1. Introduction to Geography
Arthur Getis, Judith Getis, & Jerome D. Fellmann

2. Human Impact on the Environment
Chapter 12

3. Overview Ecosystems Impact on Water Impact on Air & Climate
Impact on Land & Soils
Impact on Plants & Animals
Solid Waste Disposal

4. Ecosystems Biosphere Ecosystems Food chain & renewal cycles
Troposphere
Hydrosphere
Upper reaches of the earth’s crust
Ecosystems
Self-sustaining units that consist of plants, animals, and physical features
Food chain & renewal cycles

5. Impact on Water Availability of water Modification of streams
“Scarcity”
Modification of streams
Channelization
Water Quality

6. Water Pollution Agricultural sources Fertilizers Biocides
Eutrophication
Biocides
Animal wastes

7. Other Sources of Water Pollution
Industry
PCBs
Thermal pollution
Mining
Municipalities & residences

8. Impact on Air & Climate Air pollutants Acid rain Photochemical smog
Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particulates, sulfur oxides
Acid rain
Sulfuric & Nitric acids
Photochemical smog
Depletion of the ozone layer
CFCs

9. Greenhouse Effect
Gases serve as an insulating barrier trapping infrared radiation that would otherwise be reradiated
The greenhouse effect is natural
An enhanced greenhouse effect could lead to global warming
Evidence:
20th century very warm
Winter temperatures in the Arctic have risen since the 1950s
Glaciers are thinning & retreating

10. Potential Effects of Global Warming
Ocean expansion
Melting ice caps & Greenland ice sheet
Possible changes in precipitation
Shifts in plant & animal ranges
Likely loss of biodiversity
Increase in water pollution
More respiratory illness
Spread of some infectious diseases

11. Controlling Air Pollution
Montreal Protocol of 1987
Kyoto Protocol of 1997

12. Impact on Land & Soils Landforms produced by excavation
Mines, pits, ponds, canals, etc.
Landforms produced by dumping
Often a result of excavation
Surface depressions
Subsidence after resource extraction
Water, oil, gas
Coal, salt, gold

13. Soil Issues
Erosion
Deforestation
Desertification
Salinization

14. Impact on Plants & Animals
Threatened species
Habitat disruption
Hunting & Commercial Exploitation
Exotic Species

15. Solid Waste Disposal
Municipal waste
Landfills
Incineration

16. Hazardous Waste Over 400 hazardous substances according to the EPA
Low-level waste
Decays in less than 100 years
High-level waste
Can remain radioactive for over 10,000 years
Yucca Mountain