Humans and Global Change

Anthropogenic Global Change and
its Effects

Learning Objectives

▪ Explain how human activities change the atmosphere and

climate.

▪ Describe how changes in the atmosphere drive climate

change and other changes in global systems.

▪ Explain how human land uses can cause changes in

global systems.

▪ Explain how humans directly affect populations.
▪ Portray the different kinds of pollution that lead to global

changes.

Changing the Atmosphere

Data gathered confirm that atmospheric carbon dioxide
levels have been increasing since the Industrial Revolution.

In addition, data show that most of the carbon dioxide that is
released comes from burning fossil fuels.

•Climate change: measurable long-term changes in
averages of temperature, clouds, winds, precipitation, and
the frequency of extreme weather events

•Global warming: increase in average global temperatures

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​

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: measurable long-term changes in
averages of temperature, clouds, winds, precipitation, and

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: increase in average global temperatures

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Climate change

Global warming

Ocean
Acidification

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​

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have put more CO₂ in the atmosphere.

CO₂ makes carbonic acid in the ocean ​

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the pH.

With acid in the ocean, marine organisms have trouble making ​

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.

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Human activities

lowering

shells

Volcanoes

raising

food

Changes in Land Use

Algal blooms are caused by an excess of nitrogen and other
fertilizers that make their way to bodies of water. This influx
of nutrients spurs the growth of algae that can upset the
balance of freshwater and marine ecosystems.

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Algal blooms are caused by an excess of ​

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and other fertilizers that make their way to bodies of water. This influx of nutrients spurs the ​

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of algae that can upset the balance of freshwater and ​

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ecosystems.

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nitrogen

growth

marine

carbon dioxide

death

land

Changes in Land Use

involves
planting large areas with a
single highly productive
crop year after year.

Monoculture

Multiple Choice

What is it called when one crop is the only thing planted over a large area?

• agriculture
• monoculture

• hydrofracking
• geoculture

Changes in Land Use

Healthy forests:
•protect fresh water
•absorb carbon dioxide
•moderate climate

,

or loss of forests, can have
negative effects on soil
quality.

Deforestation

Multiple Select

What do healthy forests do for an ecosystem or biome?

Choose 3

• protect fresh water

• absorb carbon dioxide

• increase runoff in the water cycle

• moderate climate

Development/Urbanization

• As societies develop, more

people move to cities and
suburban areas.

• Dense communities of

people produce large
amounts of wastes.

• If wastes are not disposed

of, they can affect air,
water, and soil resources.

Multiple Choice

Urbanization means more and more people are living close together (cities).

Dense communities of people produce...

• large amounts of food

• large amounts of waste

• harmony and peace

• solutions for environmental problems

Habitat Loss, Fragmentation, and Restoration

• Habitat loss: When natural habitats are

completely changed, species that once
lived in that area can be lost to human
development.

• Habitat fragmentation: When

habitats are split into smaller sections, biodiversity loss makes ecosystems
more vulnerable to other disturbances.

• Habitat restoration: ecological

restoration recreates conditions that
resemble an ecosystem that previously
existed.

Match

Match the following

• Habitat Loss

• Habitat Fragmentation

• Habitat Restoration

Natural habitats are completely changed.

Habitats are split into smaller sections

returns conditions to previous habitat

• Natural habitats are completely changed.

• Habitats are split into smaller sections

• returns conditions to previous habitat

Direct Human Effects on Populations

are species that are introduced to new
habitats that cause economic harm, environmental harm, or
even harm to human health.

Invasive species

Multiple Choice

Where do invasive species cause harm?

• any habitat

• their natural habitat

• a new habitat

• no habitats

CFCs and Stratospheric Ozone

CFCs are industrially produced gases. A few decades ago,
these were banned because of their impact on the ozone
layer.
The ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet light.

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​

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were ​

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because of their impact on ​

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which absorbs ​

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in the atmosphere.​

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CFCs

banned

ozone

ultraviolet radiation

carbon dioxide

created

Industrial and
Agricultural Pollution

• Industrial and agricultural

chemicals

• Residential sewage

• Nonpoint sources

Water

Producers

1

1,000

10,000

100,000

1,000,000

10,000,000

Zooplankton

Small
fish

Large
fish

Fish-eating

birds

Water

Producers

1

1,000

10,000

100,000

1,000,000

10,000,000

Zooplankton

Small
fish

Large
fish

Fish-eatin

g birds

Biological Magnification

In a food chain, the concentration of
a pollutant increases as the number of
organisms at a trophic level
decreases

.

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In a food chain, the concentration of a pollutant ​

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as the number of
organisms at a trophic level​

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. This is known as ​

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.

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increases

decreases

biological magnification

biological reduction

stays the same

Heavy Metals

Lead can cause neurological damage to children and young
adults. The U.S. phased out lead gasoline and stopped
adding lead to paint in the 1970’s, which has drastically
reduced lead levels.

Multiple Choice

What has happened to the amount of lead emissions in the United States since 1970?

• reduced a little bit

• reduced drastically

• increased a little bit

• increased drastically

• stayed the same