Lesson 4

Environmental Impacts on Oceans

by Sarah Reid

​Sources of Ocean Pollution

• ​Point Source Pollution Sources

• ​NonPoint Source Pollution Sources

• ​Only 13% comes from activities in the Ocean

• ​The rest originate on Land

​Solid Waste Pollution

• ​What is it?

  • plastics, glass, foam, metals

• ​What problems does it cause?

  • Animal ​Entanglement

  • ​Animals Eat It

  • ​It does not degrade- microplastics

  • ​Becomes trapped in Gyres

​The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

• ​Located in the Pacific Ocean

• ​Could be up to 2x the size of Texas

• No big efforts to clean it up

  • cost

  • responsibility

  • logistics

​Excess Sediment

• ​Erosion Runoff

  • ​Sediments can clog filter feeders (clams, sponges)

  • ​Can block sunlight, increase temperatures

  • ​inhibits photosynthesis

• can cause photosynthetic marine organisms to die

​Excess Nutrients Cause Algal Blooms

• ​nutrients like nitrogen and phosphates cause plants like algae to grow

• could come from land based fertilizers, waste, and runoff

• causes algae to grow and reproduce quickly and in large numbers

• algae can produce harmful toxins

• when the die and decompose it uses the Oxygen in the water

• other organisms can die from a lack of oxygen

• ​Coral are very sensitive to temperature changes (even 1 degree)

• Coral Bleaching is the loss of color in coral that occurs when stressed coral expel the algae that live in them

• This leads to the death of the coral

• impacts that whole ecosystem

  • food chains

  • shelter for other fish

​Coral Bleaching

• ​as the temperature of water increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water decreases

Dissolved Oxygen levels Decrease

• as Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere increases the amount of CO2 dissolved in seawater also increases

• CO2 mixing with water creates carbonic acidic which lowers the pH of the water

• This impacts marine organisms ability to use carbonate and makes it more difficult for them to absorb calcium

  • This impacts the strength of their shells, and skeletons

  • Can impact the food chain- plankton make protective plates

Affects of Increasing CO2 Ocean Acidication

The Impact of Human Activities

Understanding how human actions affect the environment

The Impact of Urbanization on the Environment

Urbanization, the physical growth of urban areas, leads to deforestation, eutrophication, groundwater depletion, and pollution. The lithosphere and the environment are negatively affected by urbanization, causing habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and increased carbon emissions. It is crucial to address the environmental impacts of urbanization to ensure sustainable development and protect our planet's resources.

• Rural Area: A sparsely populated region characterized by open spaces, agriculture, and natural landscapes.
• Urban Area: A densely populated region with high-rise buildings, infrastructure, and a concentration of human activities.

Urbanization and the Environment

Trivia: Did you know that increased carbon emissions are a negative impact of urbanization on the environment? Urban areas contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, leading to climate change and air pollution. This highlights the importance of sustainable urban planning and reducing carbon footprints in cities.

The Impact of Human Activities

• Deforestation: The permanent removal of standing forests, causing soil erosion, poor water quality, reduced food security, and impaired flood protection.
• Urbanization: Alters natural water flow, increasing surface runoff and reducing infiltration.
• Pollution: Human activities can lead to both a decrease in pollution in some regions and deforestation, resulting in more pollution.

Deforestation

Trivia: Deforestation is the permanent removal of standing forests. It leads to soil erosion, poor water quality, reduced food security, and impaired flood protection. Deforestation is a major environmental issue caused by human activity.

The Impact of Human Activities

• Deforestation: Leads to mass migration and global warming
• Mining and Smelting: Devastates terrestrial and aquatic environments
• Lead and Mercury: Cause health issues and pollution

Lead and Mercury

Trivia: Lead and mercury are toxic heavy metals that can cause serious health issues and pollution. They are commonly found in industrial waste, contaminated water, and air pollution. Exposure to lead and mercury can lead to neurological damage, developmental issues, and other health problems. It is important to minimize the use and release of these harmful substances to protect human health and the environment.

The Impact of Mining

• Mining affects human health: Mercury exposure in the womb can harm a baby's brain and nervous system, leading to cognitive, memory, and motor skill impairments.
• Mining destroys the lithosphere: Tunnels and land scraping for minerals and gems cause irreversible damage to the land.
• Rejuvenation is crucial: Restoring mining areas is essential to recover the land's features and mitigate environmental impacts.
• Air pollution from human activities: Industrial factories are a major source of air pollution, affecting human health and the environment.
• Not a source of pollution: Hydroelectric plants and reforestation are not sources of pollution, unlike industrial factories and nuclear power.

Non-Polluting Hydroelectric Plants

Trivia: Hydroelectric plants are a clean and renewable source of energy. Unlike mining, industrial factories, and nuclear power, hydroelectric plants do not contribute to pollution. They harness the power of flowing water to generate electricity, making them an environmentally friendly option. Fun Fact: The world's largest hydroelectric power station is the Three Gorges Dam in China, which generates enough electricity to power millions of homes.

Multiple Choice

When the population rises, the need for material and goods...

• Increases

• Stays the Same

• Decreases

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Unconventional oil and gas development can pose health risks to nearby communities.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a negative impact of urbanization on the environment?

• Deforestation

• Increased carbon emissions

• Agriculture

• Natural landscapes

Multiple Choice

Fill In The Blank

Just ___ of oil can contaminate 1 million liters of water.

• 1 Liter

• 1 Mile

• 1 Pint

• 1 Cubic Meter

Multiple Select

What is a bacteria found in human waste?

• E. Coli

• lactobacilli

• Salmonella

• bifidobacteria

Multiple Choice

Vocabulary

What is Deforestation?

• A process that affects the environment by limiting potential habitat and food sources for animals who depend on the forest.

• Large Areas of Protected Forests

• 1 Liter

• Gases, such as Carbon Monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen Oxides, Ozone, Particulate Matter, Sulfur Dioxide, and Other gases in smaller quantity.

Multiple Choice

Which human activity causes permanent removal of standing forests and leads to soil erosion, poor water quality, reduced food security, and impaired flood protection?

• Urbanization

• Pollution

• Deforestation

• Overfishing

Multiple Choice

How can Polluting Gases, such as Carbon Monoxide and Lead, Affect Humans and Animals?

• They can cause damage to and cancers in your body's systems

• They can give you superpowers

• They can cause cancers in your body's systems

• They can improve your body's systems

Multiple Choice

How Can Air Pollutants Affect the Environment?

• Air Pollutants can heal plants in the environment

• Air pollutants can cause Premature Plant Processes and impair Photosynthesis and the ability to Respirate

• Air Pollutants won't affect the environment or plants

• What?

Multiple Choice

How Can Urban Development affect Deforestation and the quantity of other natural resources?

• Urban Development can prevent Deforestation and increase the quantity of other natural resources

• Urban Development does not affect these two

• Deforestation is a process affecting the environment by limiting the potential habitat and food sources for animals who depend on the forest. It can also affect the air.

• Urban Development increases deforestation and can deplenish other natural resources.

Multiple Choice

Which human activity causes health issues and pollution?

• Deforestation

• Mining and Smelting

• Lead and Mercury

• Global warming

Multiple Choice

Trees process ___ into ___ for humans to use in cellular respiration

• Gold:

  Oxygen

• Carbon Dioxide;

  Oxygen

• Bromine;

  Carbon Dioxide

• Oxygen;

  Hydrogen

Multiple Choice

Which human activity is NOT a source of pollution?

• Mining

• Hydroelectric plants

• Industrial factories

• Nuclear power