4833 Basics of some Environmental Problems cat 9/03 Frequently, presenters must deliver material of a technical nature to an audience unfamiliar with the topic or vocabulary. The material may be complex or heavy with detail. To present technical material effectively, use the following guidelines from Dale Carnegie Training®.   Consider the amount of time available and prepare to organize your material. Narrow your topic. Divide your presentation into clear segments. Follow a logical progression. Maintain your focus throughout. Close the presentation with a summary, repetition of the key steps, or a logical conclusion. Keep your audience in mind at all times. For example, be sure data is clear and information is relevant. Keep the level of detail and vocabulary appropriate for the audience. Use visuals to support key points or steps. Keep alert to the needs of your listeners, and you will have a more receptive audience. 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018 Copyright 1996-98 © Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc.

This Is a Huge Subject Area Every natural system is in decline The problems are incredibly varied in both cause and effect: global warming: average temperature rising toxic pollutants in air, soil, water, plants, animals ocean systems are changing or declining In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience. Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners. Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations. Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and you will have more attentive listeners. 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

GLOBAL WARMING diverse On average, temperatures around the globe are rising exceptionally quickly Main cause: production and release by humans of ``greenhouse gases’’ into atmosphere. Heat and light reflected back to earth rather than radiating out to space. Effects are extraordinarily diverse , hard to predict, and widespread: melting of glaciers and icecaps, rise in sea levels, climate changes, habitat loss/alteration, etc. If you have several points, steps, or key ideas use multiple slides. Determine if your audience is to understand a new idea, learn a process, or receive greater depth to a familiar concept. Back up each point with adequate explanation. As appropriate, supplement your presentation with technical support data in hard copy or on disc, e-mail, or the Internet. Develop each point adequately to communicate with your audience. diverse 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Global Warming: What Is Happening? Carbon Dioxide and >5 other gases produced in large amounts http://www.grida.no/db/maps/collection/climate6 /index.htm Changes in concentration http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/07.htm More infrared leaving the earth’s surface is reflected back (“greenhouse effect”) http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/intro.htm Temperatures (and sea levels) are rising http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/trends.htm 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Causes: Why Are We Producing So Much CO2 ? industrial: http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/09.htm land use change: http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/10.htm 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Diverse Effects of Warming Photographic Documentation: http://www Ocean currents? Sea levels Frozen fresh water melts Not-so-permafrost Mountain habitats Increased precipitation Arctic region hard hit 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Projected Impacts of Global Warming Different models predict differently http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/UniqueKeyLookup/SHSU5BNJ5B/$File/api_science.pdf Precipitation changes? Extreme weather? U.S. Western deserts become shrub or grassland? Agricultural yields may increase in N.A. 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Toxic Pollutants Huge variety of toxic substances Especially worrisome when: persist and/or travel in the environment accumulate in fat cells or other tissues become more concentrated upwards in food chain mechanism not understood highly toxic or hard to contain (e.g. water soluble) Varied effects, often hard to verify or isolate. Fertility loss, reproductive abnormalities, cancer, liver damage, immune system compromise, other toxicities. Suspected as a cause of biodiversity loss 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Example: PCBs PolyChlorinated Biphenyls Used as lubricant and coolant in electrical equipment: transformers, microscopes, etc. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts17.html long lasting, accumulates, toxic Production in US banned 1977 Found in 500 of 1600 superfund sites Ban on sale of polluted land ended this week 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

More hazardous materials http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html Radioactive Waste Pesticides other purposefully created compounds byproducts or inadvertently produced compounds (e.g. by release of chemicals into environment) arsenic mercury lead other elements 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Oceanic Systems in Decline Reef habitats 10% destroyed Hypo-oxygenated regions, coastal water pollution Less sunlight reaching moderate depths because of pollution and in some cases increased surface algae Oceanic microorganisms, largest source of atmospheric oxygen, may be in decline Fish, cetacean, and crustacean populations reduced Changes in ocean currents (Gulf Stream!) predicted 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

EUTROPHICATION Nutrients (primarily nitrogen, phosphorus) in form of fertilizer, organic waste etc. flow into water, raising nutrient levels. Algae grow on/near water surface. Live algae block sunlight to lower levels; dead algae lower oxygen concentration. 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Info On Eutrophication http://www.pewoceans.org/oceans/oceans_pollution.asp http://www.epa.gov/maia/html/eutroph.html http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow/under/primer/page17.html 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Some characteristics of Environmental Problems Changes are large scale, can be hard to measure. Variability can make it hard to determine whether we are observing randomness or true change in mean. But in some cases there is widespread scientific consensus on the existence and/or cause. Impacts can not be accurately forecast. Problems are interrelated through cause, effect, and (more superficially?) relationships between categorizations. Possibility of pushing a system out of an equilibrium. Determine the best close for your audience and your presentation. Close with a summary; offer options; recommend a strategy; suggest a plan; set a goal. Keep your focus throughout your presentation, and you will more likely achieve your purpose. 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

More characteristics… Many effects are long term Many problems are initially imperceptible to the naked eye (without technology) Other characteristics? 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Long delays between cause and effect From a systems point of view, what do long delays mean for systems behavior? 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018

Political Aside When reading statements about environmental policy, ask yourself: Cui bono? Distinguish between argumentative devices and real reasons. Although it is possible for both sides to have legitimate grounds for their positions, it is also possible for one side to be wrong. P 4833 environmental basics 11/7/2018