Our impact on earth
Earth Science - Middle School
Earth's Climate
Multimedia Lesson
Sources of Energy
Presentation
Mineral Resources
Presentation
Mining and the Environment
Presentation
Use of Minerals
Presentation
Climate Change
Presentation
Global Warming
Presentation
Ozone depletion
Presentation
Our impact on earth
Study Guide
Our impact on earth
Quiz
Our impact on earth
Flash Cards
Our impact on earth
Worksheet
Our impact on earth
Game
Our impact on earth
Vocabulary List
Climate Change
Flip Chart
Global Warming
Flip Chart
Ozone Depletion
Flip Chart
Earth’s Climate Vocabulary Review
Flip Chart
Study Guide Our impact on earth
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OUR IMPACT ON THE EARTH Pollution Any waste substance that is added to a natural system in amounts greater than that natural system can break it down or eliminate it is called pollution. The waste substance itself is the pollutant. A primary pollutant is one that is put directly into the air, land or water. Ash from a volcano, even though it is naturally produced, is considered to be a primary pollutant. Primary pollutants created by humans include carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from internal combustion engines and ash and soot from incinerators, to name just a few. A secondary pollutant is one that forms by the chemical reaction of primary pollutants with other molecules in the atmosphere. Smog is a dramatic example of secondary pollution. Car exhaust is put into the atmosphere (primary pollution) which reacts with air and sunlight to form ozone. The ozone then reacts with more exhaust to form smog. Sunlight is a key component of the formation of smog. Regions that have a combination of very sunny climates and a large volume of automobile exhaust have higher smog levels and the health risks that go with it. Acid precipitation is another secondary pollutant. Sulfur and nitrogen compounds are put into the atmosphere when coal and other fossil fuels are burned. They react with water in the atmosphere to form acids. These acids react with certain rocks, primarily marble, and rapidly deteriorate the marble (this is very evident in cemeteries where marble headstones are turning black and are literally crumbling). These acids also accumulate over time in streams and ponds, making the waters increasingly acidic and killing plant and animal life. Another way to classify pollution is by its source. Point-source pollution is pollution that begins at an identifiable place, such as a drainpipe from a factory of a leak in a gasoline storage tank. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Nonpoint-source pollution is pollution that comes from a large area. Pollution such as fertilizers, pesticides, drainage from mines and mine waste piles, and more are washed away by rain and ground water. Water that falls on the surface and runs downhill is called runoff. Runoff carries polluting chemicals and materials with it. Nonpoint- source pollution contaminates lakes, rivers, streams and, ultimately, the ocean. Air Pollution and the Greenhouse Effect The burning of fossil fuels for various forms of energy creates millions of tons of primary pollution that is poured into the atmosphere. Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, like water vapor and carbon dioxide, hold heat energy near the Earth’s surface. This process, called the greenhouse effect, occurs naturally and is the mechanism by which heat is trapped near Earth’s surface, contributing to Earth’s habitable environment. However, there is evidence that growing levels of carbon dioxide created by burning fossil fuels are enhancing this process and leading to dramatically harmful environmental changes. The gases, like carbon dioxide, that create the greenhouse effect are greenhouse gases. The greenhouse effect is similar to the interior environment of a car that has been parked in the sun with all its windows closed. The solar radiation causes the temperature (heat) to increase inside the car. However, the heat is not able to escape, so the interior temperature rises. Studies are ongoing (and will have to be for many decades) but the evidence suggests that there is a measurable rise in average global temperatures. The results of global warming are measured in environmental changes. The Polar ice cap at the North Pole is shrinking. Regional weather patterns are changing. Some desert regions are growing. Should a global warming trend continue, some scientists predict that melting glacial ice and polar ice caps will cause ocean levels to rise and literally flood the coastlines. Other possible outcomes could be increased hurricane activity, long-term droughts and the extinction of species as their habitats and food sources dwindle. Geologic evidence shows that the Earth has undergone cycles of cooling and warming throughout its history. It is possible there is a natural element involved in what appears to be a current trend of global warming. We are also increasingly aware that human activity is also potentially contributing to this trend. