Unit 5.2 Study Guide - Land & Water Use PDF

Unit 5.2 Study Guide - Land & Water Use Do NOT memorize the definitions for these terms. You should be able to explain, provide examples and/or apply the following terms to the scientific process. _______________________________________________________________________...

Unit 5.2 Study Guide - Land & Water Use Do NOT memorize the definitions for these terms. You should be able to explain, provide examples and/or apply the following terms to the scientific process. _______________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Sustainable Resource Use Commercial Fishing and Aquaculture Impacts of Urbanization and Methods to Reduce Urban Clearcutting and Sustainable Impacts of Mining Runoff Forestry Sustainable Resource Use Tragedy of the Commons ​ The tragedy of the commons describes a situation in which individuals, acting in their own self-interest, overuse and deplete shared resources, leading to environmental degradation and the depletion of the resource for everyone. ​ Specific Examples: ○​ Overfishing: ​ Global fish populations are often over-exploited, risking fish stocks and disrupting marine ecosystems. ○​ Deforestation: ​ The Amazon rainforest suffers from deforestation as loggers and farmers pursue short-term profits, ignoring the long-term implications for biodiversity and climate. ○​ Groundwater Depletion: ​ Shared aquifers are frequently overdrawn for agricultural or urban use, leading to water scarcity and land subsidence. ​ Environmental Impacts: ○​ Loss of biodiversity as species struggle to survive in depleted ecosystems.  ○​ Altered landscapes and increased soil erosion as forests are cleared. ○​ Declining water quality from agricultural runoff and increased salinity in aquifers. ○​ Long-term reduction of resource availability, impacting future generations. ​ Possible Solutions: ○​ Regulation: ​ Governments can impose limits on resource use (e.g., fishing quotas, logging permits) to prevent over-exploitation. ○​ Community Management: ​ Local communities can establish rules and norms for resource use, promoting cooperation to manage shared resources sustainably. ○​ Education and Awareness: ​ Raising awareness about the impacts of individual actions on shared resources can encourage more sustainable practices. Sustainability ​ Sustainability emphasizes meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It incorporates environmental, economic, and social dimensions. ​ Specific Examples: ○​ Sustainable Agriculture: ​ Practices like crop rotation and organic farming aim to maintain soil health and biodiversity while producing food. ○​ Renewable Energy Sources: ​ The use of solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy decreases dependence on fossil fuels and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. ○​ Waste Management Practices: ​ Recycling and composting reduce waste and promote a circular economy. ​ Environmental Impacts: ○​ Improved ecosystem health and resilience due to reduced pollution and better resource management. ○​ Increased biodiversity as ecosystems are protected and restored.  ○​ Mitigation of climate change effects through reduced carbon emissions from sustainable practices. ​ Possible Solutions: ○​ Implementing Sustainable Practices: ​ Encourage the adoption of sustainable farming, forestry, and fishing practices to maintain ecological balance. ○​ Policy Interventions: ​ Governments can promote sustainability through tax incentives for renewable energy or subsidies for sustainable businesses. ○​ Public Education Campaigns: ​ Informing the public about the importance of sustainability and ways to reduce waste and conserve resources can encourage collective action. Commercial Fishing and Aquaculture Impacts of Overfishing ​ Overfishing depletes fish populations, leading to biodiversity loss and socioeconomic repercussions. ○​ Examples: ​ Cod Fishery Collapse: ​ The Atlantic cod population has drastically declined due to overfishing, impacting both marine biodiversity and the fishing industries in coastal communities of North America. ​ Bluefin Tuna: ​ Due to high demand in sushi markets, bluefin tuna stocks have plummeted, leading to international fishing restrictions and conservation efforts. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Loss of fish species affects entire aquatic ecosystems. ​ Certain fishing methods have a high degree of bycatch. ​ Trawling, Gillnets, Longlining, Purse Seining, and Dredging ​ Affects communities and individuals who rely on fishing for food and commerce. ○​ Possible Solutions: ​ Sustainable Fishing Practices: ​ Implementing catch limits, seasonal fishing bans, and the use of  selective fishing gears can help maintain fish populations. ​ Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): ​ Establishing MPAs can create safe habitats for fish to recover, benefiting both biodiversity and fisheries. Aquaculture ​ Aquaculture presents an opportunity for sustainable fish production but has risks. ​ Rapid expansion due to its efficiency, low space requirement, and minimal fuel consumption. ○​ Examples: ​ Salmon Farms: ​ Farmed salmon operations in regions like Norway and British Columbia have become major suppliers of salmon, offering a steady food source but grappling with issues like disease and waste pollution. ​ Shrimp Farming: ​ Coastal shrimp farms, particularly in Southeast Asia, have contributed significantly to seafood production but have resulted in mangrove deforestation and habitat loss for marine life. