Download Ecological Concerns

Ecological Concerns
Topic *1012 *1014 *1017 *1093
Ms. Morris
Acid Rain



Rain with a pH less than 5.6
Pollutant gasses react with moisture
More of a problem in eastern US
– Why?
Wind
Movement!!!

The weather
starts collecting
particles on the
west side of the
US, and
deposits them
on the east
side!!
Ozone Depletion



Caused by UV (ultraviolet) light
breaking a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
bond
Ozone is 731 miles above the earth
Ozone depletion causes an increase in
the amount of UV rays reaching the
surface
Ozone Depletion
Global Warming

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other
greenhouse gasses trap in sun light
and warms the Earth
Ideally

All or most of
the suns rays
would reflect
off the earth
and leave the
atmosphere
Actually

The layer of
greenhouse
gasses trap
sunlight in,
heating the
Earth
Species Loss & Habitat
Destruction


Remember the food web?
What would happen if we took just
one species out?
Species Loss & Habitat
Destruction

Removing one species from the food
web:
– Decreases genetic diversity
– Some surviving species become
threatened or endangered
Rainforests and Wetlands

These are the most beneficial biomes
– Wetlands help control flooding
– Both support lots of life forms



LARGE species diversity of all life
forms in both areas
Wetlands are being industrialized
Rainforests are being cut down
Wetlands in Yellowstone
Image: www.ucmp.berkeley.edu
Questions




Explain what pH has to do with acid
rain.
Why is acid rain a bigger problem in
the eastern US?
What are CFC’s, and why should we be
worried about them?
Turn this in to Ms. Morris by the
end of the class (10 points).