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Conservation The three “R’s” of conservation are as important today as ever: reduce, reuse and recycle. The early 21st century has shown how vulnerable energy resources are to geopolitical events and pressures. Oil prices can skyrocket in very short periods of time. Oil production can drop as quickly. The result is that oil and petroleum products can become expensive very quickly. In addition, there is a growing understanding of global warming and the greenhouse gases produced from burning fossil fuels. All these factors are incentive for conservation and the benefits of reducing oil consumption. Careful analysis of water use in the home has revealed that there are many areas in which water usage and waste can be reduced in every home. As this pie chart reveals, wasted water through leaks alone consumes almost 14% of the overall water consumption. The largest percentage of water consumption is literally flushed down the drain. Low-volume toilets can immediately and dramatically reduce water consumption. Though this pie chart is specific to a specific community, it serves well as a reflection of water consumption in general. A growing number of families and individuals are recycling materials whenever possible. Consciousness of recycling resources is increasingly common in American society today. Businesses built around recycling are also growing in size and number. Plastics from bottles, for instance, are being reused to make plastic “lumber” for park benches, toys and other products. There was a day, not too long ago, that Americans were essentially consumers (use the product, throw away the rest). Our cultural attitudes are changing and conservation is becoming more a part of our lifestyle and even our economy. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Water Pollution In most situations, usable, safe water can be replenished in a reasonable period of time. A natural resource that can be replenished is called a renewable resource. In most cases, water is a renewable resource. But overuse and pollution is threatening the water resources of a growing number of communities. Wise water management and reuse of water resources is increasingly important. Polluted wastewater from homes and businesses is gathered by many municipalities at a treatment facility. At the treatment facility, both particulate matter and dissolved matter are removed from the water and the water is treated to make it safe to be returned to the environment. • The first step of the treatment process, primary treatment, is the removal of larger pieces of material like rocks and rags. • Once the large particles are removed, the remaining water proceeds to secondary treatment where the water is aerated and bacteria is introduced to consume biological material that is dissolved in and floating in the water. Remaining smaller particles are eventually allowed to settle out of the water. • The water is eventually treated with chlorine to purify it before it is returned to the environment. Raw sewage is the liquid and solid waste that is washed down drains or flushed away by toilets. The solid material removed from raw sewage is sludge. Sludge is not necessarily purified solid waste. The sludge collected in the primary stages of water purification is simply solid material that has been physically separated from the water. This sludge is not chemically treated in any way. Despite national and international laws, sludge (and in many places, raw sewage) is dumped directly into the oceans and other waterways. Sewage and sludge dumping in the oceans creates a situation called nutrient loading. The biological waste material is a rich source of nutrition for algae. With a massive addition of food, the algae grows uncontrollably. Dissolved oxygen in the ocean water is then depleted which in turn suffocates fish and other marine organisms. In addition, sludge and sewage pollution raises bacteria levels in ocean water which can poison beaches, shellfish, and, ultimately, humans. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
The dumping of tons of solid waste directly into the ocean has been practiced for many decades. It was assumed that solid waste would either sink to the bottom of the ocean or be broken up by waves to a size that would essentially eliminate them. This polluting practice, however, has proven to create considerable problems. Trash, including medical waste like hypodermic needles and used medical products, have too often washed up on beaches around the world. Also, other materials are dissolved in the ocean water. Fish consume these poisons and people, in turn, consume the fish. In 1972 the Clean Water Act was enacted. It was one of the first laws passed to control water pollution due to dumping of trash, garbage, and sludge. Though it did not end dumping, it put it under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency. This Act is important because it was a first step toward cleaner oceans. It prepared the way for future, more detailed laws. It was an official recognition that polluting the oceans is a significant issue that demands drastic changes in the ways we handle waste. The list of substances polluting our waters is, unfortunately, lengthy. One that has received significant attention in recent years is mercury pollution. Mercury is an element. It is the only metallic element that is liquid at room temperature. Some mercury is naturally released into the environment. The majority, however, is pollution produced mostly from burning coal and trash incineration. The mercury that is released into the atmosphere returns to Earth with rain. Mercury concentrations in the oceans, consequently, have been increasing. Fish absorb mercury that is then consumed by humans. When consumed in high enough quantities, it can cause mercury poisoning. Neurological damage is a typical result of mercury poisoning. Mercury poisoning has also been associated with growth abnormalities in children and, when it occurs in high enough concentrations, even death. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Table Of Contents: Earth’s Climate
1. Climate and Its Causes
2.1. What Is Climate?
The weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a specific time and place. The climate is the average weather of a region over an extended period of time. If you travel around the world, you will find many different climates.
