HUMAN IMPACT ON NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

PREPARED BY :

UPVITA PANDEY

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT ?

Environment is defined as the sum total of

air, water and the inter-relationships that

exist among them and with the human

beings, other living organisms and materials

HUMAN IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT

Humans are a part of the natural environment. Unfortunately, we

have not yet learnt to moderate our activities in such a way as to

help the environment. Human activities often lead to degradation

of the environment.

Estimation shows that humans currently use approximately 40

percent of the energy of the Sun captured by organisms on land.

Use of such an inordinately large proportion of the Earth's

productivity by a single animal species is unique in the history of

the planet.

Human Impact has caused:

• Pollution – Land; Air and Water which includes Freshwater Creeks and

Rivers, Seas and Oceans.

• Deforestation and Destruction of Habitats

• Endangerment and Extinction of Flora and Fauna Species

• Introduction of Invasive and Parasitic Fauna and Flora Species to new areas

• Increased Desertification of Land - this often occurs because, when

humans try to increase fertile land in one area, they must divert needed

resources from another area

• Altering Natural Waterways which can increase the risk of Flooding

• Interfering with the Natural Fire Cycles of an area (one cause of increased

bushfire problems in Australia)

• Overuse of Natural Resources, resulting in depletion of some of these

resources Climate Change and the Development of Extreme Weather

Conditions: scientists continue to debate how much humans actually

contribute to climate change and/or global warming, but there is evidence

that our activities do contribute in some part Rising Sea Levels

• Increased Erosion of Land as a result of Mining or Agricultural Activities

• Mining Activities not only can destroy the vegetation of the area, but can

contribute to instability in the earth's crust.

• Oil Spill from Ships

HUMAN ACTIVITIES:

Irrigation.

The environmental impact of irrigation includes the changes in quantity and

quality of soil and water as a result of irrigation and the ensuing effects on

natural and social conditions at the tail-end and downstream of the irrigation

scheme.

Intensive agriculture and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides are

destroying the natural land and driving animals away

Soil Erosion.Runoff on bare land leads to erosion. Grass, trees, and other plants hold

the soil in place and avoid erosion. The highest rates of erosion are

produced in urban areas during construction,

In general, erosion is the source of sediment that fills streams, pollutes

water, kills aquatic life, and shortens the useful life of dams and

reservoirs.

Nitrogen Cycle.

Human impact on the nitrogen cycle is diverse. Agricultural and industrial

nitrogen (N) inputs to the environment currently exceed inputs from

natural N fixation. As a consequence of anthropogenic inputs, the global

nitrogen cycle (Fig. 1) has been significantly altered over the past century.

Human activities account for over one-third of N2O emissions, most of which are due to the agricultural sector.

Deforestation.Increasing population, industrialization and need of land for development of expanding cities has led man to cut down forests selfishly.During the period between 1990 and 2000 itself, the yearly loss of natural forests was 16 million hectares. Deforestation at such alarming rate has been a cause of constant worry for environmentalists the world over.

Sea Pollution - the Primary Culprits

A Threat to Marine and Human Lives.

More than two thirds of Sea Pollution originates on land in terms of industrial effluents and human

waste.

Oil pollution is the most potent danger to the health of the seas. Sea pollution arising out of oil spillage

not only kills the fishes in water but also does considerable damage to the beaches where they get

washed up eventually.

Beach Pollution - Emerging Threats.The two main sources of Beach Pollution are the litter

washed from the water on to the land and the litter

strewn around by human being visiting the beaches.

Oil slick washed ashore from seeping or sinking oil

tankers close to the coastline have been wreaking havoc

at many places in the last few decades proving to be the

worst type of beach pollution.

ReservoirsThe environmental impact of Reservoirs is coming under ever increasing scrutiny as the world demand for water and energy increases and the number and size of reservoirs increases.common criticisms include submergence of large areas of land which often include forests, preventing sea-run fish from reaching their historical mating grounds, less access to water downstream, and a smaller catch for fishing communities in the area.

The Wachusett Dam in Clinton, Massachusetts.

Water Pollution.

Sewers and drains, carry domestic and industrial wastes that might have

been widely deposited on the soil, but have been channeled into rivers and

other bodies of water.

The sanitary sewer system carries sewage from residential, commercial ,

and industrial sources to the waste water treatment plant.

At a waste water treatment plant most harmful substances are removed

from sewage before it is piped to a nearby body of water .