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Contaminated wastewater from aquaculture operations can pollute nearby waterways. ​ Escape of farmed fish can disrupt wild populations through competition or breeding. ​ High fish density increases disease, leading to potential outbreaks in wild fish populations. ○​ Possible Solutions ​ Improved Waste Management: ​ Developing better filtration and treatment systems to manage wastewater can minimize environmental impacts. ​ Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA): ​ Combining different species (e.g., fish, seaweeds, and shellfish) in a single system can maximize resource use and reduce waste, fostering a more sustainable practice. Clearcutting and Sustainable Forestry Clearcutting ​ Clearcutting, while economically advantageous for timber production, has significant environmental impacts. ​ Can provide immediate financial gains but has significant ecological downsides. ​ Allows for faster replanting and harvesting cycles. ○​ Example: ​ Large sections of forest are entirely cleared for timber or agriculture. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Leads to soil erosion as roots holding soil in place are removed. ​ Increases soil and stream temperatures due to loss of tree canopy. ​ Causes flooding by disrupting natural water drainage. ​ Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) during photosynthesis, acting as carbon sinks. Cutting and burning trees release stored CO2 back into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Sustainable Forestry ​ Sustainable forestry practices help preserve forest ecosystems and combat deforestation. ○​ Examples: ​ Reforestation: ​ Planting trees in deforested areas to restore habitat. ​ Ecologically Sustainable Forestry Techniques: ​ Practices such as selective logging that ensure minimal impact on the forest ecosystem. ​ Reusing Wood: ​ Upcycling and recycling wood products helps reduce the demand for freshly cut timber. ​ To maintain healthy forests, it is important to manage pests and diseases effectively. ○​ Examples: ​ Integrated Pest Management (IPM): ​ Utilizing a combination of biological, cultural, and chemical methods to control pest populations in an environmentally considerate way. ​ Removal of Affected Trees: ​ Quickly removing diseased or infested trees to prevent the spread to healthy trees. ​ Controlled burns can reduce wildfire risk and promote forest health.  ○​ Examples: ​ Prescribed Burning: ​ Fire is intentionally set to consume underbrush, reduce fuel loads, and promote nutrient cycling. ​ Environmental Impact: These burns can help maintain a healthy forest structure, encourage growth of fire-adapted species, and reduce the intensity of future wildfires. Impacts of Mining Depletion of Accessible Ores ​ As easily accessible ores are mined out, companies turn to lower grade ores, which require more resources to extract. ○​ Examples: ​ Gold mining increasingly shifts from high-grade to low-grade ores, requiring larger amounts of rock to be displaced and processed. ​ Copper mining operations in the U.S. often exploit lower-grade deposits, increasing the volume of waste produced. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Increased energy consumption and resource use to process lower grade ores lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions. ​ Escalation in mining waste, which can contain toxic metals and lead to soil and water pollution. ○​ Possible Solutions: ​ Improvement of recycling methods to recover metals from electronic waste. ​ Development of more efficient extraction technologies that minimize waste. Mining Wastes ​ Surface mining, including techniques like strip mining, involves removing large volumes of soil and rock to access ore deposits. ○​ Examples: ​ Strip mining for coal in the Appalachian region removes large areas of vegetation and soil.  ​ Open-pit mining for copper exposes large expanses of land and alters ecosystems. