Transcript Chapter 1
Introduction to AP Environmental Science Chapter 1 Grading the first practice FRQ Three things that should be considered for every FRQ, especially pollution based FRQ’s What Cause What is the cause of the environmental problem How Effect How exactly is the cause related to the effect Who Exactly who is affected? Today’s objective Students will understand the origin, nature, and extent of current environmental issues Environmental Science Study of human interaction with earth, how earth works, how we deal with environmental problems Combines biology, chemistry, geology, geography, econ, physics, politics, ethics, demography, political science Three words commonly misused on the APES exam Economic Monetary aspect Environmental All living/nonliving things that affect any organism Ecological Relationships between living things and their environment Sustainability Major theme of the course Sustainable society: meets basic needs of its people in a just and equitable manner without degrading the natural capital that supplies these resources. Leaves resources available for future generations. What is Natural Capital? Natural Capital: The natural resources and natural services that keep us and other species alive AND support our economies. Not fixed Has changed over millions of years in response to environmental changes Degradation In order to be sustainable we must understand that certain human activities degrade natural capital What is Solar Capital? Sun Supports natural capital Warms earth Photosynthesis Indirect forms of solar energy Wind Flowing Biofuels water NATURAL CAPITAL = NATURAL RESOURCES + NATURAL SERVICES NATURAL RESOURCES NATURAL SERVICES NATURAL SERVICES NATURAL RESOURCES Air purification Air *Natural Resources: materials and energy in nature Water purification Water Water storage Soil Soil renewal Nutrient recycling Land NATURAL CAPITAL *Natural Services: function of nature (these essential services are provided at no cost) = Life (Biodiversity) + Food production Conservation of biodiversity Nonrenewable minerals (iron, sand) Wildlife habitat Grassland and forest renewal Renewable energy sun, wind, water flows Waste treatment Nonrenewable energy (fossil fuels, nuclear power) Climate control Population control (species interactions Pest Control Fig. 1-4, p. 9 How do we degrade natural capital? One of the main ways we degrade natural capital is simply in our efforts to supply resources to an ever growing population! Clocks: http://www.poodwaddle.com/clocks/wo rldclock/ Types of population growth Exponential Logistic Living in an Exponential Age Human population growth: J-shaped curve Figure 1-1 Exponential vs. Linear Exponential growth is currently occurring with our population Starts increasing slowly, then rapidly 10,000 years ago: 5 million World Pop.Today: 7.1 billion By 2100: 9-10 billion 1,250 $1,024,000 growth straight line 1,000 Thousands of dollars Linear Exponential growth ($1,000 invested at 10% Per year interest) 750 Linear growth (saving $1,000 Per year) $70,000 10 0 10 20 30 40 Years 50 60 70 Fig. 1.2, p. 4 Slid e 2 Growth Rates Growth rate is slowing but still exp. growing 1963-2006: 2.2% 2006: 1.23% Today: ~1.14% 97% of projected inc. in the world’s pop. will be in developing countries Growth rate = birth rate – death rate Carrying Capacity The maximum size of a population an area can support and maintain over a period of time Carrying Capacity Carrying capacity of the Earth for people is around 12 billion. What may affect that number? Impact of Human Pop. Growth Extinction of organisms: 0.1 – 1 % exponential rate per year Losing habitat leads to less biodiversity Ex. Coral reefs, wetlands, grasslands, forests What other things could increase the rate of extinction besides habitat loss? World Population reached 1 billion in 1804 2 billion in 1927 (123 years later) 3 billion in 1960 (33 years later) 4 billion in 1974 (14 years later) 5 billion in 1987 (13 years later) 6 billion in 1999 (12 years later) World Population May Reach 7 billion in 2013 (14 years later) Actually, we hit 7 billion people on October 31st 2011! This is an old estimate 8 billion in 2028 (15 years later) 9 billion in 2054 (26 years later) Fig. 1.3, p. 5 Memorize World this for the AP test: population: about 7 billion + U.S. population: about 320 million Doubling Time Rule of 70 divide 70 by the percent growth rate and you will find how long it takes the population to double. 