Anthropogenic Impact to the Environment PDF

1 Lesson 3: Anthropogenic Impact to the Environment Atmospheric Terrestrial Aquatic Human Activity Is the Cause of Increased Greenhouse Gas Concentrations. Over the last century, burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric ca...

1 Lesson 3: Anthropogenic Impact to the Environment Atmospheric Terrestrial Aquatic Human Activity Is the Cause of Increased Greenhouse Gas Concentrations. Over the last century, burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). This increase happens because the coal or oil burning process combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make CO2.  In the daytime, sunlight shines into the greenhouse and warms the plants and air inside. At nighttime, it's colder outside, but the greenhouse stays pretty warm inside. That's because the glass walls of the greenhouse trap the Sun's heat. The greenhouse effect works much the same way on Earth. There is a unanimous scientific consensus around the world that the rapid global warming we have experienced since 1800 is due to the accumulation of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere as a result of human activity. The main greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Emissions of carbon dioxide are largely caused by the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, gas and petrol and form by far the greatest proportion of greenhouse gasses. Methane is the next largest contributor and the main source is livestock farming, while nitrous oxide is mostly produced by the fertilisers used in modern agriculture, and is the smallest contributor to global warming of the three main greenhouse gasses.  Carbon dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees and other biological materials, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (e.g., cement production). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere (or "sequestered") when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.  Carbon Footprint A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions.  What Is Climate Change? Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures. The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases. Hotter Climate  Studies linking super typhoons and extremes events to climate change Integrated Disaster Science and Management: Global Case Studies in Mitigation and Recovery published in 2018 state a strong scientific consensus that anthropogenic climate change is contributing to stronger typhoons. This is due to higher sea surface temperatures and higher subsurface sea temperatures which removes the natural buffer on typhoon strength that colder water from below the ocean’s surface causes. Sea-level rise resulting from climate change will also worsen the effects of these strong typhoons. The Philippines is becoming more vulnerable to stronger cyclones with its rapidly growing population. Increased Drought  The ocean soaks up most of the heat from global warming. This melts ice sheets and raises sea levels, threatening coastal and A warming, rising ocean island communities. The ocean also absorbs carbon dioxide, keeping it from the atmosphere. More carbon dioxide makes the ocean more acidic, which endangers marine life. Loss of Species Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the ocean. These risks increase as temperatures climb. Forest fires, extreme weather and invasive pests and diseases are among many threats. Some species will be able to relocate and survive, but others will not. Food Insecurity Increased Health Risk Changing weather patterns are expanding diseases such as malaria. Extreme weather events increase disease and death, and make it difficult for health care systems to keep up. Other risks to health include increased hunger and poor nutrition in places where people cannot grow or find sufficient food. Poverty and Displacement  The Impact of Anthropogenic Activity on Terrestrial Environment Urbanization By 2050, two out of every three people are likely to be living in cities or other urban centres, according to a new United Nations report, highlighting the need for more sustainable urban planning and public services.  Heat islands are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas. Structures such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and water bodies. Urban areas, where these structures are highly concentrated and greenery is limited, become “islands” of higher temperatures relative to outlying areas. Land Conversion Conversion is the act of authorizing the change of the current use of a piece of land into some other use. Population growth is rapidly accelerating, intensifying the pressure on food production. This, in turn, leads to higher food insecurity, more greenhouse gas emissions, and large-scale environmental degradation. Food production, therefore, needs to adapt to accommodate a growing population and a changing climate.  Habitat loss is the greatest threat to biodiversity. Urbanization not only destroys and fragments habitats but also alters the environment itself. For example, deforestation and fragmentation of forest lands lead to the degradation and loss of forest interior habitat as well as creating forest edge habitat. Adaptation of Animals to Urban Environment  Why is biodiversity important? Ecological life support—biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services. Recreational—many recreational pursuits rely on our unique biodiversity, such as birdwatching, hiking, camping and fishing.  Pollution Pollution occurs when an amount of any substance or any form of energy is put into the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed or safely stored. The term pollution can refer to both artificial and natural materials that are created, consumed, and discarded in an unsustainable manner. Deforestation Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land.  Chemical Pollution Chemical pollution refers to the contamination of our environment with chemicals that are not found there naturally Flooding Karst landscapes develop naturally through the weathering process so a sinkhole can be considered a natural occurrence. But, human influence causes sinkholes to occur where they might not naturally have happened. Or, they may occur sooner or more abruptly than under natural conditions.  The Impact of Anthropogenic Activity on Aquatic Environment  Water pollution (or aquatic pollution) is the contamination of water bodies, with a negative impact on their uses. It is usually a result of human activities. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants mix with these water bodies. Urban Expansion Sedimentation is the deposition of rock fragments, soil, organic matter, or dissolved material that has been eroded, that is, has been transported by water, wind, ice, or gravity. Depositional environments where sediments accumulate. Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Activity: Loss of Biodiversity Increased Health risk in the Deteriorating Environment Land and Water Pollution as a result of Urban Expansion Greenhouse Gas Emission