Human Impacts 1
Define Deforestation.
The cutting down of trees.
Define Fragmentation.
An ecosystem that has been broken up into patches that are too far apart for species to properly interact and reproduce.
What are Oil Spills?
The introduction of oil into an ecosystem, both terrestrial and marine.
Why do we deforest?
For wood, medicinal plants, animal products, minerals, and agriculture.
Name an impact of Climate Change on Antarctica.
Warms oceans (melts ice), increases ocean acidity, reduces penguin breeding zones.
What is Pollution?
The introduction of harmful contaminants into an ecosystem.
What are Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
The overuse and overreliance of fossil fuels, releasing tens of billions of tons of CO2 per year.
What is Light Pollution?
The inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light outdoors, often by poor design and overuse.
Name an impact of deforestation.
Fragmentation, decrease in absorption of CO2, decrease in release of O2.
Can cause cascading change, run-ins with indigenous people.
What impact does CFC Emission have on Antarctica?
Depletion of ozone, causing more intense storms and winds.
What is Ozone Layer Depletion?
The destruction of the ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting chemicals.
What is Overhunting and Overfishing?
The overconsumption of animals for food, resources, or sport.
What is Noise Pollution?
The inappropriate or excessive use of artificial noise outdoors, often by machines used in harvesting.
Name an impact of Mining.
Water, air, and soil contamination, noise and light pollution, mining scars, spreads contaminants.
Why is the Antarctic Treaty important?
It helps keep Antarctica safe and sustained.
What is Habitat Loss?
The expansion of human environment and agriculture.
What is the impact of Mining?
Leaves behind massive holes in the ground, spreads contaminants, and acid-mine runoff.
What is Desertification?
Gradual land degradation of fertile land into arid deserts.
How does Debt Reduction help reduce deforestation?
HICs will forgive the dept of LICs in exchange for LICs protecting their rainforests.
What did MARPOL do?
Ban the use of heavy fuel oil in Antarctica.
What is Acid Rain?
Sulfur oxides that evaporate into the atmosphere from mines to later precipitate down as acid rain.
What are Ineffective Wate Managements?
Landfill over-encumbrance, littering.
Why is knowing Human Impact important?
So we understand the impact we have on our environment as a whole and can attempt to mitigate it.
How does International Agreements increase deforestation?
Increases illegal logging.
What are Fossil Fuels?
Plants and other microscopic organisms that were buried under pressure until just the hydrocarbon chains remained.