Biogeochemical Cycles & Environmental problems

Eutrophication

Chesapeake Bay Clean-up https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?page=UserAction&id=13505&autologin=true&s_src=414DSRRHA4_NSRSR&s_subsrc=SLs&utm_source=sierrarise&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RH The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, but it's also in big trouble -- the bay has been polluted for decades. It's now unsafe to swim most of the year, and wildlife numbers have dropped dramatically. The EPA & 7 bay-area states have a clean water plan to drastically reduce pollution, called the Chesapeake Clean Water Initiative. But greedy Big Ag and states nowhere near the bay, including Texas and Alaska, are suing to stop them!

plan does to clean Chesapeake Bay annual dead zones & bring back aquatic wildlife like oysters and blue crabs. Runoff is the bay's leading source of pollution -- urban pollution, agricultural pesticides, sediment, and more washing into the water from hundreds of miles around. Years of voluntary actions haven't produced the needed results, so the Clean Water Blueprint limits how much nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment can enter the bay each year. It's already making a big difference. [6]

Green House Effect - Facts Energy enters the biosphere as sunlight Sunlight is absorbed and converted to heat Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat moves from high temp. to low temp. So radiates out from Earth into space

Green Houses trap heat Glass is designed to be transparent to visible light Long wave infra-red light is reflected Visible light that is absorbed is converted to heat Long wave I-R and trapped More energy comes in than can leave Temperature increases

Green house Gasses in Atmosphere Green house gasses absorb long wave I-R Prevent it from radiating out into space More green house gasses = more heat trapped