Solid Waste.Incineration produces air pollution, while landfills give off gases that contribute to Global Warming, and pollute underground water supplies. Landfills provide a ready dumping ground for non-hazardous wasteSome landfills create their own problems. For example, older ones have no lining and wastes can filter down through the soil and into the water supply.The ocean floors are also being affected because of the vast bulk of waste material that humans are creating.

Industrial Pollution.Industrialization has been the hallmark of human progress. However, with industries have come a host of toxic gases that are being released into the atmosphere. Industries release gallons of liquid waste into the seas and rivers. Some of the effluents percolate down and reach the ground water and pollute it to the extent that it can't be used by human beings for drinking or cooking.

Besides adding to Air Pollution, the innumerable Vehicles running on the roads add to noise pollution that has led to an increase in stress, anxiety and problems related to hearing. Water pollution has led to a decrease in the number of various aquatic animals. Several aquatic life forms are on the verge of extinction.Migratory birds are known to change their course due to pollution or change in weather. Respiratory diseases in human beings is another price that we are paying for polluting the environment.Acid rains can kill trees, destroy crops and fish life in lakes

and streams.Ingesting or in haling of toxic substances

increases the chances of having life-threatening diseases

like cancer

Mining.The environmental impact of mining includes erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals from mining processes. Besides creating environmental damage, the contamination resulting from leakage of chemicals also affect the health of the local population.

Environmental impact of mining.

War.As well as the cost to human life and society, there is a significant environmental impact of war with modern technology war can cause a far greater devastation on the environment..

Energy industry

The environmental impact of energy harvesting and consumption is

diverse. In recent years there has been a trend towards the increased

commercialization of various renewable energy sources

Coal mining and burning.

Nuclear PowerThe environmental impact of nuclear power results from the nuclear fuel cycle, operation, and the lingering effects of the Chernobyl disaster.The use of Nuclear Power and the building of Nuclear Weapons represents a very great threat to the environment. The biggest threat comes from Nuclear accidents, such as the accident at the Chernobyl Power Plant in Ukraine in 1986.

The effects of this accident have to date been an increase in cancer victims, numerous birth defects, and the destruction of many acres of good land.

Oil shale industry.The environmental impact of the Oil Shale Industry includes the

consideration of issues such as land use, waste management, and

water and air pollution caused by the extraction and processing of oil

shale. Surface mining of oil shale deposits causes the usual

environmental impacts of open-pit mining and harmful atmospheric emissions, including carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas.

Kiviõli Oil Shale Processing & Chemicals Plant in Iida-Virumaa, Estonia.

Pesticides.The environmental impact of pesticides is often greater than what is

intended by those who use them. Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95%

of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including

nontarget species, air, water, bottom sediments, and food.

Some pesticides contribute to global warming and the depletion of the

ozone layer.

Pesticide contaminates land and water when it escapes from production

sites and storage tanks, when it runs off from fields,

Paint.The environmental impact of paint is diverse. Traditional painting materials

and processes can have harmful effects on the environment, including those

from the use of lead and other additives

Petroleum.The environmental impact of Petroleum is often negative because it is toxic to almost all forms of life. Petroleum, commonly referred to as oil, is closely linked to virtually all aspects of present society, especially for transportation and heating for both homes and for commercial activities.

Paper.Although pulp and paper manufacturing requires large amounts of

energy, a portion of it comes from burning wood waste.

The environmental impact of paper is significant, which has led to

changes in industry and behaviour at both business and personal

levels.

Environmental impact of paper.

Transport.

The environmental impact of transport is significant because it is a major

user of energy, and burns most of the world's petroleum.

This creates Air Pollution, including nitrous oxides and particulates, and

is a significant contributor to global warming through emission of carbon

dioxide for which transport is the fastest-growing emission sector.

By reducing transportation emissions globally, it is predicted that there

will be significant positive effects on Earth's air quality, acid rain, smog

and climate change.

Roads.The environmental impact of roads includes the local effects of highways (public roads) such as on noise, water pollution, habitat destruction/disturbance and local air quality; and the wider effects including climate change from vehicle emissions. Environmental impact of transport.

Interstate 10 and Interstate 45 near downtown Houston, Texas in the USA

Aviation.

The environmental impact of aviation occurs because

aircraft engines emit noise, particulates, and gases which

contribute to climate change and global dimming.