2.2. Causes of Climate
Temperature and precipitation are the most important factors that impact climate. Temperature is influenced by latitude, altitude, large bodies of water, and ocean currents. Precipitation is influenced by winds and mountains.
2.3. Latitude Affects Temperature
The latitude of a region affects temperature. The sun’s radiation is most concentrated at the equator, resulting in warm temperatures. In polar regions, temperatures are much colder because the same amount of energy is spread across a larger amount of land.
2.4. Altitude Affects Temperature
Regions that are located at higher altitudes experience cooler temperatures. The air on top of a mountain is much cooler than the air at the base of a mountain because air temperature gets colder as you move to higher elevations in the troposphere.
2.5. Oceans and Lakes Affect Temperature
Oceans and large lakes influence the climate. Water heats and cools more slowly than land, helping moderate the temperature of nearby land. The California coast has mild temperatures due to warm air blowing from the Pacific Ocean.
2.6. Ocean Currents Affect Temperature
The ocean has surface currents that help distribute temperatures around the globe. Polar currents carry cool water toward the equator, and tropical currents carry warm water away from the equator. For example, the Gulf Stream creates warm air temperatures around southern Iceland and significantly impacts the climate of this region.
2.7. Prevailing Wind Affects Moisture
Prevailing winds blow primarily in one direction and influence the moisture in a region. Winds that travel across water are humid because they carry water vapor. Winds that travel across broad regions of land tend to be dry.
2.8. Mountains Affect Precipitation
Mountains play a role in the climate. Moisture-laden clouds that run into mountains are pushed upward. As the clouds cool, rain or snow occurs. When the clouds move down the other side of the mountains, the dry air creates a desert climate. This effect is called a rain shadow.
2.9. Seasons and the Earth’s Tilt
Seasonal weather occurs because the Earth is tilted on its axis as it rotates around the sun. Throughout the year, the Northern and Southern hemispheres will be either pointing toward or away from the sun. Land near the equator has year-round warm and humid climates, while regions further from the equator experience more dramatic temperature changes.
2. Pause and Interact
3.1. Review
Use the whiteboard tools to complete the activity.
3. Climate Zones and Biomes
4.1. Climate Zones
Climate zones are geographic regions with relatively similar temperature and precipitation. The Earth has three major climate zones—tropical, temperate and polar.
4.2. Biomes
The areas within a climate zone can be further divided into biomes. A biome is a large geographic region that is characterized by a particular climate and the organisms that live in this region.
4. The Tropical Zone
5.1. Tropical Zone
The tropical zone extends from the equator to 23.5 degrees in latitude, north and south. Temperatures are typically hot in this zone. The three biomes found in this region include rain forests, savannahs and deserts.
5.2. Tropical Rain Forest
Tropical rain forests have high rainfall and high temperatures throughout the year. Although rain forests are lush, the soil is nutrient-poor because frequent rains wash away the topsoil. More plant and animal species are found here than in any other biome.
5.3. Tropical Savannah and Desert
A tropical savannah is a hot grassland that has a wet and dry season. A savannah covers a large region across central Africa. Tropical deserts are hot and dry. Many desert animals and plants have adapted to live in this extreme environment. The soil is nutrient-poor in both of these biomes.
5. The Temperate Zone
6.1. Temperate Zone
The temperate zone is located between 23.5 and 66.5 degrees latitude, north and south. Although the biomes in the temperate zone experience four distinct seasons, they have a wide variety of temperatures and precipitation. The four biomes include the forest, grassland, chaparral and desert.
6.2. Temperate Forest and Grassland
Temperate forest biomes have plenty of rain and are known for their evergreen and deciduous trees. The soil is fertile due to the dropping and decaying of leaves every year. Temperate grasslands have little rainfall, and very few trees grow in these biomes. This biome has the most fertile soil, and many crops are grown in these areas.
