Human Impact Station Review

Station # 4