ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES II

PP. 435-444

GREENHOUSE AFFECT

• the ability to trap heat

• keeps our planet warm and habitable

GLOBAL WARMING

• Excess CO2 released from burning of fossil fuels

• Possible correlation between temperature and CO2 levels

• Adds to the “greenhouse” to trapping heat

• Could affect amphibian/reptile development as well as weather and agriculture

ACID RAIN

• Burning fossils fuels produces CO2, H2O water, and other gases

• Burning of coal produces H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) and burning of gasoline produces HNO3 (nitric acid)

• These pollutants enter the atmosphere to form acidic water (acid rain)

• Some bodies of water can buffer the effects of acid rain