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HUMAN IMPACT ON THE LITHOSPHERE AGRICULTURE • • • Agriculture-The cultivation of other life forms for food purposes Land must be cleared for agriculture makes area less diverse Monoculture-Only one species is present • • Easier for farmers to maintain Less cost efficient AGRICULTURE • Pesticides-Chemicals designed to protect crops from parasites • Pesticides can runoff into streams or seep into the groundwater • Pesticides can harm organisms Offset food chains AGRICULTURE • Irrigation-Process where farmers supply water to dry land in order to help the growing of crops • Helps saturate very dry land • Prevents farmers from having to rely on rainfall AGRICULTURE • Problems with irrigation: • Groundwater runs out (Aquifer depletion) • Ground sinks due to depleted groundwater (San Joaquin Valley) • Over irrigation may cause water to mix with pesticides and cause water pollution DEFORESTATION • Deforestation-Process where trees are removed and not replanted • Done in order to clear area for construction • Trees are also used for products such as paper, firewood DEFORESTATION • As trees are removed the topsoil is weakened • This causes an increase in erosion due to soil not being held in place DEFORESTATION • If more trees are cut down then carbon dioxide will increase and oxygen levels will decrease • Photosynthesis will stop • If trees are burned that also releases carbon dioxide Could lead to global warming URBANIZATION • Urbanization is the growth of cities as more people move from rural areas to urban areas • 70% of people in North America live in a city • By 2025-5 Billion people will live in cities URBANIZATION • Effects of Urbanization on the environment • Destroys ecosystems – Forests are cleared and wetlands are filled • Increased erosion • More factories More emissions More greenhouse gases SOLUTIONS • Barriers around construction sites to catch eroded sediment • Keep sediment from polluting streams • Modern landfills minimize leakage. Ventilation at landfills cipher out toxic gases MOUNTAINSIDES • Mountaintop removal miningDestructive form of surface mining that blasts away the tops of mountains to acquire resources • Done in the Appalachian Mountains • Massive transport trucks • Burning coal for power releases pollutants