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity, leading to species extinction and ecological imbalance. ​ Increased erosion and sedimentation in nearby streams and rivers, affecting aquatic ecosystems and water quality. ○​ Possible Solutions: ​ Implementation of sustainable mining practices, such as reforestation and land reclamation. ​ Enforcement of stricter regulations on land use and rehabilitation post-mining. Evolution to Subsurface Mining ​ As surface coal reserves deplete, mining companies are forced to shift to subsurface mining, which is more resource and capital-intensive. ○​ Examples: ​ The transition from surface mining in regions like Wyoming to underground coal mining in states like Pennsylvania. ​ Subsurface mining for metals such as gold and copper often employs complex tunnels to access deeper deposits. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Subsurface mining increases the risk of subsidence (the gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land). ​ More energy-intensive and costly operations lead to increased carbon emissions and economic concerns. ○​ Possible Solutions: ​ Promotion of alternative energy sources, such as wind or solar, to reduce dependence on coal. ​ Encouragement of policies that support the transition to a circular economy, minimizing the need for raw material extraction. Impacts of Urbanization and Methods to Reduce Urban Runoff Urban Sprawl ​ Urban sprawl is characterized by the transition from densely populated urban areas to low-density suburban development, often encroaching on rural lands. ○​ Example: ​ Expansion of cities into surrounding agricultural or natural areas, leading to habitat loss and fragmentation. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Increased reliance on automobiles contributes to higher carbon emissions and air pollution. ​ Loss of biodiversity and farmland due to land conversion for suburban development. ○​ Possible Solutions: ​ Promoting smart growth initiatives that emphasize denser, mixed-use developments. ​ Zoning laws that protect agricultural and natural lands from urban encroachment. ​ Encouraging the development of public transportation networks to reduce reliance on cars. Impact on the Carbon Cycle ​ Urbanization contributes to increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere through fossil fuel combustion and waste decomposition. ○​ Examples: ​ Transportation, heating, and electricity generation in urban environments predominantly rely on fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide. ​ Landfills produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Enhanced greenhouse effect leading to climate change. ​ Air pollution which can affect human health and surrounding ecosystems. ○​ Possible Solutions:  ​ Promoting renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal) to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. ​ Implementing recycling and composting programs to reduce landfill waste and methane emissions. ​ Encouraging public transportation, biking, or walking to reduce transportation emissions. Depletion of Resources and Saltwater Intrusion ​ Urbanization can lead to the overuse of freshwater resources and contribute to saltwater intrusion into groundwater supplies. ○​ Examples: ​ Rapid population growth in urban areas leads to increased demand for freshwater resources. ​ Over-extraction of groundwater for urban use can decrease water tables and lead to saltwater intrusion, particularly in coastal areas. ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Decreased availability of freshwater for surrounding ecosystems and communities. ​ Saltwater intrusion can harm drinking water supplies and agriculture. ○​ Possible Solutions: ​ Implementing water conservation techniques and policies. ​ Enhancing the management of watershed areas to maintain water quality and availability. ​ Utilizing desalination technologies when feasible. Impervious Surfaces and Flooding ​ Impervious surfaces prevent water from infiltrating the soil, contributing to urban flooding and altering natural water cycles. ○​ Example: ​ Parking lots, roads, and rooftops in urban areas that do not allow rainwater to permeate into the ground.  ○​ Environmental Impacts: ​ Increased surface runoff can lead to soil erosion, water pollution, and flooding during heavy rain events. ​ Reduced recharge of aquifers due to decreased groundwater infiltration. ○​ Possible Solutions: ​ Implementing green infrastructure solutions such as green roofs, rain gardens, and swales to manage stormwater. ​ Promoting permeable pavements in urban planning to enhance water infiltration. ​ Educating city planners and the public about sustainable development practices. Increasing Water Infiltration ​ Strategies to increase water infiltration can mitigate the impacts of urban runoff and improve water quality. ○​ Examples: ​ Permeable Pavement: ​ Replacing traditional asphalt with permeable materials that allow water to seep through. ​ Urban Forestry: ​ Planting trees in urban areas to enhance canopy cover and absorb rainwater. ​ Public Transportation: ​ Encouraging the use of public transportation to decrease the impervious surface area needed for roads and parking. ​ Building Up, Not Out: ​ Creating vertical developments to minimize land use and maintain greater natural landscapes.