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Human Impact on the Environment
Mr. BroughmanThursday, September 12, 2013
Main Idea• Humans impact the environment and the
environment impacts humans.• How do ecological processes differ from
weather phenomena?– Ecology deals with the earth’s surface, while
weather deals with the atmosphere
Physical and Ecological Processes• These physical processes have an impact on humans’ lives and
on the environment around us:– A. Earthquakes Shifting of tectonic plates below the
earth’s surface; common along Pacific Ring of Fire– B. Floods Massive rainfall over a short period of time– C. Volcanoes Openings in the earth’s crust in which
pressure builds up, releasing ash, toxic gases, and lava– D. Erosion Washing away of soil, especially top layers of
soil– E. Deposition Adding layers of sediment to an area (the
opposite of erosion)– F. Tsunami Tidal wave typically caused by an earthquake
Human Impact on the Environment• A. Water Diversion/Management Re-routing water to
provide for human needs– 1. Aral Sea in Asia:
• Sea that has almost dried up due to overuse by humans– 2. Colorado River in the American Southwest
• River that has been dammed to create the Hoover Dam– 3. Aswan High Dam in Egypt
• Damming of the Nile River to create Lake Nasser for electricity and to stop flooding
– 4. Canals (man-made rivers), reservoirs (storing water for later use), irrigation (moving water, usually for agriculture)
Human Impact on the Environment
• B. Landscape Changes Changing the physical features of an area– 1. Terrace Farming in China and Southeast Asia– 2. Polders in the Netherlands– 3. Deforestation in Brazil, Africa, Asia– 4. Desertification in Africa and Asia– 5. Mountain-Top Removal in West Virginia
Human Impact on the Environment
• Environmental Changes Humans have the ability to alter entire ecosystems– A. Acid Rain in Germany, Scandinavia, the U.S. in
which the pH of the water is changed due to pollution
– B. Pollution• Smog in Mexico City• Nuclear Radiation at Chernobyl, Ukraine• Oil Spills like the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Chernobyl Nuclear Plant
Technology in the Environment
• How has technology influenced man’s ability to interact with the environment?–1. Agriculture–2. Energy Use –3. Transportation –4. Automobiles–5. Airplanes
Agriculture
Energy Usage
Transportation
Automobiles
Airplanes