In the EU, greenhouse gas emissions from aviation

increased by 87% between 1990 and 2006.

Shipping.The environmental impact of shipping includes greenhouse gas emissions and oil pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions from shipping is currently estimated at 4 to 5% of the global total,

Destruction due to oil spill

IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES

Depletion of Ozone Layer.The stratosphere has a layer of Ozone that protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Exposure to these rays cause skin cancer and cataracts

The cholofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are man-made chemicals are released in the atmosphere through CFC containing aerosols, refrigeration equipmentAs these chemicals are released, they rise into the atmosphere and break down the ozone molecules that form the ozone layer. There is an ozone hole in the Antarctic stratosphere

Because of the ozone holes in the upper atmosphere, the Earth receives excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This is harmful for trees and plants (and for animals and human beings who depend on plants).

Global warming intensifies climate

disasters.

Natural disasters have a number of root causes, but today with GlobalWarming, natural disasters have as their root cause, the change in theenvironment triggered by increasing differences in heat and cold.

It comes as no surprise to many people today that there are records

being broken everywhere as far as weather anomalies are concerned

and one of these is flooding.

These areas see a lot of flooding. These have been tentatively linkedto global warming caused by human injection of greenhouse gassesinto the atmosphere from industrial processes and engines.

Greenhouse gases increase overall temperatures and this is masked

by particles that contribute to global dimming.

The results are more floods, drying leading to fire-storms, high winds, unseasonal freezes, ice-pack break up and meltdown, super hurricanes and rising sea levels that are a significant proportion of natural disasters today.

Carbon footprint is a “measure of the impact human

activities have on the environment in terms of the amount ofgreenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxideAs the temperature gradient between lowest and highesttemperatures increase, so to does the flow of air, resulting inHurricanes like Katrina

These extremes in atmospheric temperature are linked to heat build up due to greenhouse gas accumulation.

Many natural disasters leave a trace in the earth and in the ice sheets of

Greenland, Antarctica and in mountain glaciers. In this period, where climate

change is being driven by human activity and human incursion into every

corner of the planet, extinction of species across the spectrum of life is

accelerating. There is no other cause operating at this time other than climate

change and human encroachment.

Earthquakes are seen as something outside of human control, but there is evidence that human activity can trigger minor events and at least one major event. During the underground nuclear testing in Alaska on Amchitka Island, of the Aleutians, USA, an underground test triggered a massive earthquake that also triggered a small tsunami.

Impact on Biodiversity.

Human impact on biodiversity is significant, humans have caused the

extinction of many species, including the dodo and, potentially, large

megafaunal species during the last ice age. Though most experts agree

that human beings have accelerated the rate of species extinction.

Extinction of Species.The variety and interdependence of all living things has led to the evolution of world. Man has been killing animals right since the time he acquired the skill of hunting. The relentless hunting by human beings, sometimes for the hide of a

cheetah or the tusks of the elephants, or simply to cook the tasty shark fin soup, has wiped out the existence of a large number of animals in just a century. Besides hunting, human activities like environmental pollution and deforestation has led to the extinction of a large number of animals and plants due to loss of habitat.

Four species threatened by Global warming in Polar mountain

regions:

•Polar Bear

•Gelada Baboon

•Pygmy Possum

•Monarch Butterfly

Changes occur in an ecosystem resulting from changes in climate human activity, introduction of non-native or indigenous species, and changes in populations.

Climate changes affect each biome and each species individually.

Ecological changes in climate (temperatures, flooding, warming, and

freezing) will probably eliminate some species, and these species losses

may cause the elimination of entire ecosystems.

For example we could lose cold-adapted systems such as arctic and alpine

communities to global warming, and low laying areas or islands to be

flooded by the sea level rising. All of these changes could have a disastrous

effect on the ecology of earth and its ecosystems, as we know it today. All

climate changes affect each species way of life, the way they eat, sleep,

and survive and interact with each other.

Climate Change, Pollution and

Human Interference Pose Danger to

Penguins , “Nature’s Survivors”Due to climate change, increase in ocean pollution and the rapid human colonization of their natural habitats, 13 out of 18 existing Penguin species are now considered to be threatened, endangered or even on the verge of extinction.

HEATING UP OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE:

MELTING DOWN OF ICE:Things that were happening in geological time are happening

during the span of a human lifetime.

