Pretty Pictures for all of the Visual learners Environmental History of U.S

Pretty Pictures for all of the Visual

learners

Environmental History of U.S.

National Environmental Policy Actdictates ALL federally proposed actions draft an environmental impact statement.

Carcinogens

Carcinogenscancer causing substances

See table 2-1 in text.Page 26

Deaths caused by smoking

Economics and the EnvironmentCost-Benefit diagram: economists identify

the optimum amount of pollution as the amount at which

Marginal costs= marginal cost abatement

Economics and the EnvironmentHARMFUL

Marginal cost of pollution EXCEEDS the cost of reducing pollution (abatement)

BENEFICIAL

why?

Levels of Biological Organization

Antarctic food web

Competitive Exclusion: one species is excluded from a portion of a niche by another as a result of interspecific competition.

(2 species with identical niches can’t coexist.)

Ecological Succession

Grasses Grasses shrubs shrubs poplars (cottonwoods) poplars (cottonwoods) pine trees pine trees oak oak

Predator/Prey Relationships Data collected from fur pelts from the Hudson Bay Company

Factors that Affect Population Size

Case-in-Point: Predatory Prey Dynamics on Isle Royale

Biological Diversity

Biodiversity

Species Richness

Genetic Diversity

Ecosystem Diversity

Why we need organisms

Biological diversity: the number and variety of organisms.

Genetic diversity: variation within a species.

Species richness: the number of species

Ecosystem diversity: variation within an ecosystem.

Ecosystem Services and Species Richness

Why We Need Organisms

Ecosystem Services and Species Richness

Maintains Maintains smaller fish smaller fish populations by populations by eating gareating gar

Digs underwater Digs underwater holes used by holes used by other aquatic other aquatic organismsorganisms

Gator trails clear Gator trails clear out aquatic out aquatic vegetationvegetation

Nests Nests eventually eventually become small become small islands of treesislands of trees

DDT and the Peregrine Falcon

Endangered & threatened Species

• What factors are common with most Endangered & threatened species?

Gymnogyps californianusGymnogyps californianus

Endangered & threatened Species

• Endangered & threatened species often have:

• Limited natural ranges

• Low population densities.

• Low reproductive rates

• Very specialized nutritional or reproductive requirements.

Conservation Biology, Challenges

The Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Hydrologic Cycle

Phosphorus Cycle

Atmospheric CirculationWinds: complex horizontal movements of the atmosphere.

Ocean Conveyor Belt

Climate associated with ENSO

Biomagnification

Determining Health Effects of Environmental Pollution

Lethal Dose-50%

(LD50)

Determining Health Effects of Environmental Pollution

Effective Dose-50% (ED50) –

Dose that induces 50% of test subjects to have some type of effect

Dose response curve –

Decision Making and Uncertainty

Risks:

Decision Making and Uncertainty

Cost-Benefit Analyses

CostBenefit

Reproductive Strategies

Survivorship

Principles of Population Ecology

Maximum Population Growth-

under ideal conditions = intrinsic rate of increase (aka biotic potential)

J-shaped curve (exponential growth)

Principles of Population Ecology

J-shaped curve exponential growth

Logistic growth

Arithmetic growth

Irruptive/Malthusian

Principles of Population Ecology

Overshooting the carrying capacity can lead to a population crash.

Factors that Affect Population Size

Density-Dependence and Boom-or-Bust Population Cycles

Demographics of Countries

Demographic Stages

High avg. # of children born (Baby boom)

Demographics of Countries

Age Structure of Countries

Generalized Age Structure

Population and Urbanization

Urban migration

The City as an EcosystemEnvironmental Problems Associated with

Urban Areas

• Creation of urban heat islands

The City as an Ecosystem

Environmental Problems Associated with Urban Areas

• Dust domes

Making Cities More SustainableWhat has Curitiba, Brazil done to become a

world model for sustainability?

