impact of human activities

8/3/2019 Impact of Human Activities

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Content1. Introduction ««««««««««««««.««..««««3

2. Objective««««««««««««««««««««..««4

3. Impact of human activities, unplanneddevelopment and the mismanagement «««««««...«5of ecosystem

4. Greenhouse effect and the thinning of ««««««..««42 the ozone layer

5. Steps to maintain a stable environment«««««««..«48



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Introduction

N ever before has the Earth been so threatened than it is today. The Earth hassurvived countless natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and violentearthquakes, but even then, none of these catastrophes has had such a great impact onthe Earth as the activities carried out by human themselves. In their attempt to fulfill thegrowing use of an ever-increasing population, mankind destroys natural habitats thathouse millions of flora and fauna species at the same time pollutes the environment.



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Obj ectiveThe reasons why this paperwork is being done is due to several objectives as stated below:-

1. Evaluating human activities that endanger an ecosystem.

2. Understanding the greenhouse effect and the thinning of the ozone layer.

3. Realizing the importance of proper management of development activities and the ecosystem.

4. To instill awareness among humans about the significances of preservation and conservationof the ecosystem.

5. To make humans realize how bad are the effects of human¶s activities towardsthe environment.

6. To increase efforts on creating a safer environment for ourselves and for the future generations.

7. To deduce the time for the depletion and destruction of the environment due to variousenvironmental problems caused by human beings.



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Impact of human activities,unplanned development

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the mismanagement of

ecosystems



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Pollution

Water

Thermal

Air

Noise

P ollution



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W ater W ater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H 2O. Its molecule containsone oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. W ater is

a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state,ice,and gaseous state (water vapor or steam). W ater also exists in a liquid crystalstatenear hydrophilic surfaces

Causes of water pollution

Oil spills Heavy metals Untreated sewage

Agricultural waste

Domestic waste

Effects of water pollutes

Cause inconvenientdiseases like cholera, typhoid.

W ater pollution control

Sewage collection and treatment system should be effectivePeople should use less of detergents in their homesFactories and industries should be set up far away fromresidential area



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T hermalThermal energy is generated and measured by heat of any kind. It is caused by theincreased activity or velocity of molecules in a substance, which in turn causestemperature to rise accordingly. There are many natural sources of thermal energy onEarth, making it an important component of alternative energy.

S ources of thermal pollution

Power plant creating electricity from fossil fuelW ater as cooling agentDeforestation of shorelineSoil erosion

Effects of thermal pollutes

In water, thermal pollution(making the water warmer) can change the species of fish present in the water (trout for instance prefer cold water) and other organisms both because of the heat and the decreased oxygen in the water (warm water dissolves less oxygen). The warme water increases algal growthand encourages migratory birds, like ducks, to over winter.

In air, thermal pollution is limited to the heat island effect caused by cites. Citiestrap and radiate more heat than forests and fields. The warmer air makes thermalcurrents in the air which can act as a barrier to the normal wind patterns. This inturn affects the rainfall on the far side (down wind) of the city.

In soil, theramal pollution is limited to the impact of climate on the types of plantsthat can grow and the reduction of areas which have permafrost. The loss of permafrost impacts the solidarity of the ground (impacting animal migration) andreleases methane from the frozen decomposing organic matter.

P revention of thermal pollution

People should aim at maximizing the efficiency of heat engines (steam, IC,nuclear etc) to minimise heat loss.Mechanical frictions arising in rotating machine parts should be aimed to bereduced.Less burning of fossil fuels and avoiding energy wastages by controlling itsusage to the amount required.



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Strict actions should be taken against oil spilling and the responsible peopleshould be fined.Industries and factories should follow strict norms to reduce thermal pollution.



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A ir Air is a precious resource that most of us take for granted. Air supplies us with oxygen,which is essential for our bodies to live. W ithout it, we would die within minutes.

