1. Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Dissecting the Essential Question:
Environmental issues: challenges to maintaining a clean, healthy space to live
Acid Rain
Air Pollution
Nuclear Disaster
Pictures from left to right:
Acid Rain (from Smithsonian)
Air Pollution in London (from Encyclopedia Britannica)
Chernobyl (from History.com)
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe.

2. Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
United Kingdom
Chernobyl, Ukraine
Germany
This map from the CIA website of political Europe
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe.

3. Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
This video is available at
It is also available using Safari Montage
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. a. Explain the causes and effects of acid rain in Germany.

4. Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Acid Rain in Germany
Emissions, mostly from coal-burning power plants, combine with oxygen and water and create acid rain.
Emissions are a result of: (1) cars, trucks, and buses and (2) large manufacturing companies that produce cars, steel, and chemical products.
It destroys plants, kills trees, pollutes waterways, harms wildlife, and corrodes architecture like buildings and statues.
The diagram above comes from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The emissions from cars, trucks, and factories containing sulfuric dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released in the air [shown as 1]. Then combines with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids [shown in 2]. Then these mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. a. Explain the causes and effects of acid rain in Germany.

5. Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
This video is available at
It is also available using Safari Montage
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. b. Explain the causes and effects of air pollution in the United Kingdom.

6. Unit 1: Geography of Europe Air Pollution in the United Kingdom
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Air Pollution in the United Kingdom
In most industrialized countries like the United Kingdom, there are many factories and lots of traffic, which causes air pollution.
Air pollution from large factories is caused when smoke is emitted into the air, which causes smog to cover the sky.
Emissions from cars, buses, and trucks stay close to the ground and contribute to low-lying smog.
Pictures are from:
Airqualityengland.co.uk (about Air Pollution – Air Quality)
BLF.org.uk (air pollution: British Lung Foundation)
Wikipedia (smog)
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. b. Explain the causes and effects of air pollution in the United Kingdom.

7. Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Efects of Air Pollution in the United Kingdom
Health problems like asthma and pneumonia can be caused from emissions.
High air pollution levels make people sick especially more vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.
Crops (food) are harmed. Vegetables take longer to grow and become more prone to disease.
Pictures are from:
Greenpeace.org.uk (Fight air pollution)
loCITY.co.uk
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. b. Explain the causes and effects of air pollution in the United Kingdom.

8. Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
This video is available at
It is also available using Safari Montage
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

9. Unit 1: Geography of Europe Chernobyl, Ukraine Nuclear Disaster
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Chernobyl, Ukraine Nuclear Disaster
Considered the largest peacetime radiation catastrophe that has ever occurred on the planet
Global environmental event that contaminated land, water, and air
The most toxic ground is in the Exclusion Zone (outlined in bottom map)
Radiation from the explosion contaminated 40 percent of Europe
Present-day borders are on the map
Map is taken from the Miami-Herald
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

10. Unit 1: Geography of Europe Chernobyl, Ukraine Nuclear Disaster
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Chernobyl, Ukraine Nuclear Disaster
Safety experiment
One of the reactors began to overheat
Reactor exploded
Tons of radioactive waste were released into the atmosphere
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

11. Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
This is taken from the Library of Congress
Using Primary Sources
Each group will select ONE primary source for each element (a, b, and c)
Using the Primary Source Analysis sheet, each member in the group will contribute to Observe, Reflect, and Question
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe.

12. Degraded Sculpture Dead and Dying Trees Helicopter & Lime
Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Station A: Acid Rain in Germany Primary Sources
Pictures:
Left: USGS (
Middle: USGS (
Right: Right:
Degraded Sculpture
Dead and Dying Trees
Helicopter & Lime
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

13. Pollution Hotpot Bus Exhaust Unregulated Era
Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Station B: Air Pollution in the United Kingdom
Left:
Middle:
Right:
Pollution Hotpot
Bus Exhaust
Unregulated Era
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

14. Contaminated Vegetables Bridge of Death Helicopter View
Unit 1: Geography of Europe
How have environmental issues affected Europe?
Station C: Chernobyl Primary Sources
All images are taken from the Miami-Herald
Contaminated Vegetables
Bridge
of Death
Helicopter
View
SS6G2. Explain environmental issues in Europe. c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.