CLIMATE CHANGE OZONE DESTRUCTION POLLUTION Global Warming” a long-term phenomenon “holes” over poles, thinning Eutrophication stratospheric ozone=GOOD ATMOSPHERE warms, which in turn affects NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS runoff into (protects) OCEAN temps/currents, which in turn affects Lakes, ponds, etc tropospheric ozone=BAD (smog, WEATHER a short-term phenomenon asthma, unhealthy to breathe) Causes: excessive algal growth El Niño climate patterns (ENSOs) UV protection Dry: desertification When algae dies, it sinks to bottom and is Wet: flooding DECOMPOSED by bacteria, microbes Effects: Hurricane intensity, frequency Skin cancer. Cataracts Affects on: Lots of dead thing to decompose means Vegetation (biomes) Mutation rates the bacteria reproduce and increase Crops Plant destruction Animal life greatly in number. Plankton decrease Humans (water, disease, habitable area) Many of these microbes are AEROBIC, and Causes: Coastlines use up much of the oxygen in the pond, Aerosol propellants (prior to thus depriving the larger organisms, like 1980’s) “Greenhouse Effect” FISH. This often results in massive fish CFCs (Freon) refrigerants Causes: BFCs (Halon) fire extinguishants Water vapor CO2 Sources: N2O 1987 Montreal Protocol (43 nations) Nitrogen: fertilizer runoff Methane Phosphorus: detergents, soaps CFCs Both N and P are often found in Burning fossil fuels sewage, animal waste. When this Deforestation leaks into nearby bodies of water, Fertilizer use problems ensue. Livestock emissions Sewage Another pollution problem: Landfill decomp BIOMAGNIFICATION of toxins (mercury, Wetlands (rice paddies, swamps) PCBs, dioxin, lead, etc) in organisms in the food chain. 2005 Kyoto Protocol
CLIMATE CHANGE Global Warming” a long-term phenomenon ATMOSPHERE warms, which in turn affects OCEAN temps/currents, which in turn affects WEATHER a short-term phenomenon El Niño climate patterns (ENSOs) Dry: desertification Wet: flooding Hurricane intensity, frequency Affects on: Vegetation (biomes) Crops Animal life Humans (water, disease, habitable area) Coastlines “Greenhouse Effect” Causes: Water vapor CO2 N2O Methane CFCs Burning fossil fuels Deforestation Fertilizer use Livestock emissions Sewage Landfill decomp Wetlands (rice paddies, swamps) 2005 Kyoto Protocol OZONE DESTRUCTION “holes” over poles, thinning stratospheric ozone=GOOD (protects) tropospheric ozone=BAD (smog, asthma, unhealthy to breathe) UV protection Effects: Skin cancer. Cataracts Mutation rates Plant destruction Plankton decrease Causes: Aerosol propellants (prior to 1980’s) CFCs (Freon) refrigerants BFCs (Halon) fire extinguishants 1987 Montreal Protocol (43 nations) POLLUTION Eutrophication NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS runoff into Lakes, ponds, etc Causes: excessive algal growth When algae dies, it sinks to bottom and is DECOMPOSED by bacteria, microbes Lots of dead thing to decompose means the bacteria reproduce and increase greatly in number. Many of these microbes are AEROBIC, and use up much of the oxygen in the pond, thus depriving the larger organisms, like FISH. This often results in massive fish Sources: Nitrogen: fertilizer runoff Phosphorus: detergents, soaps Both N and P are often found in sewage, animal waste. When this leaks into nearby bodies of water, problems ensue. Another pollution problem: BIOMAGNIFICATION of toxins (mercury, PCBs, dioxin, lead, etc) in organisms in the food chain.
Environmental_Concerns_notes.docx