Human Impact on the Environment

A. Sustainability and Environmental Policy (17.11, 17.13)

1. Sustainability

a. Ecological Footprint

b. Overpopulation

2. Predict Human Impact on Environmental Systems including, but not limited to:

a. Air

i. Acid rain

ii. Smog

iii. Ozone depletion

iv. Climate change

b. Water

i. Eutrophication

ii. Ocean acidification

iii. Biomagnification

c. Land

i. Deforestation

ii. Erosion

iii. Desertification

d. Invasive species

B. Cost and Benefits of Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources (17.11)

1. Renewable (e.g. Wind, Solar)

2. Non-Renewable (e. g. Fossil Fuels)

OBJECTIVES

A. Predict how the actions of humans may impact environmental systems and affect sustainability.

• Explain why monitoring of environmental parameters when making policy decisions is necessary.

B. Evaluate the environmental costs and benefits of using renewable and nonrenewable resources.

• Identify ways in which a scientific claim is evaluated

Vocabulary:

sustainability, habitat, erosion, desertification, deforestation, eutrophication, urbanization, bioaccumulation, biomagnification, ozone depletion, fossil fuels, acid rain, smog, nonrenewable resource, renewable resource, conservation

Human Overpopulation

How to share and renew resources

Energy Conservation

Managing waste

Managing populations

Loss of fertile lands (desertification, topsoil loss)

Loss of Biodiversity (Extinctions)

Deforestation

Urban Sprawl

Endangered Species Act

Illegal Animal Trade

Exotic (Invasive) Species

Overfishing

Global Warming / Climate Change

Greenhouse Gases

How are temperatures measured?

How can we respond to changing temperatures?

Air Pollution / Water Pollution

Acid Rain

Clean Air Act

Nitrification of Lakes (Runoff)

Sources of Clean Water

Ozone hole (Chloroflourocarbons)

Toxins in the environment (DDT) & biological magnification