Chapter 36: Environmental Concerns
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CHAPTER 36: ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
LECTURE OUTLINE
36.1 Human Use of Resources
A resource is anything from the biotic or abiotic environment that helps meet certain basic human needs. Nonrenewable resources are limited in supply. Renewable resources are not limited in supply. A side effect of resource consumption can be pollution. Land Use Change People need a place to live. Beaches and Human Habitation At least 40% of the world population lives within 100 km of a coastline. Beach Erosion An estimated 70% of the world’s beaches are eroding. Humans carry on activities that contribute to the rising of the seas and erosion of beaches. Coastal Pollution The coast is particularly subject to pollution. Semiarid Lands and Human Habitation Desertification is the conversion of semiarid land to desertlike conditions. Tropical Rain Forests and Human Habitation Deforestation, the removal of trees, has long allowed humans to live in areas where forests once covered the land. Tropical rain forests are subject to desertification because soil in the tropics is thin and nutrient-poor. Loss of Biodiversity Development in tropical rain forests leads to loss of biodiversity. Water In some areas of the world, people do not have ready access to drinking water, and if they do, the water may be impure. Increasing Water Supplies Certain areas of the world do not have a renewable supply of water. Dams Dams catch precipitation runoff, provide water for land irrigation, and generate electricity. They are not without drawbacks, however. Aquifers To meet their freshwater needs, people are pumping vast amounts of water from underground aquifers. Environmental Consequences Removal of water is causing land subsidence and saltwater intrusion into the aquifers. Conservation of Water Reusing water and adopting conservation measures could help the world’s industries cut their
CHAPTER 36: ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
LECTURE OUTLINE
36.1 Human Use of Resources
A resource is anything from the biotic or abiotic environment that helps meet certain basic human needs. Nonrenewable resources are limited in supply. Renewable resources are not limited in supply. A side effect of resource consumption can be pollution. Land Use Change People need a place to live. Beaches and Human Habitation At least 40% of the world population lives within 100 km of a coastline. Beach Erosion An estimated 70% of the world’s beaches are eroding. Humans carry on activities that contribute to the rising of the seas and erosion of beaches. Coastal Pollution The coast is particularly subject to pollution. Semiarid Lands and Human Habitation Desertification is the conversion of semiarid land to desertlike conditions. Tropical Rain Forests and Human Habitation Deforestation, the removal of trees, has long allowed humans to live in areas where forests once covered the land. Tropical rain forests are subject to desertification because soil in the tropics is thin and nutrient-poor. Loss of Biodiversity Development in tropical rain forests leads to loss of biodiversity. Water In some areas of the world, people do not have ready access to drinking water, and if they do, the water may be impure. Increasing Water Supplies Certain areas of the world do not have a renewable supply of water. Dams Dams catch precipitation runoff, provide water for land irrigation, and generate electricity. They are not without drawbacks, however. Aquifers To meet their freshwater needs, people are pumping vast amounts of water from underground aquifers. Environmental Consequences Removal of water is causing land subsidence and saltwater intrusion into the aquifers. Conservation of Water Reusing water and adopting conservation measures could help the world’s industries cut their