The Greenhouse Effect G.H.E. is naturally good (it warms Earth) Problem: Excess heat trapped near the earth’s surface Fear: Climate patterns change, ice caps melt Main Cause: CO 2 from burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) Solutions: Reduce use of fossil fuels, regrow trees, alternative energy sources

What’s a Greenhouse? A Greenhouse is designed to trap heat so you can grow plants year round, even in cooler environments. heat Some heat escapes the greenhouse, but enough is trapped to keep the inside warm

Earth heat Some heat escapes into space Some heat naturally trapped by Earth’s atmosphere The Natural Greenhouse Effect is good! The Atmosphere

Earth CO2, Methane, other greenhouse gases

Earth heat Excess CO2 in atmosphere Less heat escapes into space More heat trapped near Earth’s surface

The Greenhouse Effect is naturally GOOD! Mars: No Greenhouse Effect Little heat is trapped by the thin CO 2 atmosphere. High temperatures can be around 20 ⁰ F. Earth: Balanced Greenhouse Effect Average global temperature is 57 ⁰ F. Venus: The Extreme Greenhouse Effect Heat is trapped by the thick CO 2 atmosphere. Temperatures reach 750 ⁰ F.

Ozone Layer Depletion Ozone Function: Block UV radiation from sun Problems: –CFCs thinning the ozone layer CFCs common to coolants and foam production –More UV radiation reaches the surface Effects: Crop damage, skin cancers, Eye damage Solution: Reduce CFCs, regrow trees UV Ozone layer blocks UV radiation from the sun Ozone layer CFCs UV

Argh!!!!

Defined: Precipitation with a below normal pH Cause: –Pollution from burning fossil fuels rises into the air Effect: –Waterways more acidic –Kills plant and animal life –Biomagnification: toxins accumulate in living tissue higher up the food chain Solutions: –Reduce fossil fuel usage –Add buffer (base) to waterways

Biomagnification Acid rain Pesticide runoff Fertilizer runoff Mercury

SO 2 NO Nitric acid Sulfuric acid

The Smog and Ground-Level Ozone Reason: –Burning of fossil fuels & industry Problems: –Respiratory illness –Ozone gas is poisonous Causes: –Particulates rise into air and react with sunlight to make air pollution Solutions: –Reduce use of fossil fuels –alternative energy sources –Plant trees

When is ozone good vs. bad? When Good When miles up in the atmosphere It blocks UV radiation from the sun Life doesn’t exist in the stratosphere When Bad When near the ground Where life exists

Deforestation Defined: Clearing of forested areas Reasons: –High demand for wood products –Make area for farmland Problems: –Species extinction –Excess CO 2 released –Desertification: wind/rain carry soil away Solutions: –Recycle –Improved farming techniques

Non-native Species Introduction Defined: Foreign organisms are introduced to a new habitat Reason: –P–Pet industry, “free ride” organisms, pest control Effects: –F–Foreign species outcompete native species –F–Food webs unbalanced –D–Decrease biodiversity –E–Economic damage Solutions: –L–Laws preventing foreign goods into new countries –I–Introduce predators

The Big Problem: Overpopulation Over 6.7 billion people Many natural resources are nonrenewable –Fossil fuels take millions of years to form More people means: –1) More forests removed –2) More resources consumed –3) More CO 2 released

Lessons from China Encourage smaller families by: –1) Free education for life to one child family –2) Free birth control –3) Financial: Salary, Pension, Housing, Medical 1970s = 5.8 childrenToday = 1.8

Kobe Kuiz 1)CFCs are manmade chemical responsible for the destruction of _________________. 2)Which gas is a main contributor to the greenhouse effect? 3)Crop damage and cancers are caused by an excess amount of which type of energy? 4)Name the big three fossil fuels. 5)Which planet has excess temperatures because of a thick CO2 atmosphere? 6)Desert-like land is created as a result of which problem? 7)Where is ozone gas harmful to life? 8)Where is ozone gas helpful to life? 9)Food webs become unbalanced as a result of the introduction of which type of organisms? 10)Even though there may be space for people, why do those who study the environment consider humans to be overpopulated?