Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems

Patten & ValdnerGlobal History II

Mepham High School

Patten & ValdnerGlobal History II

Mepham High School

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PollutionPollution

Pollution is the contamination of the environment (air, water, & soil) which is harmful to humans, plants and other animal life.

Pollution is the contamination of the environment (air, water, & soil) which is harmful to humans, plants and other animal life.

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Results of PollutionResults of Pollution

Acid Rain: Rain falls through air polluted by burning fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil, and natural gasDamage caused by acid rain effects

damages forests, lakes and farmlandSolutions: International agreements

to reduce emissions of substances that cause acid rain

Acid Rain: Rain falls through air polluted by burning fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil, and natural gasDamage caused by acid rain effects

damages forests, lakes and farmlandSolutions: International agreements

to reduce emissions of substances that cause acid rain

Depletion of the Ozone Layer

Depletion of the Ozone Layer

The ozone layer is a layer of gases in the atmosphere that protects the Earth from sun’s dangerous ultra violet rays

The ozone layer is depleting because of the chloroflurocarbons and chemical pollutants

The ozone layer is a layer of gases in the atmosphere that protects the Earth from sun’s dangerous ultra violet rays

The ozone layer is depleting because of the chloroflurocarbons and chemical pollutants

Effects of DepletionEffects of Depletion

Effects:Exposes people to

solar radiation which results in skin cancer and eye disease

Damages crops and marine life

Effects:Exposes people to

solar radiation which results in skin cancer and eye disease

Damages crops and marine life

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Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Global warming is the gradual rise in the global temperatures because warm air is trapped in the lower atmosphere

Global warming is the gradual rise in the global temperatures because warm air is trapped in the lower atmosphere

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Causes and SolutionsCauses and Solutions

Caused of Global Warming: Use of CFCs, burning

of fossil fuel and the destruction of forests

Solutions: UN summit (1997) set

limits on emissions thought to contribute to global warming

Caused of Global Warming: Use of CFCs, burning

of fossil fuel and the destruction of forests

Solutions: UN summit (1997) set

limits on emissions thought to contribute to global warming

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DesertificationDesertification

Desertification is the change of the land form arable (able to be farmed) to desert because of human activity

Desertification is the change of the land form arable (able to be farmed) to desert because of human activity

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Cause of DesertificationCause of Desertification

Overgrazing by live-stock

Cutting down forests

Overgrazing by live-stock

Cutting down forests

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Effects of DesertificationEffects of Desertification

Eliminates grasses that hold the soil together to prevent erosion

Robs the land of a barrier to soil erosion

Wind erosion removes fertile topsoil so the land cannot support plant life

Loss of farmsDecrease food production

Eliminates grasses that hold the soil together to prevent erosion

Robs the land of a barrier to soil erosion

Wind erosion removes fertile topsoil so the land cannot support plant life

Loss of farmsDecrease food production

Controlling DesertificationControlling Desertification

Restricting livestockPlanting new treesIn developing countries, farmers

want to work as much land as possible, but……

Teaching new farming methods such as improved irrigation may help

Restricting livestockPlanting new treesIn developing countries, farmers

want to work as much land as possible, but……

Teaching new farming methods such as improved irrigation may help

Nuclear SafetyNuclear Safety

Explain the incident at Chernobyl:Accident in Chernobyl nuclear plant

exposed people and crops to radiationRadiation was blown across Europe

Result:Heightened concern about safe

nuclear energy; some countries increased safety practices, some cut back nuclear programs

Explain the incident at Chernobyl:Accident in Chernobyl nuclear plant

exposed people and crops to radiationRadiation was blown across Europe

Result:Heightened concern about safe

nuclear energy; some countries increased safety practices, some cut back nuclear programs

Why is nuclear waste a problem?

Why is nuclear waste a problem?

Radioactivity remains for many years

Exposure is harmful to humans

Dumping nuclear waste at sea or in wells contaminate locality

Radioactivity remains for many years

Exposure is harmful to humans

Dumping nuclear waste at sea or in wells contaminate locality

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Global SolutionsGlobal Solutions

Dumping of waste at sea and in wells has been banned

Nations are seeking safe methods of disposal

Dumping of waste at sea and in wells has been banned

Nations are seeking safe methods of disposal

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DeforestationDeforestation

Deforestation is the destruction of forests, especially rain forests

Deforestation is the destruction of forests, especially rain forests

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Causes of DeforestationCauses of Deforestation

Caused by harvesting of lumber or cleaning f land to grow crops, graze animals or build homes

50 million acres of tropical forest are lost each year

Caused by harvesting of lumber or cleaning f land to grow crops, graze animals or build homes

50 million acres of tropical forest are lost each year

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Effects of DeforestationEffects of Deforestation

Changes in local weather patternsBuildup of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere (leading to green house effect)

Soil erosionExtinction of certain plants and

animals

Changes in local weather patternsBuildup of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere (leading to green house effect)

Soil erosionExtinction of certain plants and

animals

Global SolutionsGlobal Solutions

To balance economic needs of developing nations with needs of global population

International debates and discussions such and the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992

To balance economic needs of developing nations with needs of global population

International debates and discussions such and the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992

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Endangered Species Endangered Species

Caused be deforestation, clearing of land, damming of waterways and pollution

These human activities threaten to wipe out species of plants and animals

Caused be deforestation, clearing of land, damming of waterways and pollution

These human activities threaten to wipe out species of plants and animals

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Effects of Endangered Species

Effects of Endangered Species

Damages balance of ecosystem

Disappearance of resources for food and medicine

Damages balance of ecosystem

Disappearance of resources for food and medicine

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Global SolutionsGlobal Solutions

International agreements to ban certain practices (such as shipment and sale of endangered animals)

Preserving plant and animal habitats

International debates and discussions such as the UN’s Earth Summit

International agreements to ban certain practices (such as shipment and sale of endangered animals)

Preserving plant and animal habitats

International debates and discussions such as the UN’s Earth Summit

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