The Lithosphere

Goals I can name the contaminants found in soil. I can define the concept of soil depletion I can explain how humans contribute to soil depletion. I can define the buffering capacity of soil. I can explain the advantages of having soil with a good buffering capacity

The many uses of soil Why is soil Important ?

Soil provides nutrients to plants, microorganism, insect and animals

What is contamination? The abnormal presence of harmful substances in an environment. P.63 #1

What contaminants are found in the soil? Household solid waste (garbage) Toxic liquid waste (acids, inks, dyes, chlorine) Radioactive waste Hydrocarbons ( petroleum and derivatives) Dead organic matter (grease, poop, wood) Heavy metals Microorganisms Nitrates and phosphates Organochlorinated pesticides- PCB, DDT POP- solvents and pesticides

Where does soil contamination come from?

Liquid waste – deprives soil of nutrients

Radioactive waste (Mutation and cancer)

Dead organic matter

Heavy metals

How do the heavy metals get to toxic levels?

Soil depletion The decrease in the fertility of the soil resulting from the loss of materials and nutrients P.65 #2

What activity cause soil depletion? P.66 #3

Intensive agricultural practices

Agriculture removes the nutrients in the soil, making it infertile, fertilizer does not replace all the nutrients.

Use of pesticides Accumulate in the soil and kill beneficial organisms

Soil compaction The use of heavy machinery cause the soil to become compacted. Many plants have a hard time growing in a compact soil. Soil also has a hard time holding water.

Clear cutting

Removes all the plants leaving the land bare. Runoff further depletes the soil, by washing away the nutrients. With no plants to die and replenish the soil, we get soil depletion

Desertification Caused by prolonged drought and soil depletion.

Acidification or salination of soil Plants and organism thrive best in a particular type of soil. If the soil is too acid, or there is to much salt this can have an impact on the organisms

Causes of acid rain Contaminants released by industries, Nox Causes soil to be acidified (more acidic)

Why can some soils, handle acid rain better than others?

Buffering capacity Buffer: A substance who’s pH is difficult to change. The buffer capacity of a soil relates to its ability to resist change in pH.

Buffering capacity depends on: Organic matter in the soil Mineral composition: soils that contain alkaline (basic) materials such as clay and Calcium carbonate. Physical properties- density of soil, size of particles, ability to retain cation

Decontamination of soil Biodegradation: the breaking down of organic matter into inorganic matter by micro-organisms. Bioremediation: the biotechnology for cleaning up a polluted site, using microorganism that decompose the contaminants. Phytoremediation: use of plants or algae to eliminate contaminants on site.

The hydrosphere This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Effect of contaminants on water Modify : The temperature Acidity and salinity of bodies of water Harm aquatic fauna and flora

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

P.76 # 3

Catchment area The geographic area drained by a river system

Where does runoff flow? It flow on the surface from the highest to the lowest point, until it forms small river -> ocean This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Atmosphere

What contaminants are found in the air? Aerosols Ammonia Radioactive clouds Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide Nitrogen and sulphur oxides Etc.

Smog : a result of atmospheric contamination This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Smog is a mixture of fog, smoke and atmospheric contaminants that forms mainly over city because of the high concentrations of pollutants. https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/forecasts/air-quality/quebec/saint-lambert

Atmospheric circulation Create by the difference of pressure between two areas of the atmosphere ( High pressure -> low pressure) And by the difference of temperature between two areas. ( Low temperature -> high temperature)

The phosphorus cycle Read P.92-93 Do P. 94 #1