1. Human Impacts

2. Topics Global Warming Ozone Depletion Biomagnification
Invasive Species
Acid Rain
Deforestation

3. Global Warming (Climate Change)

4. Global Warming (Climate Change)
Key Words
Carbon Dioxide: greenhouse gas
Greenhouse Gases: trap heat
Greenhouse Effect: a natural occurrence that helps regulate the temperature of our planet.
When the sun heats the Earth, some of this heat escapes back to space
Some of the heat is trapped in the atmosphere by clouds and greenhouse gases

5. Global Warming (Climate Change)

7. Ozone Depletion

8. Ozone Depletion Key Terms
CFCs: chlorofluorocarbons, found in aerosol cans, damage the ozone
Ozone: atmospheric layer in which ozone gas is relatively concentrated

9. Destroying the Ozone

10. Biomagnification

11. Biomagnification
Increasing concentration of a harmful substance in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain

12. DDT Insecticide 1962 Rachel Carson “Silent Spring”
Effects on ecosystem and human health
Thin bird shells

13. Invasive Species

14. Invasive Species
Plants and animals that have migrated to places where they are not native (originally from)
Why would this be harmful?
North Carolina: Kudzu

15. Acid Rain

16. Causes
Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes release chemicals that can cause acid rain
Burning of fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
React with water and oxygen to form solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid.

17. Acid Rain
Acid rain describes any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. It can also occur in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material that settle to Earth.

18. Deforestation

19. Deforestation: destroying forests
Alaska
National Geographic: Workers clear a road through the Amazon rain forest.

20. 70% of the Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests.
Deforestation also leads to climate change.
Trees play a role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that lead to global warming.
Trees play a role in continuing the water cycle.
Large Effects:

21. How does it become invasive?
Effects:
Displace native species
Reduce native wildlife habitat
Reduce forest health
Alter ecosystem processes
How does it become invasive?
Some possible reasons
1. Being able to tolerate a variety of habitats
2. Grow and reproduce rapidly
3. Compete aggressively for resources
4. Lack natural enemies in the new ecosystem