How Human Activities affect the Environment

1. How Human Activities affect the Environment

2. Deforestation Definitionlarge areas of land are logged Problems • flooding • landslides and mudslides can occur • topsoil is washed away • trees are also an important component of the water cycle • forests home to a large number of animals

4. Strip Mining Definitionsurface mining that involves excavating earth, rock, and other material Problems • water pollution • landslides • fires • hazards to public health and safety

5. Interactive Poster http://www.energiaklub.hu/dl/interaktiv/fossil.swf

7. Over harvesting Definitionremoval of plants or animals to the point that it is challenging to maintain viable population level Problems • imbalance in the food chain • coming to an end or dying out of a species

9. Pollution Definitionadding harmful substances or products into the environment including • water • air • soil • noise Problems • respiratory diseases in human beings • migratory birds may change their course • decrease in a number of large life forms • noise pollution leads to increase in stress, anxiety and problems related to hearing

10. Brain Pop Air Pollution http://www.brainpop.com/science/ourfragileenvironment/airpollution/ Water Pollution http://www.brainpop.com/science/ourfragileenvironment/waterpollution/

12. Acid Rain Definitionprecipitation (rain, snow, or sleet) containing  high concentrations of acid-forming chemicals (coal smoke, chemical manufacturing) that have been released into the atmosphere and combined with water vapor Problems • damage of trees at high elevations • decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures • harmful to public health

13. Experiments on Acid Rain Experiment 1 1.   Place a piece of chalk in pan. 2.   Using an eyedropper, have one student drop vinegar      onto the chalk in a constant stream. 3.   Observe the fizzing on the surface of the chalk      when the vinegar is dropped. 4.   Notice the crumbling of the chalk.

14. Experiment 2

16. Oil Spills Definitionan accidental release of oil Problems • hypothermia in birds and marine mammals • marine mammals and birds become easy prey • birds and animals sink or drown • wild life can not feed due to contamination of their environment • damage to the insides of animals and birds bodies

17. United Streaming Oil Spills [01:47] http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=24E13239-7B72-4D62-9B84-70D4A3CEE511&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

19. Ozone Depletion Definitiona decrease in the ozone that protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun caused by man-made chemicals that are released in the atmosphere Problems • UV rays can destroy a type of bacteria known as Cyanobacteria which produces much of Earth's oxygen. • Exposure to  harmful  UV rays can cause skin cancer and cataracts. • An excess level of UV rays could lead to the death of the phytoplanktons, that are an important component of the food web of the oceans.

21. Global Warming Definitionincrease in the temperatures of the earth due to release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from industries and vehicles Problems • Glacier melting causes flooding to the low lying areas including Bangladesh, parts of Africa and even major cities like London and New York. • changing weather patterns around the world

22. Brain Pop http://www.brainpop.com/science/ourfragileenvironment/globalwarming/

24. EekoWorld http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/index.html?load=air_water