The Effect of Humans On Ecosystems and Biological Cycles

1
The Effect of Humans

• On Ecosystems
• and Biological Cycles

2
Changes to the Atmosphere

• The atm is a greenhouse
• Normal atm composition maintains global
  temperature
• Too much Carbon Dioxide in atm will increase
  global temperature.
• Carbon dioxide traps suns rays rather than
  reflecting them back into space - global warming

3
CO2 Increase Due to Human Activities

• Carbon dioxide has increased by 30 since the
  industrial revolution
• Canadians release 18 000 kg of carbon
  dioxide/person/year
• Why?
• Burning fossil fuels (gas, coal, oil) for energy
  (factories, homes, workplaces) and transportation
• Aerosols
• Deforestation

4
Global Climate Change

• Warmer atm influences
• Sea levels rise (melting ice caps and glaciers)
• -flooding of low lying areas and coastal regions
• -higher tides coastline erosion
• -salt water can enter wetland ecosystems (some
  species may die out while others flourish)

5
Global Climate Change

• 2) Higher Ocean Temperatures
• -shift in ocean population
• -algae blooms
• -decreased fish population, species may die out

6
Global Climate Change

• 3) More Energy in the ATM
• -severe weather storms, tornadoes, hurricanes
• -floods
• -droughts (increase in Forrest Fires)
• This will impact AGRICULTURE, HUMAN HEALTH, and
  PROPERTY.

7
Hurricane Katrina
BC Forest Fires
8
Global Climate Change

• 4) A Shift in Carbon Cycle
• -increased photosynthesis
• -some plants growing faster
• -others may not grow due to higher
  temperatures
• -may change nature of agricultural crops
  (weeds?)

9
Global Climate Change

• 5) Human Health
• -increase in viruses and bacteria that prefer
  warm climates
• e.g. malaria
• -respiratory illness due to increased
  pollutants in air swelling due to heat

10
Nitrogen Increase Due to Human Activity

• Sewage plants and crop fertilizers release
  nitrous oxides into the atmosphere
• More nitrogen is being added to the environment
  than ecosystems can use
• Excess nitrogen in soil increases soil acidity
  and damages tree and plant roots
• Eutrophication of lakes when nitrogen compounds
  build up due to sewage plant wastes increase
  algae growth

11
Acid Rain

• -caused by burning of fossil fuels
• -nitric acid and sulfur dioxide released
• -acidify lakes
• -species that cannot tolerate acidic
  environment die out (Maple trees)
• -degrades limestone buildings

12
What Can You Do to Decrease Greenhouse Gas
Emissions?

• Be power smart - unplug, turn off lights
• Walk, bus, carpool
• Fuel efficient vehicles (not SUVs)
• Purchase energy efficient appliances
• Recycle - reusable energy
• Plant trees near your home

13
A Few Interesting Facts

• If people let their dishes air dry instead of
  using the heat setting on their dishwashers, we
  could decrease CO2 emissions by 200
  pounds/year/household
• Painting houses dark colors in cool climates and
  light colors in warm climates decreases CO2
  emissions by 5000 pounds/year/house

14
How Much Carbon Dioxide Does Our Class Emit
Getting to School?

• Estimate the distance to school
• Charleswood 3.5miles
• Waverly/Lindenwoods 2.5 miles
• Pembina 5 miles away

15
Identify Transportation Method