Generically Creating Energy

Energy Source

Water Heated

TurbineDrivesto

Electricity

Generator

Drives

Produces

Emissions, with some exceptions

Type and amount of emissions depends on?

Fuel Sources:

Fossil Fuels, Nuclear, Geo = ?

Energy Consumption

Per capita energy consumption

Energy Consumption

Energy consumption in the US

Coal

Making Coal a Cleaner Fuel

• Using scrubbers

• Using fluidized-bed combustion

Oil

Major Flows of Crude Oil

http://factsonfuel.org/gasoline/index.html#1gasoline

Oil and Natural Gas

World commercial energy sources for electrical power:

Oil and Natural Gas

Petroleum refining

Oil and Natural Gas

Reserves of Natural Gas

Oil and Natural Gas

Case-in-Point:

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Synfuels and Other Potential Fossil Fuel Resources

Synthetic fuel sources:

• Tar sands (oil sands)

• Oil shales

• Gas hydrates

• Coal liquefaction

• Coal gasification

Problem: these all still produce CO2

Not taking place

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Movies/Movies/chainreaction.mov

Nuclear Fission

Primary circuitPrimary circuit

Secondary circuitSecondary circuit

Tertiary circuitTertiary circuit

Nuclear Reactor

Nuclear Reactors Consist of ...Nuclear Reactors Consist of ...1 ) 1 ) Reactor core:Reactor core: Fission takes place Fission takes place heatheat..

2) 2) Steam Generator:Steam Generator: heat from reactor core heat from reactor core produces produces steam. steam.

3) 3) Turbine:Turbine: steam spins the turbine to generate steam spins the turbine to generate electricity. electricity.

4) 4) Condenser:Condenser: cools the steam back to liquid cools the steam back to liquid water.water.

Chernobyl

Exposure Exposure to to

radiationradiation

Radioactive Wastes SitesRadioactive Wastes Sites

Yucca Mountain

145 km (90) miles from Las Vegas

Scientific community agrees that underground repositories are the best long term option of high-level radioactive waste.

Around the world there are 2 dozen countries planning similar repositories

Direct Solar Energy

Heating Buildings and Water, Passive solar heating

Direct Solar Energy

Heating Buildings

and Water

Passive solar

heating

Direct Solar Energy

Solar-Generated Hydrogen

Solar energy

PV or wind generated electricity

Electrolysis of water

Solar generated hydrogen

Combustion of hydrogen

Usable energy

Compression of Hydrogen for storage and

transport

Indirect Solar Energy

Wind Energy

The Importance of Water

The Importance of WaterLargest watersheds

The Importance of Water

Aquifers

Water Use and Resource Problems

Too Much Water, Flood Management

Channelization

Water Use and Resource Problems

Too Much Water, Flood Management

Levees with natural river

Water Use and Resource Problems

Saltwater

intrusion

Water Management

Providing a Sustainable Water Supply

DesalinizationTwo methods:1) Distillation

Condenses

Simplified process:

Salt water

Pure water is collected

Water boiled

Produces steam

Water Conservation

Reducing Agricultural Water Waste

Reducing Water Waste in Industry

Reducing Municipal Water Waste

Recycling water Xeriscaping

Ecological Succession Ecological Succession

Climax Climax CommunityCommunity

Pioneer Pioneer OrganismsOrganisms

Mineral matter

Organic matter

Water

Air

What is Soil?Soil Composition

25%25%

45%45%

5%5%

25%25%

What is Soil?

Soil Horizons

E-horizon develops if leaching is severe.

?

What is Soil?Nutrient Cycling (alternate slide)

Organic matter in soil

Decomposition

Minerals freed and available to plant

Plant roots absorb minerals from soil

Elements incorporated into organic matter in

plants

Elements in organic matter in

animals

Major Soil Types

Soil ProblemsCase-in-Point: The American Dust

Bowl

Soil Conservation and Regeneration

Contour Plowing, Strip Cropping, and Terracing

Strip cropping & contour plowing

Terracing