Revision Flashcards
(20 cards)
Changes to the land
- The process in which humans have altered the land and made way for farms, buildings and more.
- This also includes the way we have cleared forests for resources such as wood and energy.
Changes to the atmosphere
- Atmosphere is the combination of gases that surrounds the earth.
- The chemicals that are released in the atmosphere from fossil fuels and garbage breakdown the layer of gases that protects the earth from ultraviolet rays.
- This causes an increase in acidity of rain and warming of atmosphere.
Change to water
- 70% of the total water taken from rivers, streams and underground are used to irrigate crops.
- Fresh water becoming undrinkable, scarce and too polluted for the environment.
Soil Degradation
Soil degradation refers to the loss of fertility in the soil caused by a chemical change (Fertilizers.)
Soil Erosion
Soil erosion is when soil is gradually worn away by natural phenomena such as rivers, rain, waves glaciers and the wind.
Ecosystem Decline
The natural ecosystems of an area, such as forests and streams and the degradation over time. (Invasive plants, Loss of vegetation, Decline in soil)
Air Pollution
Pollutants such as carbon nitrogen and sulfur disturb the natural balance of gases that form the atmosphere.
Air pollution is considered the world’s worst health risk, Air pollution is due to the breathing of air with high concentrations of fine particle from traffic exhaust, factor and power plant emissions.
Degrading Water
Water becomes degraded when humans reduce the quantity and quality of clean fresh water such as for farms, hydroelectricity and irrigation. By doing this we have contaminated our rivers, lakes, wetlands, seas and oceans.
Climate Change
A change in climate over 30 years.
What causes climate change
- It is the excessive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities.
- The effects of burning fossil fuels, creating waste, deforestation and the production of CO2 and methane.
What is climate
Weather Patterns: Precipitation, Cloud Cover, Temperature, Humidity, Wind
- It happens over 30 years or more.
Greenhouse Gases
An increase in the concentration of gases. Four main gases: Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases.
Global Warming
Greenhouse Gases traps some of the Sun’s energy within the atmosphere which causes temperatures to rise, rainfall patterns change, ice melts and less snow falls in polar regions.
Environmental responses to climate change
How plants and animals respond to climate change:
- They change their basic biology
- They migrate
- They die out
- They change the timing of certain events
Impacts of climate change
- Food sources will dwindle.
- Excessive flooding.
- Decrease in natural life.
- Extreme weather conditions
Change in coastal environments
Coastal environments are very dynamic and humans have brought on many unhealthy changes to these environments. For example, things such as:
- Walking across a sand dune.
- The construction of shipping ports/ Sea walls.
All are responsible for coastal degradation which includes things such as:
- Sand dunes being washed into the sea.
- Changing the coastline.
- Toxic Algae.
Climate change and coasts
The world’s climate is changing rapidly due to human activities such as land clearing and fossil fuel burning which increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Australia’s Rising Seas:
- Sea levels are rising very slowly
- Sea levels have risen by about 1.8 Millimeters per year over the last century
- 3 Millimeters per year since the 1990s.
Physical Impact of Rising Seas:
- Increase in erosion on beaches.
- An increase in flooding
- Saltwater to enter freshwater sources.
- Increase in the severity of extreme weather such as cyclones.
Coastal Squeeze:
As sea levels rise, Important coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and salt marshes retreat inland which in turn results in erosion.
