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1. Human Impact on the Environment

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13 views22 pages

1. Human Impact on the Environment

Uploaded by

danelle govender
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Human Impact on the

Environment:
Current Crises for Human Survival
The Atmosphere and climate
change
 The Earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases, made
up of
 78.08% nitrogen
 20.95% oxygen
 Therest (less than 1%) is made up of water vapour,
Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Neon, Helium, Methane,
Hydrogen, Nitrous Oxide and Ozone.
 Some traces of Krypton, Xenon and Radone are
also found in the atmosphere.
The Atmosphere and climate
change
 Of the gases above, the main ones that bring about the
“greenhouse effect” are:
 Water vapour
 Carbon dioxide
 Methane
 Nitrous oxide
 Ozone
The Atmosphere and climate
change
 The increase in the concentration of “greenhouse gases” (GHG’s)
has led to a rise in the average temperature on Earth.
 This is called global warming, which has resulted in a change in the
Earth’s general weather patterns this is referred to as climate
change.
 In the past these changes occurred slowly allowing organisms to
adapt and evolve with the climate change.
 However at the current rate of climate change organisms can no
longer adapt to conditions resulting in rapid loss of biodiversity.
Observations that provide evidence
of rapid climate change.
 Increase in the average global temperature.
 Rises in the average global sea level
 Changes in average rainfall patterns
 Increased frequency of heavy rainfall and extreme
weather events over most land areas
 More intense and longer droughts, particularly in the
tropics and subtropics.
What is the “Greenhouse Effect” and
the “Enhanced Greenhouse Effect”
 A Swedish chemist, Svante Arrhenius, first used the term in 1896,
when he noticed that the Earth’s atmosphere was like a
greenhouse.
 Both allow light to enter, but prevent it from going out, resulting in
trapped heat.
 The Earth’s atmosphere lets the short wavelengths of sunlight pass
through it, these contain a lot of energy. This warms the Earth’s
surface.
 Heat energy is given off and goes back into the atmosphere. Some
energy escapes back into space, but most of the heat is absorbed
by the greenhouse gases. The heat is re-radiated in all directions.
What is the “Greenhouse Effect” and
the “Enhanced Greenhouse Effect”
 The “greenhouse effect” is needed to maintain life on Earth.
 If it did not happen then the average temperature of the
Earth would be about 33C lower than it is now.
 The Earth would be frozen with little or no life forms of life
existing.
 However, the effects of a big increase in the “greenhouse
effect”, known as the enhanced greenhouse effect, are
harmful as it causes global warming and climate change.
Causes of the greenhouse effect

 Clearing forests and burning coal, oil and gas, which release
carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere.
 Manufacturing electricity through burning fossil fuels for
commercial use increases the carbon dioxide concentration
in the atmosphere
 The transport of people by motor vehicles burns petrol and
diesel releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Causes of the greenhouse effect

 This has happened faster than plants and oceans can absorb the
gases.
 The heat trapped by the increased carbon dioxide concentration
resulted in the increase average temperature of our atmosphere.
 This is known as global warming, resulting in climate change.
 South Africa’s carbon dioxide emissions have increased seven times
from 1950 to 2008. South Africa is the 13th largest carob dioxide-
emitting country in the world and the largest in Africa.
Causes of the greenhouse effect

 As the population increases there is a greater demand for


transport and electricity production.
 This results in greater carbon dioxide emissions.
 Estimates have indicated that the carbon dioxide levels have
increased by 150% since 1750.
Carbon Footprint

 The amount of a CO2 added to the atmosphere by human


activities is known as a “carbon footprint”
 The carbon footprint may be described as heavy or light.
 We can work out the carbon footprint by multiplying the
amount of energy source used per month by the emission
factor for that energy source.
 When we add up the total amount of carbon released per
month, we get our carbon footprint.
Increase in methane emissions
 Methane is second to carbon dioxide in its importance as a
greenhouse gas.
 Sources of methane emissions include
 Micro-organisms inside the intestines of herbivores undergo anaerobic
respiration and release large amounts of methane.
 Decomposition of organic waste in land-fills
 Decomposition of waste by bacteria to purify water sources
 Agricultural activities
 Mining
 The crystal structure of ice stores methane, when the ice melts methane is
released.
 The production, handling, transmission and combustion of fossil fuels and bio-
fuels releases methane.
Increase in methane emissions

 Although the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is


much lower than carbon dioxide, its impact on global
warming is 21times that of carbon dioxide.
 It is estimated that South Africans release about 21000 tons of
methane per year to the atmosphere from wastewater
treatment and about 721 000 tones of methane from waste
disposal.
 In total, this is equivalent to 15.6 million tons of carbon dioxide.
Increase in Nitrous Oxide emissions

 Nowadays the use of chemical fertilizers has increased dramatically.


 Releasing nitrous oxides into the atmosphere, which have 300times
more heat-trapping capacity per unit of volume than carbon
dioxide.
Deforestation and increase
greenhouse gases.
 Forests cover around a quarter to a third of the total land
surface of the Earth.
 Deforestation is the process of changing land use from forestry
to non-forest use.
 Forests use up carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. It is said
that forests act as carbon dioxide sinks.
 In 1980’s deforestation was estimated at 17 to 20 million
hectares per year, size of Britain
Causes of deforestation
 Logging (cutting down trees to produce logs)
 Generates short term revenue but cause total destruction of the forest
 Exports valuable nutrients away from the forest in the wood
 Roads
 Created for shorter routes or to transport logged trees
 Causes the soil to be compacted and leads to erosion
 Mining
 Some forests have rich underlying mineral resources
 Agriculture
 Space is need to grow crops and build houses to provide for the
increasing human population. The slash and burn technique is used
however due to nutrient depletion new land is cleared for crops to be
grown every year
 Grazing space for farm animals
Deforestation leads to an increase
in GHG’s in four ways
 Reduced plants results in reduced photosynthesis therefore
carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere.
 Cows and other farm animals release methane into the
atmosphere
 Production of wood and paper products uses energy and
releases carbon dioxide
 Hugh increase in dead tree trucks results in increased termite
populations which release methane into the atmosphere
Effects of deforestation

 Global warming
 Landslides and flooding
 Soil nutrient depletion and desertification
 Reduced oxygen-production
 Reduced biodiversity and habitat
 Conflict between indigenous people and loggers and
agricultural developers
Ozone depletion and increased
carbon dioxide levels
 An ozone molecule contains three molecules of oxygen (O3).
 The ozone acts as a protective shield around the earth.
Reduces the amount of ultraviolet radiation
 In 1990’s it was found that there was 40% less ozone over
Antarctica than in the 1970’s.
 There appears to be a hole in the ozone.
 Decrease ozone leads to increased ultraviolet light which
leads to increased risk of skin cancers and eye damage.

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