Environmental Impacts of Economic Activity

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Environmental Impacts of Economic Activity
The Cases of Global Warming and Acid Rain

• Monday, February 28

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• Start class with videotapes
• Impacts of Global Warming
• Causes and impacts of acid rain

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Global Warming Overview
Ecosystem Functions (Climate System
Hydrological System)
Ecosystem Functions (Carbon Cycle)
Initial Change in Natural Capital
(Gaseous Composition of Atmosphere and Acres of
Forested Land)
Change in Economic Activity
(Change in carbon dioxide emissions, land use,
timber harvest)
Crops Health Care Water Services Forest
Products Recreation
Further Change in Natural Capital and
Intermediate Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem Functions (Photosynthesis, Food Chain)
Change in Intermediate Final Economic Goods
Further Change in Natural Capital (e.g., Forest
Composition) and Final Ecosystem Services
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Economic Causes of Global Warming

• CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion
• utilities
• transportation
• industrial
• residential
• commercial

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US GHG Emissions(CO2eq)
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Per capita CO2 emissions are small in developing
countries
(metric tons of carbon dioxide)
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Temperature Effects
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Precipitation Effects
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Sea Level Effects
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Global Warming Impacts on Ecosystem Services
See http//yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf
/content/impacts.html
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Acid Rain Overview
Ecosystem Functions (Hydrological System)
Ecosystem Functions (Wind)
Initial Change in Natural Capital
(Chemical Composition of Atmosphere)
Change in Economic Activity
(Change in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide
emissions)
Recreation Maintenance Forestry Health Care
Change in Intermediate Ecosystem Services (Acid
Precipitation)
Ecosystem Functions (Hydrological System,
Photosynthesis, Food Chain)
Change in Intermediate Final Economic Goods
Further Change in Natural Capital (Lake Forest
Decline) and Final Ecosystem Services (Fish Catch
Rate)
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Major Economic Causes of Acid Rain

• Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2)
• 2/3s of all emissions are from fossil fuel power
  plants
• Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• 1/3 of all emissions are from fossil fuel power
  plants

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Source http//www.epa.gov/indicators/roe/pdf/tdAi
r1-2.pdf
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Source http//www.epa.gov/indicators/roe/pdf/tdAi
r1-2.pdf
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Acidification of lakes and streams eliminates
aquatic organisms.
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Acid Rain Impacts on Ecosystem Services
Health Impacts
Bronchitis Asthma
Air Impacts
Air Quality Haze
Forest Impacts
Acid Soils Tree Damage Habitat
Water Resource Impacts
Water Quality Habitat
Impacts on Structures
Building maintenance Decay of monuments Integrity
of bridges
See http//www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/effect
s/index.html