Pure air is a mixture of several gases that are invisible and odourless. It consists of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and less than 1% of argon, carbon dioxide, and other gases ² as well as varying amounts of water vapour. Adults breathe in about 10-20cubic metres of air every day. That¶s about 20,000 breaths. Children breathe almosttwice that amount because they are smaller, and their respiratory systems are stillmaturing

S ources of air pollution

V ehicles burning petrolDomestic firesPower stations burning fossil fuelIndustries

Effects of air pollutes

Cause runny eyes, nose, and throat irritation and breathing difficulties(asthmatics)

Affects the functioning of the heartCan lead to throat and lung infectionsCan cause headaches and vomiting

P revention of air pollution

Reduce the use of vehicles either by resorting to public transport for dailytransportation or switching over from vehicles to other means - such as cycling or walking.If the use of vehicle is inevitable, make sure that you use it efficiently - drivewithin the speed limit recommended by the manufacturer, turn the engine off onred light and make sure that you maintain your vehicle.Buying fuel efficient vehicles is yet another option that you have. Several car manufacturers are using advanced technology to roll out vehicles which minimizeemissions.



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S oil Erosion



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S oil ErosionErosion is the process by which material is removed from a region of the Earth surface.It can occur by weathering and transport of solids (sediment, soil, rock and other

particles) in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materialselsewhere. It usually occurs due to transport by wind, water, or ice; by down-slope creep of soil and other material under the force of gravity; or by living organisms,such as burrowing animals, in the case of bioerosion.

S ources of soil erosion

N ature of the soilN ature of the landLack of plant cover RainW

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Effects of soil erosion

The top soil is the fertile soil. N ature takes about 100-400 years to build onecentimeter of this soil, which getting destroyed very rapidly by human activitiesTop layer of soil contains most of the organic matter and nutrients. Loss of thissoil reducing soil fertility and affecting its structure badly. Soil erosion decreases the moisture supply by soil to the plants for their growth. Italso affects the activity of soil micro-organisms. Thus deteriorating the crop yeild. Soil eroded by water get deposited on river beds, thus increasing their level andcausing floods. These flood have various devasting effects, such as killinghuman and animals and damaging various buildings.

P revention of soil erosion

GardeningConservation tillage

Avoid access wateringPlant trees



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F lash floods



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F lash floods

A flash flood is a sudden inundation of water in low-lying areas, usually brought on byheavy rain or a dam break. W hen the ground becomes so saturated with water that

more cannot be absorbed, the overflow begins to rush downhill, sweeping awaywhatever is in its path.

S ources of flash floods

StormHeavy rainLong rain duration

Effects of flash floodsLoss of life Loss of habitat Damage infrastructure Disease.

P revention of flash floods

Plant more trees

Build river defencesBuild damsBuild coastal defences



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L andslides



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L andslides

A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopesand shallow debris flows,which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments

S ources of landslides

DeforestationEarthquakesErosionConstruction

Effects of landslides

Loss of life Loss of habitat Damage infrastructure Destroy plantation

P revention of landslides

Plant more treesBuild damsBuild channels to redirect mudflow Don't build steep slopes close to mountain edges, near drainage ways or naturalerosion valleys



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Eutrophication



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Eutrophication

Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life

S ources of eutrophication

Discharge of detergentsRunoff and erosionDischarge of untreated municipal sewageN itrogen compounds produced by cars and factories

Effects of eutrophication

Death of aquatic organisms Loss of desirable fish species Colour, smell, and water treatment problems Decreases in perceived aesthetic value of the water body

P revention of eutrophication

Organic farming N itrogen testing and modeling Prevention policy



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Deforestation



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Deforestation Deforestation is the clearing or removal of trees from an area of woodland or forest for manydiffering reason

S ources of deforestation

Agricultural activitiesRoad networkPopulation growth

Effects of deforestation

Erosion of soil

Flash floods Greenhouse effect Global warming

P revention of deforestation

Reducing emissions Farming Forest management Reforestation Forest plantations



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Extinction



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Extinction The state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or becoming extinct

S ources of extinction

Hunting and trappingTaking animals for profitOverharvestingDestruction of habitatPollution

Effects of extinction

Species extinct Increasing uneaten speciesDisruption of food chain

P revention of extinction

Reducing emissions Forest plantationsCreate wildlife preservesSanction endangered species laws



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Greenhouse Effect A ndT he T hinning Of T he

Oz one L ayer



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Greenhouse effect

A greenhouse gas (sometimes abbreviated GHG) is a gas in an atmospherethat absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infraredrange. This process is thefundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases inthe Earth's atmosphere are water vapor,carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,and ozone.

