1. Interconnected Planet CH6

2. Environmental Science • Study of the impact of humans on the environment • Humans are a part of the environment and can affect the resilience of the environment. • Humans consume resources faster than they can be replaced • Earth is an interconnected planet • Pollution and habitat destruction destroy the resources we need to live, such as air, water, and food

3. Fresh Kill’s Landfill in NY state Approximately 135 football fields

4. Resources • Materials to be used for a need • Renewable • Can be replaced at the same rate at which they are consumed, within our (human) lifetime • Hydro, Solar, Geothermal, Nuclear, Wind, Biofuels • Nonrenewable • Used at a faster rate than can be replaced • Fossil Fuels are from the remains of organisms that lived long ago • Oil, natural gas, coal

5. Environmental Issues • Air Pollution • Industries, power plants, vehicles burning fossil fuels • Releases carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides • Acid Rain • Global Warming • Ozone Layer • Respiratory Issues

6. Acid Rain • Precipitation that has a high concentration of sulfuric or nitric acid (increase pH) • Harms forest and lakes

7. Ozone Layer • Protects life on Earth from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays • Damaged due to chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) used in refrigerators, air conditioners, spray cans • Reduction in CFC use has helped the Ozone

8. Global Warming • Gradual increase in the average global temperature • Greenhouse effect • Warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of the Earth • Occurs when particles in the atmosphere absorb and trap heat on the planet

10. Greenhouse Effect • Naturally occurs • Keeps the Earth at comfortable temperature • Becomes a problem when particles in the atmosphere build up trapping more heat on the planet • Carbon Dioxide • Burning of fossil fuels

11. Global weather • Migration patterns • Ice sheets (sea level)

12. Water Pollution • Pollution • Any unwanted substance that contaminates the material needed • Fertilizers, pesticides, manure, industrial waste, oil runoff from roads, septic tanks, unlined landfills • Water is renewable until polluted

13. Soil Damage • Soil Erosion • Destroys fertile soil that we need in order to produce food • Soil Conservation • Terracing, cover crop, crop rotation, contour plowing • Reduce soil loss and conserve fertile soil

15. Ecosystem Disruption • Habitat Destruction • Loss of Biodiversity • Invasive species • Introduce non native organisms to an area • Competition for resources • Extinction • Death of every member of a species

16. Environmental Solutions • Conservation • Protecting existing natural habitats • Restoration • Cleaning up and restoring damaged habitats • Harder to put back to normal • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

17. Research and technology • Provide cleaner energy sources • Better ways to deal with waste • Improve methods for cleaning up pollution • Environmental Awareness • Education • Advocacy, showing support for the cause • Planning for the Future