Human Impact

Climate Change (aka Global Warming)

Global Warming

Climate Change WHAT?

•The rise in average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. •Greenhouse gas levels in the air are increasing (CO2 methane, nitrous oxide primarily)•This prevents heat from escaping causing slight world wide temperature increases

Climate Change CAUSE/EFFECT

Causes•The burning of fossil fuels•Deforestation•Fertilizers on crops•Livestock•Decomposition in landfills

Effects•Sea level Rise•Glacial Melting•Increase in Storm Strengths•Changes in seasons and ecosystems

Ozone Depletion

Ozone Hole

WHAT is ozone?

• Protective layer 9.3 – 18.6 miles above earth that block UV rays

Hole in the Ozone Cause/Effect

CAUSECaused by aerosol chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that escape into atmosphere and reacts with ozoneEFFECTAllows more UV rays penetrate the atmosphere and cause harm to many organisms (cancer, cataracts, plant damage)

****THIS DOES NOT CAUSE GLOBAL WARMING. THE TWO ARE NOT RELATED !!!

Deforestation

What? Removal of forest/habitat

Cause and Effect

CAUSE Demand for wood products, need for space, farmland, housing, roads

EFFECT–Loss of habitat –habitat fragmentation: habitat is broken into smaller areas and animals and plants are forced into confined areas–Erosion, flooding, change in weather–Increase in CO2 in atmosphere due to less plants using the gas to photosynthesize

Acid RainWhat? Acidic precipitation

CAUSEBurning of fossil fuels (such as coal) releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. When they react with water they create sulfuric acid and nitric acid.EFFECTHas harmful effects on plants, animals, aquatic environments as well as infrastructure

Invasive species (EXOTIC SPECIES)WHAT/CAUSEAnimals or plants introduced by people accidentally or intentionallyEFFECTCan cause major ecological disaster if no natural predators are present and they out compete natural residents-asian carp, kudzu, lionfish, snakehead, python, wild boar, Cane toadNC Invasive Species

PollutionWHAT?Fertilizers, animal waste, particulate, and

toxins entering the ecosystem from agriculture, industry and households

Cause/EffectSmog (low level haze of particulates)Algal Blooms (from nutrient overload)Biomaccumulation: build up of toxins in

organisms fatty tissuesAt each trophic level, chemical concentration

increases: Biomagnification Example: DDT concentrations increase from plankton to fish to fish-eating birds.

Fish-Eating BirdsMagnification ofDDT Concentration

10,000,000

100,000

10,000

1,000,000

1

1000

LargeFish

Small Fish

Zooplankton

Producers

Water

Rachel Carson

DDT

Figure 6-16 Biological Magnification of DDT

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