North Carolina Objective: Understand How is North Carolina affected by human activity? Catalyst- Objective: Understand How is North Carolina affected by human activity? Catalyst- com/video/news/7-billion/ngm- 7billion

Global Warming Review: excessive greenhouse gases such as CO 2 and CH 4 in the atmosphere trap heat, leading to an abnormal increase in earth’s surface temperature

Global Warming CO 2 comes from burning fossil fuels in power plants, factories, and cars. CH 4 comes from bacteria in landfills and livestock CO 2 comes from burning fossil fuels in power plants, factories, and cars. CH 4 comes from bacteria in landfills and livestock

Global Warming Effects: with just a small increase in temperature, such as 2-4 degrees Celsius, weather patterns change worldwide.

Global Warming Polar ice caps may melt and thermal expansion occurs, flooding coastal cities and contaminating drinking water with saltwater.

Beach erosion in North Carolina Sea level is directly related to global climate. In North Carolina, the sea level increase is twice the global average. Sea level is directly related to global climate. In North Carolina, the sea level increase is twice the global average.

Beach erosion in North Carolina Rising sea levels lead to beach erosion. Severe storms also increase erosion. The incidence of severe storms is increasing as a result of global climate change. Rising sea levels lead to beach erosion. Severe storms also increase erosion. The incidence of severe storms is increasing as a result of global climate change.

Beach erosion in North Carolina Coastal residents attempts to prevent beach erosion to protect property, leading to negative environmental consequences to ocean ecosystems.

Acid Rain Cause: harmful emissions from cars and factories react with oxygen and water to make precipitation more acidic - with a pH less than 5.6

Acid rain in North Carolina Mountains Red spruce and Frasier fir trees in the mountains are dying as a result of acid rain, damaging the ecosystem

Acid rain in North Carolina Mountains The mountains are greatly impacted by acid rain caused largely by pollutants from Tennessee. The soil has a low buffering capacity and acid fog continuously surrounds the trees making the damage more profound. The mountains are greatly impacted by acid rain caused largely by pollutants from Tennessee. The soil has a low buffering capacity and acid fog continuously surrounds the trees making the damage more profound.

Water Quality Cause: sources of water pollution often being on land, such as oil from cars, sediments from naked land, and fertilizers from lawns. Other sources include illegal chemical dumping, acid rain, overheated water from power plants, and raw sewage. Cause: sources of water pollution often being on land, such as oil from cars, sediments from naked land, and fertilizers from lawns. Other sources include illegal chemical dumping, acid rain, overheated water from power plants, and raw sewage.

Water Quality Effects: a lack of clean drinking water is a leading cause of disease (such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid). Water pollution also affects many ecosystems through habitat destruction Effects: a lack of clean drinking water is a leading cause of disease (such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid). Water pollution also affects many ecosystems through habitat destruction

Waste lagoons on North Carolina Hog Farms There are approximately 7 million hogs on industrial farms in NC, most in eastern NC, which is a flood-prone coastal plain.

Waste lagoons on North Carolina Hog Farms Industrial farms raise thousands of animals in small space, producing TONS of waste. The waste is stored in lagoons, but may run-off, leak, or spill into surface water with rainfall. Industrial farms raise thousands of animals in small space, producing TONS of waste. The waste is stored in lagoons, but may run-off, leak, or spill into surface water with rainfall.

Waste lagoons on North Carolina Hog Farms The sewage in the surface water leads to high levels of disease-causing bacteria such as E.coli, oxygen-depleting organic matter, and hormones/antibiotics used in feed.

Waste lagoons on North Carolina Hog Farms Also, nitrogen run-off from the waste may contribute to outbreaks of Pfisteria, a single-celled alga that produces a deadly neurotoxin.  Massive fish kills have resulted, along with health problems in fishermen and other exposed. Also, nitrogen run-off from the waste may contribute to outbreaks of Pfisteria, a single-celled alga that produces a deadly neurotoxin.  Massive fish kills have resulted, along with health problems in fishermen and other exposed.

Causes of biodiversity loss Habitat destruction such as deforestation, fragmentation, and pollution of aquatic ecosystems leads to loss of biodiversity. In NC, urban development in the Piedmont has led to biodiversity loss due to building of houses and city structures Habitat destruction such as deforestation, fragmentation, and pollution of aquatic ecosystems leads to loss of biodiversity. In NC, urban development in the Piedmont has led to biodiversity loss due to building of houses and city structures

Causes of biodiversity loss Forests are fragmented - breaking up a large forested area into smaller zones due to construction Clearing land for development leads to soil erosion which ultimately leads to water pollution An increase in paved surfaces such as asphalt and concrete lead to increased water run-off and pollution Forests are fragmented - breaking up a large forested area into smaller zones due to construction Clearing land for development leads to soil erosion which ultimately leads to water pollution An increase in paved surfaces such as asphalt and concrete lead to increased water run-off and pollution

What can you do to protect the environment? Awareness! Each human impacts the environment, and because our population is large we have an ENORMOUS impact at the global level. Awareness! Each human impacts the environment, and because our population is large we have an ENORMOUS impact at the global level.

What can you do to protect the environment? “We cannot all do everything, but we can all do something” Specific suggestions: Reduce dependence on fossil fuels (Example - car pool, support “green power”) “We cannot all do everything, but we can all do something” Specific suggestions: Reduce dependence on fossil fuels (Example - car pool, support “green power”)

What can you do to protect the environment? Recycle whenever possible Limit use of toxic chemicals at home Consumer choices - support “green” businesses/products Practice good stewardship: responsible planning and management of resources Recycle whenever possible Limit use of toxic chemicals at home Consumer choices - support “green” businesses/products Practice good stewardship: responsible planning and management of resources