Change is in the Air: How are changes in the atmosphere altering our environment?

1. Change is in the Air: How are changes in the atmosphere altering our environment?

2. Key Points: • The terrible 3 changes in our atmosphere • Ozone Layer Depletion • Acid Precipitation • Global Climate Change • Possible environmental solutions • REAL Framework

3. Issue #1:Ozone Layer Depletion • What is it? • The OZONE LAYER is in our upper atmosphere • It absorbs harmful ULTRAVIOLET (UV) RAYS from the sun. • What do UV rays do? • Cause skin cancers and eye problems • Damages or kills animal and plant species

4. Hole in the Ozone! Where is this?

5. Cause of Ozone Layer Depletion CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS(CFCs) • A chemical that destroys the ozone layer • CFC’s are found in older refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosol cans

6. SURPRISE! Things are getting better…. • The MONTREAL PROTOCOL (signed in Canada in 1987) • Encouraged countries to put a ban on all products that produce CFC’s • Since the ban, countries have been cooperating • By 2009, 97% of all CFCs have been phased out Hopefully if improvements continue the ozone layer will heal!

7. Issue #2Acid Precipitation Poison Rain

8. Effects of Acid Rain • Forests, plants and soils become highly acidic and die • Water and lakes become toxic • Buildings and stone are worn down

9. Who is Affected? Why do you think most Acid Rain is concentrated in the north central part of Canada?

10. Issue # 3: Global Climate ChangeWhat exactly is it? • Watch the short film clip. What does the film say: • Are the causesof GCC? • Are the effects of GCC? • Are solutions for GCC?

11. Global Climate Change: Definition: • Global climate change is a change in the long-term weather patterns that characterize the regions of the world.

12. Here’s the dirty truth: • The world temperature has risen 0.74C in the past 100 years • The ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctic are melting with increasing speed • Canadians have some of the worst CARBON FOOTPRINTS in the world

13. Do you know the cause of Global Climate Change? • Do you think you will be able to a give a better answer than these guys?

14. The Greenhouse EffectHuman Causes: Industrial and Technological Development • FACTORY EMISSIONS and other FOSSIL FUEL burning mechanisms • DEFORESTATION of “the lungs of the earth” • Melting PERMAFROST releases lots of CO2 Problem: • These activities release a massive amount of chemicals into the atmosphere called GREENHOUSE GASES

15. Major Greenhouse Gases

16. THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

17. Who is causing Global Warming?

18. Climate Change Brainstorm: • Task: • INDENDENTLY, Use your brainstorm, the maps provided and your text pgs. 440-443 to identify the major possible Effects of Global Climate Change Think: Chain Reaction

19. Possible Effects of Climate Change • Warmer Oceans Temperatures : Destruction of sea life • Increase in natural disasters: Increase in poverty • Rising Sea Levels : Estimated 25 million environmental refugees 4. Shift in Seasons: Longer growing season 5. Drought & Flooding : Food shortage and increased pressure on fresh water supply 6. Increase in pests & infectious diseases

20. Water:We need it to live….

21. Water: Where is it? • Water covers 70% of the earth’s surface • All of the water on earth circulates through the water cycle, and takes on different forms • Only 2.5% of the world’s water is fresh water • Most fresh water is locked in glaciers, ice sheets or underground and is difficult to access

22. Where do we get fresh water? • The water we use is either: • Groundwater found in Aquifers and underground streams (majority that exists) • Can be difficult to access • Surface water from lakes, rivers, melting glaciers (majority that we use)

23. Ogallala Aquifer • One of the largest aquifers in the world • Provides 30% of the groundwater used for agricultural irrigation in the U.S. • Is depleting quickly because of heavy use for agriculture and watering golf courses

24. Major Threats to Fresh Water • OVERUSE • POLLUTION

25. Major Threats to Fresh Water Pollution • Urban environments • Waste from factories and mills • Household wastewater • Contains detergent, human waste, prescription drugs • Sewage causes growth of algae and weeds • Agricultural chemicals • Pesticides and Herbicides • Oil Refineries • Logging, mining, construction Overuse • Increasing Population • Rising living standards • More people eating foods like meat • Falling groundwater tables • Groundwater does not replenish quickly • Diversion of water for agricultural irrigation: • #1 use of fresh water • Increased demand for food • Overpumping of ground water with more advanced technology • Industrial use: oil sands, factories

26. What can we do to better manage our water sources? • R: Realistic • Repair leaks in homes and public spaces • Install water meters to monitor water use • Operate dishwashers and laundry-machines only when fully-loaded • E: Educate • Implement public education programs • Include water issues in school curriculum • A: Alternatives • Minimize effects of tanker accidents by changing tanker design • Install water-conserving devices • Faucets, toilets, showers • L: Legislate • Implement water restrictions • Create economic incentives for water-conserving devices • Create regulations that restrict the threat of: • Herbicides, Pesticides • Industrial Pollution • Sewage

27. So what do we do?Think: SUSTAINABILITY • SUSTAINABILITY: • An approach to RESOURCE MANAGEMENT where decisions are made to ensure resources last for generations to come with minimum long-term effects on the environment

28. Here is a framework that will help you identify solutions to environmental problems. “REAL” SOLUTIONS Realistic Solutions Educate the public Alternatives can be helpful Legislate – laws and regulations • Think of an example for each for solutions to global water issues

29. Let’s apply REAL to the problems facing our environment: How could you: • Change your lifestyle to have a more environmental ‘carbon footprint’ (Individual Solution) • Support or lobby for changes that our government could implement in our country (National Solution) • Brainstorm ways that the global world could work together to enact positive change (Global Solution)