6.3. Temperate Chaparral and Desert
Temperate chaparral regions are cool and wet in the winter and hot and dry in the summer. Primarily short evergreen shrubs grow in the chaparral’s rocky, nutrient-poor soil. The temperate desert has a year-round dry climate and the soil is nutrient-poor. This type of desert biome is hot during the day and cool overnight.
6. The Polar Zone
7.1. Polar Zone
The polar zone extends beyond 66.5 degrees latitude, both north and south. It is the zone with the coldest year-round climate. The tundra and taiga are the two biomes found in this zone.
7.2. Tundra
The tundra has very short growing seasons, with almost 24 hours of light during the summer and 24 hours of dark during the winter. The very top layer of soil will thaw, but remain muddy. All the soil below this is frozen, and is known as permafrost.
7.3. Taiga
The taiga is located south of the tundra, and is characterized by its coniferous forests. The soil is acidic, and few plants grow on the forest floor. The boundary between the tundra and taiga is called the tree line.
7. Pause and Interact
8.1. Review
Use the whiteboard tools to complete the activity.
8.2. Biomes
Follow the onscreen instructions.
8. Climate Change
9.1. Ice Ages
Scientists use geologic evidence to study how the Earth’s climate has changed over time. The Earth has experienced several ice ages, which are periods of cooling that last thousands of years.
9.2. Glacial and Interglacial Periods
The most recent ice age occurred about two million years ago. Throughout an ice age there are episodes called glacial and interglacial periods. Glacial periods experience global cooling and massive ice sheets develop and move south. Interglacial periods experience global warming and the edges of glaciers melt and retreat.
9.3. What Caused the Ice Ages?
Theories that attempt to explain the occurrence of ice ages include the Earth’s changing motion, continental movement due to plate tectonics, volcanic ash in the atmosphere, and the impact of an asteroid hitting the Earth’s surface. A combination of these theories may have influenced climate change over geologic time.
9. Global Warming
10.1. The Earth is Getting Warmer
The Earth is currently in an interglacial period of warming. Many scientists believe that human activity is playing a role in global climate change. An increase in the greenhouse effect could be contributing to warmer temperatures.
10.2. Greenhouse Effect
A natural phenomenon called the greenhouse effect heats the Earth’s surface. This effect occurs when energy from the sun reaches the Earth as electromagnetic radiation and causes material to heat up. Atmospheric gases absorb and re-radiate this heat, keeping it close to the Earth’s surface.
10.3. Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
The burning of fossil fuels and massive deforestation are both human activities that are contributing to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Increases in carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases enhance the greenhouse effect.
10.4. The Impact of Global Warming
Global warming leads to environmental changes that impact worldwide climates and biomes. Changing regional weather patterns, increasing global temperatures, and melting polar ice caps are evidence of a current global warming trend. These changes may affect crop growth, flooding, desert formation, and a rise in sea level.
10. Ozone depletion
11.1. A Thinning Ozone Layer
The ozone layer in the stratosphere protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. In the 1970s scientists noticed a thinning layer of ozone over Antarctica. Human-produced chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were the primary cause of this ozone depletion.
11.2. Ozone Layer Recovery
Through an international effort, the production and use of CFCs has decreased, but the ozone layer may not recover for many years. This is just one example of how humans and pollution can have a significant effect on the Earth’s atmosphere.
11. Vocabulary Review
12.1. Vocabulary Matching Review
The Earth is currently in an interglacial period of warming. Many scientists believe that human activity is playing a role in global climate change. An increase in the greenhouse effect could be contributing to warmer temperatures.
12. Virtual Investigation
13.1. Earth's Seasons
Seasonal weather varies at different locations on Earth and impacts the climate of a region. Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis as it revolves around the Sun. In this virtual investigation you will explore the sunlight's yearly patterns at different locations on Earth. Study the sunlight's patterns and analyze the data about each location to learn more about the relationship of seasons, the Earth's tilt, and the Earth's yearly orbit around the Sun.
13. Assessment
14.1. Earth's Climate
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