Human Impact on the Environment Mr. Broughman Thursday, September 12, 2013

Main Idea Humans impact the environment and the environment impacts humans. How do ecological processes differ from weather phenomena? Ecology deals with the earth’s surface, while weather deals with the atmosphere

Physical and Ecological Processes These physical processes have an impact on humans’ lives and on the environment around us: A. Earthquakes  Shifting of tectonic plates below the earth’s surface; common along Pacific Ring of Fire B. Floods  Massive rainfall over a short period of time C. Volcanoes  Openings in the earth’s crust in which pressure builds up, releasing ash, toxic gases, and lava D. Erosion  Washing away of soil, especially top layers of soil E. Deposition  Adding layers of sediment to an area (the opposite of erosion) F. Tsunami  Tidal wave typically caused by an earthquake

Human Impact on the Environment A. Water Diversion/Management  Re-routing water to provide for human needs 1. Aral Sea in Asia: Sea that has almost dried up due to overuse by humans 2. Colorado River in the American Southwest River that has been dammed to create the Hoover Dam 3. Aswan High Dam in Egypt Damming of the Nile River to create Lake Nasser for electricity and to stop flooding 4. Canals (man-made rivers), reservoirs (storing water for later use), irrigation (moving water, usually for agriculture)

Panama Canal Time Lapse

Human Impact on the Environment B. Landscape Changes  Changing the physical features of an area 1. Terrace Farming in China and Southeast Asia 2. Polders in the Netherlands 3. Deforestation in Brazil, Africa, Asia 4. Desertification in Africa and Asia 5. Mountain-Top Removal in West Virginia

Planet in Peril - Brazilian Rainforest

Human Impact on the Environment Environmental Changes  Humans have the ability to alter entire ecosystems A. Acid Rain  in Germany, Scandinavia, the U.S. in which the pH of the water is changed due to pollution B. Pollution Smog in Mexico City Nuclear Radiation at Chernobyl, Ukraine Oil Spills like the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Chernobyl Nuclear Plant

Technology in the Environment How has technology influenced man’s ability to interact with the environment? 1. Agriculture 2. Energy Use 3. Transportation 4. Automobiles 5. Airplanes

Agriculture

Energy Usage

Transportation

Automobiles

Airplanes