Human Impacts

Topics Global Warming Ozone Depletion Biomagnification Invasive Species Acid Rain Deforestation

Global Warming (Climate Change)

Global Warming (Climate Change) Key Words Carbon Dioxide: greenhouse gas Greenhouse Gases: trap heat Greenhouse Effect: a natural occurrence that helps regulate the temperature of our planet. When the sun heats the Earth, some of this heat escapes back to space Some of the heat is trapped in the atmosphere by clouds and greenhouse gases

Global Warming (Climate Change)

Ozone Depletion

Ozone Depletion Key Terms CFCs: chlorofluorocarbons, found in aerosol cans, damage the ozone Ozone: atmospheric layer in which ozone gas is relatively concentrated

Destroying the Ozone http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/facts/ozone_SH.html

Biomagnification

Biomagnification Increasing concentration of a harmful substance in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain

DDT Insecticide 1962 Rachel Carson “Silent Spring” Effects on ecosystem and human health Thin bird shells http://www.montereyinstitute.org/noaa/lesson13/l13la1.html

Invasive Species

Invasive Species Plants and animals that have migrated to places where they are not native (originally from) Why would this be harmful? North Carolina: Kudzu http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/kudzu.shtml#.UG5pIc2Oaqk

Acid Rain

Causes Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes release chemicals that can cause acid rain Burning of fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) React with water and oxygen to form solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid.

Acid Rain Acid rain describes any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. It can also occur in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material that settle to Earth.

Deforestation

Deforestation: destroying forests Alaska National Geographic: Workers clear a road through the Amazon rain forest.

70% of the Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests. Deforestation also leads to climate change. Trees play a role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that lead to global warming. Trees play a role in continuing the water cycle. Large Effects:

How does it become invasive? Effects: Displace native species Reduce native wildlife habitat Reduce forest health Alter ecosystem processes How does it become invasive? Some possible reasons 1. Being able to tolerate a variety of habitats 2. Grow and reproduce rapidly 3. Compete aggressively for resources 4. Lack natural enemies in the new ecosystem