Our Impact on the Pedosphere

Pedosphere and Lithosphere Lithosphere - where the plates “sit” Pedosphere - what we walk on Ped = feet

Facts Earth’s population is increasing rapidly. Medicine, clean water, and better nutrition have lowered the death rate. Number of births has increased because more people live to child bearing age. By 2050, Earth’s population is predicted to reach 9 billion!

Earth’s carrying capacity The largest number of people that Earth’s land resources can support.

Ways that people affect their environment: Electricity - which could be produced by burning fossil fuels Eating foods - yes we need this but the more people eat the more land needed to grow/raise food supplies Using plastics - made from oil (nonrenewable resource), pollutants

4.) Using paper - trees are cut down, air pollutants 5.) Producing waste - trash!!!! Our landfills are filling up and the garbage has to go somewhere!

Our actions could cause this!

Using Land Farming - use more land to grow more crops, chemical fertilizers, pesticides Livestock - land is used for pastures, grow food for the animals which we then eat. Forest Resources - logging, development, paper products!

Development - buildings, highways, stores, parking lots Water cannot soak into the ground, goes into streams which could cause flash floods, lack of refills for the underground water supply. Landfills - garbage is covered with soil, area is lined with plastic to prevent chemicals leaking into the ground, some items do not decompose.

Hazardous Waste - poisonous material (bad for your health and the environment), some are not allowed to be dumped in the landfills. Some radioactive material is buried in metal containers.

Natural Preserves - land that is set aside to protect it from environmental problems caused by people.

Mining The extraction of valuable minerals or other geologic material from an ore, stream, reef, etc. Very dangerous to do!

Drilling/Fracking Using heavy machinery that allows for the Earth to be cut to obtain materials. A fast way to get gas (oil) to fill the need for humans. Fracking - injects liquid (water) into the ground at high speeds to get material released from shale rock.

Deforestation When Earth’s forest are cleared (large areas at a time). Damages the land Loss of habitat(s) Leads to higher erosion rates

Chart for traditional energy sources and how we obtain them. Peat Coal Oil Natural Gas Wood

Conserving Resources Conservation - the careful use of resources to reduce damage to the environment. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Composting - making your own fertilizer Reducing - using less material Reusing - finding another use for an object

Calculate YOUR carbon footprint! http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx