Pollution, Global Warming, & Climate Change

Greenhouse gasses

CO₂ , O₃ , CH₄ , SO₂ , CFCs , H₂O (water) vapor

Increasing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leads to

more algae growth

What results from eutrophication?

Bacteria decompose the dead algae using the oxygen in the water. The decrease in oxygen causes a decline in the biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystem.

What are some sources of nutrient pollutions?

Farms, city streets, pet waste, lawn fertilizer, faulty septic systems, and sewage treatment plan

What are some negative impacts of eutrophication?

Bad water odor, unsafe water conditions, decline in fishing, and it is expensive to clean up contaminated areas

As carbon dioxide concentrations increase,

temperatures increase

What are some impacts of global climate change?

Glacier recession, rising sea levels, increase in spread of disease

What are some affects of carbonic acid?

Marine organisms growing smaller in size Disruption in the aquatic food web due to species dying off Ocean water becoming more acidic Food shortenings for humans increase along coastal areas

Biodiversity

The variety of organisms in an ecosystem

Biodiversity helps

stabilize the ecosystem

Keystone Species

A single species that is vital to ecosystem stability

What are some examples of keystone species?

Otters, American alligators, sharks, and more

Invasive Species

Non-native species that spread rapidly across large areas

Why are invasive species such a threat?

They outcompete native species, have a high reproductive rate, and have no predators

H.I.P.P.O

Habitat loss, Invasive Species, Pollution, (human) Population, Overharvesting

Non-Renewable Resources

Resources with a fixed amount (finite)

Examples of non-renewable resources

Gold, soil, sand, phosphate, fossil fuels, uranium

What are the pros of non-renewable resources?

They are easy access and cheap

What are the cons of non-renewable resources?

There is a limited supply

It releases air pollutants

Connected to global warming and climate change

Degrades land from extraction of resource

Renewable Resources

Resources that can replenish themselves over time

What are some examples of renewable resources?

Wind, sunlight, plants, water

What are the pros of renewable resources?

Infinite

Reliable

Low to no air pollution

Less reliance on foreign sources

What are the cons of renewable resources?

It is expensive (costly) and has geographic limitations (unless you are near a body of water, you cannot use hydroelectric energy, etc.)

Ocean Acidification

Oceans become more acidic and start harming marine organisms by dissolving their shells, slowing their digestion, making them smaller/weaker, etc.

Which organisms in the ocean are the first to be affected by ocean acidification?

Aquatic animals with shells, crabs for example

Global Warming

the increase of global surface temperatures

Climate Change

Long term effects of global warming

Pollution

Any chemical, gas, microorganism, or solid material (plastic) found in air and water that harms other organisms

Air Pollution - Acid Rain

Pollutants in the air (SO₂ and NOx) from burning fossil fuels and water vapor \= acid rain, nitrates + sulfuric dioxide \= acid rain

Acid rain lowers

the pH of the soil and water, which causes a loss in biodiversity

Point Source

A single, identifiable discharge point

Non-point Source

No single, identifiable discharge point, is very costly to clean up, specifically aquatic environments

Examples of non-point sources are

Sediments from construction or agriculture Run-off of oil and plastic

Troposphere

Lowest atmosphere level, where we live

Stratosphere

Contains ozone O₃ that filters out harmful UV from entering troposphere, must protect

Ozone Depletion

Thinning of ozone layer as result of the release of manmade chemicals called CFCs

Where is the ozone layer located?

Stratosphere

Eutrophication

When the concentration of nutrients in any body of water keeps increasing

Eutrophication creates

dead zones

The excess nutrients contaminating a body of water cause

Nutrient Pollution

List some things people do daily that effect CO2 going into the air

Driving your car, using a lawn mower, using fertilizer, using a gas stove, etc

What is the primary cause of ozone depletion?

CFCs are the primary cause

Which layer has smog and other gunk?

Troposphere

Consequences of Global Climate Change

Rising sea levels

Loss of biodiversity

Unpredictable weather events (floods & storms)

Increase in diseases

Global food and water shortages