HUMAN IMPACT ON THE LITHOSPHERE

AGRICULTURE Agriculture-The cultivation of other life forms for food purposes Land must be cleared for agriculture  makes area less diverse Monoculture-Only one species is present Easier for farmers to maintain Less cost efficient

AGRICULTURE Pesticides-Chemicals designed to protect crops from parasites Pesticides can runoff into streams or seep into the groundwater Pesticides can harm organisms  Offset food chains

AGRICULTURE Irrigation-Process where farmers supply water to dry land in order to help the growing of crops Helps saturate very dry land Prevents farmers from having to rely on rainfall

Problems with irrigation: Groundwater runs out (Aquifer depletion) Ground sinks due to depleted groundwater (San Joaquin Valley) Over irrigation may cause water to mix with pesticides and cause water pollution AGRICULTURE

DEFORESTATION Deforestation-Process where trees are removed and not replanted Done in order to clear area for construction Trees are also used for products such as paper, firewood

DEFORESTATION As trees are removed the topsoil is weakened This causes an increase in erosion due to soil not being held in place

If more trees are cut down then carbon dioxide will increase and oxygen levels will decrease Photosynthesis will stop If trees are burned that also releases carbon dioxide  Could lead to global warming DEFORESTATION

URBANIZATION Urbanization is the growth of cities as more people move from rural areas to urban areas 70% of people in North America live in a city By Billion people will live in cities

URBANIZATION Effects of Urbanization on the environment Destroys ecosystems – Forests are cleared and wetlands are filled Increased erosion More factories  More emissions  More greenhouse gases

SOLUTIONS Barriers around construction sites to catch eroded sediment Keep sediment from polluting streams Modern landfills minimize leakage. Ventilation at landfills cipher out toxic gases

Mountaintop removal mining- Destructive form of surface mining that blasts away the tops of mountains to acquire resources Done in the Appalachian Mountains Massive transport trucks Burning coal for power releases pollutants MOUNTAINSIDES