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SS6G8 – Explain environmental issues in Europe.
SS6G8 – Explain environmental issues in Europe.
Standard G8 provides students with a deeper understanding of how human beings can impact the environments in which they live. It focuses on examples from Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
Standard G8 provides students with a deeper understanding of how human beings can impact the environments in which they live. It focuses on examples from Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
a. Explain the causes and effects of acid rain in Germany.
a. Explain the causes and effects of acid rain in Germany.
Germany is famous for its majestic forests and historic Gothic architecture; however, these picturesque landscapes and cities are under threat from acid rain. Acid rain results when noxious gases – such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide – combine with water molecules in clouds. When these clouds burst, the rain released is toxic. Acid rain pollutes freshwater sources, poisons fisheries, kills forests, and even degradates architecture. The primary cause of Germany’s acid rain is emissions from its many coal-burning power plants. The nation is taking steps to reduce its coal-dependence, though, particularly in southern Germany where hydroelectric power is emerging as an alternative energy source. Wind and solar energy are also being harnessed across the nation.
Germany is famous for its majestic forests and historic Gothic architecture; however, these picturesque landscapes and cities are under threat from acid rain. Acid rain results when noxious gases – such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide – combine with water molecules in clouds. When these clouds burst, the rain released is toxic. Acid rain pollutes freshwater sources, poisons fisheries, kills forests, and even degradates architecture. The primary cause of Germany’s acid rain is emissions from its many coal-burning power plants. The nation is taking steps to reduce its coal-dependence, though, particularly in southern Germany where hydroelectric power is emerging as an alternative energy source. Wind and solar energy are also being harnessed across the nation.
b. Explain the causes and effects of air pollution in the United Kingdom.
b. Explain the causes and effects of air pollution in the United Kingdom.
London, England, the capital of the United Kingdom, has some of the worst air pollution of any major city in Europe. In fact, the term smog originated in London in 1905! The U.K. is one of Europe’s leading industrial powers with numerous factories across the country processing oil, natural gas, and coal. The pollutants eminating from these factories, coupled with the overcrowding and widespread use of motor vehicles in its major cities, have led to the U.K.’s air quality woes. Increased incidence rates of pneumonia and asthma have been linked to the nation’s widespread air pollution. The U.K. has taken measures to decrease air pollution, however, including tightening vehicle and factory emissions standards, encouraging public mass transportation, and promoting the use of cleaner burning coal.
London, England, the capital of the United Kingdom, has some of the worst air pollution of any major city in Europe. In fact, the term smog originated in London in 1905! The U.K. is one of Europe’s leading industrial powers with numerous factories across the country processing oil, natural gas, and coal. The pollutants eminating from these factories, coupled with the overcrowding and widespread use of motor vehicles in its major cities, have led to the U.K.’s air quality woes. Increased incidence rates of pneumonia and asthma have been linked to the nation’s widespread air pollution. The U.K. has taken measures to decrease air pollution, however, including tightening vehicle and factory emissions standards, encouraging public mass transportation, and promoting the use of cleaner burning coal.
c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.
c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.
One of the worst nuclear disasters in history took place at the Chernobyl power plant in Pripyat, Ukraine – at that time, part of the Soviet Union – in 1986. It was the result of an experiment conducted by the plant’s engineers to determine whether or not Chernobyl’s cooling pump system could still function under low power if auxiliary electricity were to ever fail. A catastrophic decision to disable Chernobyl’s safety systems during this experiment resulted in the reactor exploding and releasing irradiated steam and particulate matter into the atmosphere. The fallout from Chernobyl had the greatest impact on Ukraine and Belarus, although nuclear contamination from the explosion reached as far north as the Scandinavian Peninsula and as far west as the United Kingdom. Chernobyl’s reactor burned for nine days after the meltdown as well. Soil contamination resulting from the Chernobyl disaster is an ongoing concern, as is the increased incidence rate of cancer in northern Ukraine. In the wake of Chernobyl, Ukraine vowed to become a nuclear-free country. Its last nuclear reactor was shut down in 2000.
One of the worst nuclear disasters in history took place at the Chernobyl power plant in Pripyat, Ukraine – at that time, part of the Soviet Union – in 1986. It was the result of an experiment conducted by the plant’s engineers to determine whether or not Chernobyl’s cooling pump system could still function under low power if auxiliary electricity were to ever fail. A catastrophic decision to disable Chernobyl’s safety systems during this experiment resulted in the reactor exploding and releasing irradiated steam and particulate matter into the atmosphere. The fallout from Chernobyl had the greatest impact on Ukraine and Belarus, although nuclear contamination from the explosion reached as far north as the Scandinavian Peninsula and as far west as the United Kingdom. Chernobyl’s reactor burned for nine days after the meltdown as well. Soil contamination resulting from the Chernobyl disaster is an ongoing concern, as is the increased incidence rate of cancer in northern Ukraine. In the wake of Chernobyl, Ukraine vowed to become a nuclear-free country. Its last nuclear reactor was shut down in 2000.
References:
“Acid Rain” (National Geographic) General article on how acid rain affects more than just forests and architecture http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain-overview/
“The Killer Fog that Blanketed London” by Christopher Kline (History) Historical article about the Great Long Smog of 1952 http://www.history.com/news/the-killer-fog-that-blanketed-london-60-years-ago
“UK air pollution: How bad is it?” (BBC) Article detailing the current state of the United Kingdom’s air quality http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26851399
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om-DG-yNYO8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdXtZFoYA_4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms4v0Ekvyuw
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/chernobyl-bg.html
https://www.britannica.com/event/Chernobyl-disaster
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