S ources of greenhouse effect

DeforestationGreenhouse emissionsPopulation growth

Effects of greenhouse effectThe global temperature parallel the rises in concentrationof carbon dioxideThe melting of a polar ice caps and glaciers take place atthe fast rateW ith the warmer climate, pets, vector may spread to newareas.Some regions will expose to the long drought and someplaces will be expose tothe greater rainfall

P revention of Greenhouse effect

Reducing emissions Forest plantationsreduce the open burning of fuel.Use the alternative sources, such as biomass or geothermal.International Corporation: the Kyoto Protocol treat that binds country. Lessen theeffect of global warmingEnergy efficient: travelling by public transport rather than by driving the own car



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Oz one layer

A region of the upper atmosphere, between about 15 and 30 kilometers (10 and 20miles) in altitude, containing a relatively high concentration of ozone that absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation in a wavelength range not screened by other atmosphericcomponents. Also called ozonosphere .

S ources of thinning of the o zone layer

DeforestationGreenhouse emissionsPopulation growthMainly due to chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)

Effects depletion of o zone layer Excessive entering of ultraviolet radiation to the Earth¶s surface.Lead to higher risk of skin cancer, cataracts and sunburns due to prolongedexposure to ultraviolet radiationLead to the increasing of the Earth¶s temperatureReduce the nutrient content and crop yields due toultraviolet radiation

P revention of depletion of o zone layer

Forest plantationsreduce the open burning of fuel.Use the alternative sources, such as biomass or geothermal.Reduce or stop the use of CFC. For example, reduce the use of air conditioner.-Replace CFC with hydro chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) and hydro fluorocarbon

(HFC).Unlike CFC, these gases breakdown in the atmosphere and return toearth in the form of rainwater.



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S teps to maintain a sta b leenvironment



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B iological controlBiological control is the use of natural predators to control the population of pest species

Examples;- the use of khaki chambel (a species of ducks)to control the population of gold snails (siputgondang emas) which feeds on paddy stalks.

- the use of owls to control the populations of rats in oil palm plantations.

- the use of the hoverfly larvae to control aphidswhich feed on crop plants



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Implementation of lawsMany laws and regulations are designed to control pollution which affects the quality of

lands, air and water. Examples of the act;

- The Environment Quality Acts, 1974, 1989*Motor V ehicle N oise Regulations,1987*Scheduled W astes Treatment and Disposal Facilities Regulations, 1989*Clean Air Regulations, 2000 (Amendment)

- The N ational Forestry Act, 1984

- The Pesticides Act, 1974

- The Fisheries Act, 1985

- The Protection of W ildlife Act, 1972



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T he Use of T echnologyInstall catalytic converters in vehicle to clean upexhaust emissions and convert harmful gasesreleased to less harmful gases.

Use unleaded petrol to reduce the emissions of leads into environment.

Treat sewage in sewage treatment plants before itis discharged to reduce water pollution.

Treat toxic waste from factories before it isdischarged into the environment.

Use microorganisms to clean up the environment.Develop hydrogen-based fuel-cell vehicle to

reduce the burning of fossil fuels



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T he use of renewa b le energyRenewable energy is energy flow that occurs

naturally in the environment and can beharnessed for the benefit of the humans.

Renewable energy is inexhaustible and doesnot pollute the air.

Examples of renewable energy;

- Solar energy (generates electricity)- W ind energy (to operate windmills)- Flowing water (generate hydroelectric power)- W ave energy (generates electricity)- Geothermal energy (generates electricity)- Biomass energy (produces biogas as fuel)- Gasohol ( converted to ethanol as fuel)



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P reservation and conservationPreservations involves efforts to protect

an ecosystem.

Conservations involves efforts to return anaffected ecosystem to its naturalequilibrium and keep them good.

Preservations is better than conservations.



Education on the managementThe public must be educated on the concept of

the4R.

Recycle means collecting segregating wasteaccording to the types of materials and turningthis waste into new products.

Reuse means use things such as old plasticscontainers and bottles again instead of throwingthem away.

Reduce means cutting down on the use of materials which are non-biodegradable.

Renew means to use materials such as bottlesand plastic containers after they are cleaned.

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