Human Impact on Water and Air Earth Science Notes Human Impact on Water and Air

Human Impacts on Water Water Levels Water Pollution Water Species

Human Impacts on Water Levels Decrease water table Water is withdrawn faster than it can be recharged. Due to growing population Due to mass irrigation Will see a drop in lake and stream levels.

Human Impacts on Water Levels Increase in Sea Levels Melting of polar ice caps put more water in the oceans According to the U.S. EPA, the sea level has risen 6 to 8 inches in the last 100 years Thermal Expansion of Water This increases the volume of the water in the ocean Thermal expansion has already raised the oceans 4 to 8 inches

Sources of Water Pollution Point source pollution – enters water from a specific point Usually can be controlled before it reaches a body of water. Non-point source pollution – enters water from a large area of land Sources can be lawns and field sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers No one know the exact source of the pollutant Non-point sources include pollutants from rain or snow

Classes of Common Water Pollutants Water Pollution Classes of Common Water Pollutants Disease-causing agents (pathogens) Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasitic worms enter water from domestic sewage and untreated human and animal wastes

Classes of Common Water Pollutants Water Pollution Classes of Common Water Pollutants Oxygen-demanding waste (ODW) Microorganisms use up oxygen Large populations of bacteria supported by the presence of these wastes degrade water quality by depleting it of dissolved oxygen. ODW causes the death of fish and other forms of oxygen-consuming aquatic life.

Classes of Common Water Pollutants Water Pollution Classes of Common Water Pollutants Water-soluble inorganic chemicals These are acids, salts and compounds of toxic metals such as mercury and lead. High levels of these chemicals can make water unfit to drink, harm fish and other aquatic life, depress crop yields and accelerate the corrosion of machinery that uses water. Industry is the main source of water-soluble inorganic chemicals.

Classes of Common Water Pollutants Water Pollution Classes of Common Water Pollutants Inorganic plant nutrients These are water-soluble nitrates and phosphates that can cause excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants. As these plants decay they deplete the water of dissolved oxygen, which fish need to survive.

Classes of Common Water Pollutants Water Pollution Classes of Common Water Pollutants Organic chemicals Organic chemicals include oil, gasoline, plastics, pesticides, cleaning solvents, detergents and many other chemicals. These threaten human health and harm fish and other aquatic life. The main sources of such water pollution are transport, industry, urban activities and household cleaning.

Classes of Common Water Pollutants Water Pollution Classes of Common Water Pollutants Sediment (suspended matter) Insoluble particles of soil and other solids become suspended in water, mostly when soil is eroded from the land. By weight, this is by far the biggest water pollutant. Sediment clouds water, inhibits photosynthesis and destroys the aquatic food chain.

Classes of Common Water Pollutants Water Pollution Classes of Common Water Pollutants Other Pollutants Radioactive pollution caused by water-soluble, radioactive isotopes Thermal pollution after using water to cool down industrial and power plants Genetic pollution caused by accidental introduction of non-native species such as mussels and phytoplankton

Water Pollution Invasive species can out compete native species and reduce biodiversity. Invasive plants can contribute debris and bio-molecules that can alter soil and chemical compositions of an environment, often reducing native species competitiveness.

Invasive Species Emerald ash borer, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients.

Invasive Species Purple Loosestrife Zebra Muscles

Invasive Species Flying Carp? http://everydayexplorers.nationalgeographic.com/individual-video.php?mediaid=459235

Human Impacts on Air Types of Air Pollution Smog Specific Chemical Pollutants CFC Particulates

Human Impacts on Air Air pollution undergoes a number of processes: Emission contaminants are released into the air Transport contaminants are transported to different locations through air Exchange compounds react with other compounds in air Distribution contaminants are distributed in air Deposition contaminants are deposited in a certain area, on the soil or on objects

Types of Air Pollution Smog Forms from auto emissions N and C compounds are released Sunlight separates O from N compounds O2 molecules bond with the free O to make ozone. Ozone is a major component of smog Smog is an irritant

Types of Air Pollution Smog reduces the amount of sunlight received by plants to carry out photosynthesis

Human Impacts on Air

Human Impacts on Air

Types of Air Pollution Chemical Pollutants Sulfur Dioxide - one of the most dangerous of all air pollutants. The major sources of this pollutants are Factories and electric power plants that use sulfur-containing coal or oil as fuel. In the air, some sulfur dioxide is converted to sulfuric acid, which is then deposited on the earth's surface, usually by rain. This acid rain has caused damage to the environment in many parts of the world.

ACID RAIN

Types of Air Pollution Chemical Pollutants Nitrogen oxide - are mildly poisonous brown gas. produced in automobile engines and other devices where combustion takes place.

Human Impacts on Air This high-resolution global atmospheric map of NO2 pollution shows how human activities affect air quality.

Types of Air Pollution Chemical Pollutants Carbon oxides - is the largest single group of pollutants. Carbon monoxide - a colorless and odorless poison produced when fuel incompletely burned in engines, furnaces and space heaters. A major source of this is the Vehicles. Carbon Dioxide - a produced by normal combustion (burning). Although it is not a serious pollutant, it is believed that the continuous build up of this gas in the atmosphere could cause a " green house effect" by reducing the flow of heat from the earth back into the space, thus causing a possible warming of the earth.

Carbon Oxide Compounds

Types of Air Pollution Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) synthetic substances that have has a variety of industrial uses. Scientist also believe that CFC's are destroying ozone that absorbs potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

CFC – Chlorofluorocarbons

Types of Air Pollution Particulate matter Tiny liquid or solid particles in the air includes smoke, dust, and soot, which may contain toxic substances like asbestos, fluorides, lead, and mercury.

Particulate matter

Human Impacts on Air Atmospheric problems SO2 NOx NH3 VOC CO CH4 Photochemical smog + Winter smog Acidification Eutrophication Climate change In the following table we can see which air pollutants are involved in various environmental problems.

Summary Be able to… Describe human impacts on the water cycle List common classes of water pollutants Describe human impacts on the atmosphere List and describe types of air pollutions Identify sources of pollution