From Alaska to the snowy peaks of the Andes, the world is heating

up right now and fast. Globally the temperature is up by 1 F over

the past centuries, and some of the most coldest and remote

places have warmed much more.Ice is melting, rivers are running dry and coasts are eroding, threatening communities. Flora and fauna are feeling the heat too. For centuries we have been burning coal, oil and gas and pouring carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases into the atmosphere faster than plants and oceans can soak up. As carbon dioxide continues to rise, so will the mercury.

Thawing permafrost has caused the ground to subside more than 15

feet in parts of Alaska.

When temperature rise and ice melts, more water flows to the seas from

glaciers and icecaps, and ocean water warms and expands in volume.

Siberia and northern Canada could experience a warmer, wetter climate.

Other regions could suffer more frequent and severe droughts.

Seasons are shifting, as warmer temperature creep up. Habitats are

changing along with the timing of annual processes like flowering, leaf

coverage, migration and birth .Rain cycle has been disrupted.

Garhwal Himalaya in India are retreating so fast that researchers believe

that most central and eastern Himalayan glaciers could virtually disappear

by 2035.

Scientists fear that ice-pack break up and subsequent meltdown will trigger coastal flooding that will see a mean sea level rise of some twenty feet. This will inundate some low level islands like Pacific atolls and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

There was concern that the West Antarctic ice sheet would collapse, leading to an immediate surge of oceanic flooding that will affect every coastal region on the planet.

Ocean temperatures are rising in all ocean basins and at

much deeper depths that previously thought.

This is the first instance in which humans appear to be accelerating the change, and warming could take place so quickly that species will not have the time to adapt and avoid extinction.

Coral Reefs.Human impact on coral reefs is significant. Coral reefs are dying around the

world. In particular, coral mining, pollution (organic and non-organic),

overfishing, blast fishing and the digging of canals and access into islands and

bays are serious threats to these ecosystems.

The list of factors is long, including the ocean's role as a carbon dioxide sink,

atmospheric changes, ultraviolet light, ocean acidification, biological virus,

impacts of dust storms carrying agents to far flung reefs, pollutants, algal

blooms and others.

Heat triggers coral to shed the algae that nourish it, a Bleaching event that

leaves coral white.

General estimates show approximately 10% world's coral reefs are already

dead 60% of the world's reefs are at risk due to destructive, human-related

activities.

PREVENTION:Switch to Renewable Energy sources not based on fossil or

nuclear fuels like direct or indirect use of solar energy, wind,

tidal, geothermal, wood and other biomass.

RENEWABLE ENERGIES:

SOLAR POWER:In this source of Green Energy, the photovoltaic (PV) cell is

the most basic structural and operational component. The

PV cells require light for generating electricity. Solar Panels

could be mounted on walls or building roofs and most often

they feed electricity directly to the building.

WIND POWER:The next source of Green Energy is Wind Power. It is generated by

turbines that converts the kinetic energy of the wind to mechanical

energy, which is converted to electrical energy by a generator.

WAVE AND TIDAL POWER:

This Green Energy is still under development stage. However, the

energy from tidal waves is harnessed to generate electricity.

BIOMASS AND BIO-FUEL:Biomass generally refers to organic materials like crops and timber grown

especially to be burnt to generate electricity. This Green Energy source

is sustainable and also Carbon Neutral. The most popular biomass crops

are elephant grass, poplar, willow as also some by-products of crops like

grain husks, straw, waste food, forest products, and even animal waste like

chicken litter and slurry.

CONCLUSION:Fortunately, man is learning (a little too late) that there are activities he can

undertake to improve land he has already degraded. This may involve:

Conservation, monitoring of and captive breeding programmes for endangered

species.

Restoring degraded ecosystems by planting trees specifically native to the area,

and removing introduced species.

Removal of pollutant materials.

Minimize the magnitude of pollution

Conserve non-renewable resources

Conserve ecological systems

Develop and utilize cleaner technologies

Maximize recycling of materials and waste

Apply the most appropriate pollution prevention and/or abatement techniques.

While it is true that global warming is already occurring

and affecting the way we live, we can prevent global

temperatures from reaching dangerous levels if we take

steps now to begin dramatically reducing our carbon

emissions. If we do not begin to shift to clean energy, the

heat waves and hurricanes that we have already suffered

through will worsen. Thankfully, we have all the tools

necessary to curb our emissions of greenhouse gases –

tools like clean energy, energy efficiency, and cars that go

farther on a gallon of gas.

THE END