Environmental Problems

What are environmental problems?

• Natural phenomena that result in great damage and possibly loss of life.

• The harmful effects of any human activity on the biophysical environment.

• Naturally occurring processes that wear away the upper layer of soil.

• The damage done to air, water or soil by the addition of harmful chemicals.

The damage done to air, water or soil by the addition of harmful chemicals is called

• soil degradation.

• acid rain.

• biodiversity loss.

• pollution.

What environmental problem does this picture show?

• Ozone layer depletion

• Overpopulation

• Global warming

• Deforestation

Which of these is not a natural disaster?

• 
• 
• 
• 

The greenhouse effect is exactly the same as global warming.

• True

• False

Global warming is

• the retention of heat in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases.

• a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect.

• a natural process that cools down the average global temperature.

• the act of cutting down and burning trees that destroys wildlife habitats and adds to pollution.

Which of these are greenhouse gases?

• Water vapour

• Oxygen

• Carbon dioxide

• Methane

Plants and animals that are threatened with extinction are ______________ species.

What do we call the thinning of the ozone layer that protects the earth from the harmful UV radiation?

• Air pollution

• Ozone layer depletion

• Shortage of natural resources

• Acid rain

Which of these statements are true about deforestation?

• Deforestation adds carbon dioxide to the air and removes the ability to absorb existing carbon dioxide.

• If enough deforestation occurs, entire species can be wiped out.

• Deforestation reduces the planet’s overall ability to capture and store oxygen.

• Most deforestation is carried out to clear land for food production.