Transcript Document

Environment, Climate,
Weather, Natural Disasters
Climate
=long – term summary of weather changes
• Klima (greek word) – refers to the
inclination of the sun
• It plays a significant role in many
psychological processes, growth and
influences people´s health
• Humans affect climate, too (emission of
pollutants and chemicals)
Climatic zones
•
•
•
•
•
Tropical
Subtropical
Temperate (Czech Rep.)
Cold
Polar
Seasons
Seasons of the year
• Spring (snow melts, nature awakens,
trees blossom, gardens and woods are full
of flowers that bloom – crocuses, tulips,
white snowflakes, snowdrops,… the
weather is unpredictable)
Summer – bright and clear sky, grass is
wet in the morning, refreshing breeze,
strong wind, storms (thunder, lightning),
it drizzles, rains, pours, it even hails,
season of harvesting, picking up
mushrooms, blueberries,…)
There was a heatwave last week.
It´ s close today.
• Autumn – leaves become yellow, orange, brown
and red, trees shed their leaves and become
bare, conifers remain dark green.
• Birds flock together and set out on a journey,
days get shorter, the sky is often cloudy, it is
damp, slippery, muddy, misty or foggy.
• It sleets, there is slash in the streets, people
avoid puddles.
• Winter – 21 December, lakes and streams
freeze up, snow covers hills and valleys
• Snowy, cloudy, frosty weather
• Icicles hang from the roofs
• Snowstorms
• Snowdrifts pile up along the streets
• Streets get icy
Natural disasters
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tornado
Flood
Hurricane (America)
Volcanic erruption
Blizzard
Avalanche
Drought
Earthquake
Tsunami
Fire
Typhoon (Asia)
Cyclone (The Indian Ocean)
Environmental Issues
• Pollution – air, water, soil
• Chemicals –
sulphur dioxide SO2)
nitrogen oxide (NO)
carbon dioxide (CO2)
Cause serious changes in the environment, can
lead to climatic changes
Air pollution
• the biggest problem in big cities, industrial
areas
• Acid rain – poisonous oxidants gradually
kill trees and plants
• Trees are vitally important for us, they are
lungs of our planet (they absorb carbon
dioxide from the air and give out oxygen in
return)
Water pollution
•
•
•
•
80% planet covered by oceans
Pesticides
Fertilizers used in agriculture
Sewage
• Save water!
Current Issues
• In 1992 – a document World Scientists
Warning to Humanity was released ( the
message was clear):
• „Human beings and the natural world are
on a collision course.“
The Ozone Layer
• Dramatic consequences – p. 56
• The ozone layer forms a thin shield high
up in the sky. It protects life on Earth from
the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.
• In the 1980s, scientists began finding
clues that the ozone layer was going away
or being depleted.
• This allows more UV radiation to reach the
Earth's surface - greater chance of getting
too much UV radiation.
• Too much UV can cause bad health
effects like skin cancer, eye damage, and
get you sick easier.
• (CFCs) were used a lot in industry and
elsewhere to keep things cold, make foam,
and soaps.
• Strong winds carry CFCs into the
stratosphere.
The Greenhouse Effect
• Global warming
• The greenhouse effect is the rise in
temperature because certain gases in the
atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide,
nitrogen oxide, and methane, for example)
trap energy from the sun.
• Because of how they warm our world,
these gases are referred to as greenhouse
gases.
• The greenhouse effect is important.
• the Earth would not be warm enough for
humans to live without it (temp. would be about 18C)
• But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger,
it could make the Earth warmer than usual.
• Even a little extra warming may cause problems
for:
humans, plants, and animals and the sea levels
would rise.
Population Growth
• Especially in developing countries
• More natural resources are used up
• In developed world literacy has increased,
women are more equal to men, birth
control is more available (contraceptive
pills)
Species Extinction
• 4000 species die out every year
• Almost every day there is one species
which becomes extinct
• The main cause: destruction of natural
habitats – the tropical rainforests and the
coral reefs
Animal and Plant Protection
• Some animals are protected (bats,
badgers), others are bred in captivity
(otters,owls,…) before they are released
to the wild
• The establishment of NP and nature
reserves – can provide protection and
opportunities for outdoor activities
• CZ- Czech Switzerland, Šumava,
Krkonoše NP, Podyjí
• Aye-ayes are in the same family as
people, monkeys and apes.
• They live in the trees.
• They sleep in the day and are awake at
night.
• Big eyes help them see at night.
• Aye-ayes have a long finger to catch
insects inside trees.
• What is an aye-aye?
Endagered Animals
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bald Eagle
Gorrila
Walrus
Cheetah
Lynx
Turtle
Koala
Panda
Energy Production
• We need too much energy
• We must find other sources of energy
• Alternative sources of energy (solar, water,
wind, geothermal, tidal)
Topical issues today
•
•
•
•
Re-using
Recycling
Energy recovery
Sort out waste
What can you personally do to
protect th environment?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Save water
Save energy
Sort out waste
Use sprays without CFCs
Use unleaded petrol
Use cars with catalytic converters
Put litter into litter bins, not in the streets
Not be noisy in the woods
Not use fertilizers in the garden
Use public transport…
Environmentalists
•
•
•
•
Greenpeace
Children of the Earth
DUHA
Zdraví pro Krupku…
• Should we take care of our environment?
To be continued…