Human Impact

Human Impact

on the environment

Population Growth: more people means

• more resources are being used,

• more waste and pollution

Depletion of the ozone layer

• holes/thinning of the ozone layer from the use of CFC's

• important because the ozone layer protects against the harmful rays of the sun

Pollution

• air pollution: from factories/transportation burning fossil fuels

• acid rain is a result of air pollution and the pollution can then get into water sources from the rain

• oil/gasoline spills

• garbage/litter

Deforestation

• cutting down trees or whole forests to use the materials or the land

• causes soil erosion: soil has less nutrients and not able to support plant growth

• less plants removing carbon dioxide from the environment

Open Ended

Why would deforestation cause there to be more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? (remember plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis)

Burning fossil fuels

• fossil fuels are coal, oil, and gas

• burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas

• fossil fuels are NONRENEWABLE so once we use them all, we cannot get anymore

Greenhouse effect

• gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun

• keeps Earth warm

• greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor,

• increase in greenhouse gases is causing climate change

Greenhouse gases

• the major greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide

• methane and water vapor are also greenhouse gases

• burning fossil fuels has caused there to be more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Multiple Choice

What is the cause of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

• burning fossil fuels

• breathing

• garbage

Multiple Choice

What is the main greenhouse gas?

• carbon dioxide

• oxygen

• nitrogen

• methan

Multiple Choice

What is the main greenhouse gas?

• carbon dioxide

• oxygen

• nitrogen

• methan