70/1.23(current growth rate approx.) = 57 yrs What have we learned so far? In your notes, summarize today’s presentation What information did you find new? What was most interesting?? Did we meet our objective? Students will understand the origin, nature, and extent of current environmental issues Today’s objective Students will understand the origin, nature, and extent of current environmental issues Populations and Economy Developed - highly industrialized 20% population, 85% wealth, 88% resources, 75% pollution and waste, high GNP per capita Developing - low to moderate industrialization 80% population, 15% wealth, 12% resources, 15% pollution and waste, low GNP per capita Resources Renewable - can be replenished in a lifetime (wind) Potentially renewable - can be renewable if we change our current habits (soil) Nonrenewable Earth (minerals) - only a fixed amount on Resources Perpetual Direct solar energy Nonrenewable Winds, tides, flowing water Fossil fuels Metallic minerals Nonmetallic minerals (iron, copper, aluminum) (clay, sand, phosphates) Renewable Fresh air Fresh water Fertile soil Plants and animals (biodiversity) Fig. 1.11, p. 11 Per Captia Ecological Footprint (Hectares of land per person) Country 10.9 United States 5.9 The Netherlands India 1.0 Fig. 1.10a, p. 11 Calculations With a partner, calculate the ecological footprint of each of the countries listed. Are there any surprises? Can you explain the results? Country Total Ecological Footprint (Hectares) 3 billion hectares United States The Netherlands India 94 million hectares 1 billion hectares Fig. 1.10b, p. 11 Major Environmental Degradation of Potentially Renewable Resources Urbanization Salinization of soil Wetland destruction Groundwater depletion Livestock overgrazing Poor soil management Deforestation Pollution Reduction of biodiversity Production rate of resource Area under curve equals the total amount of the resource. Economic depletion (80% used up) Time Fig. 1.12, p. 13 Pollutants Point source vs. nonpoint source concentration - ppm, ppb, ppt persistence - degradable, slowly degradable (DDT) or nondegradable $ Always less expensive to prevent, instead of trying to clean up. Causes of Environmental Problems Rapid population growth wasteful use of resources degradation of earth’s life support systems poverty failure to encourage environmentally and economically sustainable growth lack of full cost pricing human urge to “conquer” mother nature • • • • • • • Air Pollution Global climate change Stratospheric ozone depletion Urban air pollution Acid deposition Outdoor pollutants Indoor pollutants Noise Biodiversity Depletion • Habitat destruction • Habitat degradation • Extinction Major Environmental Problems • • • • • • • • Water Pollution Sediment Nutrient overload Toxic chemicals Infectious agents Oxygen depletion Pesticides Oil spills Excess heat Waste Production • Solid waste • Hazardous waste Food Supply Problems • Overgrazing • Farmland loss and degradation • Wetlands loss and degradation • Overfishing • Coastal pollution • Soil erosion • Soil salinization • Soil waterlogging • Water shortages • Groundwater depletion • Loss of biodiversity • Poor nutrition Fig. 1.13, p. 14 Major Environmental Problems Air Pollution Water Pollution Biodiversity Depletion Food Supply Problems Waste Production • Rapid population growth • Unsustainable resource use • Poverty • Not including the environmental costs of economic goods and services in their market prices • Trying to manage and simplify nature with too little knowledge about how it works Fig. 1.14, p. 15 Developing Countries X Population (P) X X X Consumption per person (affluence, A) = Technological impact per unit of consumption (T) X X = Environmental impact of population (I) = Developed Countries Fig. 1.15, p. 15 What needs to happen to be sustainable Switch to pollution prevention, not cleanup switch to waste prevention and recycling protecting habitats instead of species environmental restoration of degraded areas lower resource use (less wasteful) ZPG - stabilized population What have we learned so far? In your notes, summarize today’s presentation What information did you find new? What was most interesting?? Did we meet our objective? Students will understand the origin, nature, and extent of current environmental issues