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How man has changed the earth kokoromitis
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- 2. Anthropocene-Reshaping the environment Humans arechanging the planet so fast that many scientists are now referring to this epoch as the Anthropocene Mountaintop coal mining, as seen here in West Virginia, has been excavating and hauling away the rock that used to top many area mountains. This is just one way that humans are reshaping the environment.
- 3. Earth’s history Through thecenturies, new layers accumulate above the older ones. Those layers of rock “record” the events that have shaped our planet. These events include the geology of a location. Rock also records the evolution of organisms that lived nearby.
- 4. The geologic recordis not a complete historical account. It is more like a diary that’s been tattered and torn. A few pages remain, but many have been destroyed by erosion, the collision of tectonic plates and the upheaval of mountains. The pale band of rock marks the end of one geologic time period (the Cretaceous) and start of the next (the Tertiary)
- 5. Changes through thecenturies Throughout Earth’s history, a host of different processes have shaped the planet. Our planet’s surface was pelted by rocks and asteroids that came from space, Continents drifted and many volcanoes erupted. The mix of gases in our planet’s atmosphere has changed. The chemical recipe of the sea water also changed. Therefore, life started to emerge— and steadily evolved in response to Earth’s constant changes. Life, in turn, reshaped the Earth.
- 6. Ways People AreAffecting the Environment Positively Captive Breeding and Release of Endangered Animals Protecting Native Species Cleaning Waterways Reforestation Efforts Finding Renewable Energy Sources Recycling
- 7. Captive Breeding and Releaseof Endangered Animals Nearly extinct animals are bred in protected environs. When the numbers are sufficient, they are reintroduced into the wild.
- 8. Protecting Native Species All theendangered animals are given protection by declaring certain areas of their native habitat as protected ones. This may help increase their numbers, as the protected natural habitats help them reproduce.
- 9. Cleaning Waterways Waterways getclogged up with the accumulation of natural debris and excessive plant growth, and also by waste dumping. Periodical clearing prevents flooding of the banks and protects many ecosystems.
- 10. Reforestation Efforts Reforestation is thenatural or intentional restoring of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation. Reforestation can be used to make up for or improve the quality of human life by absorbing pollution and dust from the air, rebuilding natural habitats and ecosystems and lessening global warming
- 11. Finding Renewable Energy Sources Therenewable energy sources are those which are regarded as infinite, meaning that they cannot run out. Some examples are wind power, solar energy and hydropower. Finding renewable sources can be beneficial, as they limit our dependence of non-renewable sources.
- 12. Recycling The foremost benefitof recycling is that it helps in protecting the environment in the most balanced manner, as recycled paper is re-used repeatedly in order to minimize deforestation. It also conserves natural resources, as there is no need to extract fresh raw materials from beneath the earth. It also reduces the amount of waste in landfills.
- 13. How Do HumansAffect the Environment negatively? Population Explosion Produce Waste Soil, Water and Air Pollution Global Warming and Ozone Layer Depletion
- 14. Population Explosion An increasein population makes excessive demands on natural resources, and increases the demand on agriculture and livestock. There are many negative impacts associated with population explosion. Chemical fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides that are used in agriculture to increase production actually pollute the air and contaminate the soil with toxic chemicals. Fertilizers cause toxic algal blooms, that is fast growth of algae in marine environments. Because some algae produce toxins, they can be harmful to humans and other animals. Monoculture keeps cost of production low, but it reduces biodiversity and negatively impacts the soil. Large scale farming of animals increases their susceptibility to diseases such as Mad-cow disease and avian flu. The greater distance food items have to travel to reach the consumer, the greater that transportation's impact is on the environment.
- 15. Waste production Humans arethe most polluting species, as we are generating far more waste than the Earth can cope with. Not everyone has understood the impact of recycling, and continue to throw away old products, phones, batteries, which pollute the environment when burned in landfills
- 16. Pollution Pesticides, herbicides, largelandfills, waste from food processing industries, and nuclear waste generated from nuclear reactors and weapons make the soil virtually lifeless. Furthermore, fragile ecosystems are damaged by fertilizer run offs and industrial waste. Moreover, burning fossil fuels and toxic gases cause pollution.
- 17. Global Warming and OzoneLayer Depletion Carbon footprint is the measure of direct or indirect CO2. Greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane that are produced by burning huge amount of waste in landfills and by burning fossil fuels are believed to lead to global warming. In addition, aerosols destroy the ozone layer that shields the earth from UV rays.
- 18. Results of GlobalWarming and Water Contamination Aral Sea, 1989 Aral Sea, 2008
- 19. The following areastonishing examples of how humans have reshaped the Earth :
- 20. 1.Straightened River vs. Meander Rivershave been crucial transport routes long before streets and highways were ever built. Straightening out their bends and meanders has made shipping easier, but it has left the surrounding lands more prone to floods.
- 21. 2.Alps vs. MountainForest Some forms of human land use have been practised for centuries creating landscapes that most people do not recognize as artificial anymore. Rearing cattle (left) has produced alpine pastures that, under normal circumstances, would be covered with mountain forests (right).
- 22. 3.Rice Paddy vs.Rainforest Rice is Asia's most important food crop. In 2004, world production amounted to some 600 million tons, most of it grown in Asia. The most common sort of rice is grown in paddies. The picture shows rice paddies in the mountains close to Manila and the Philippines (left). In Cambodia, for example, 90 percent of the total agricultural area is used for rice production. Without cultivation, this land would soon be transformed into dense rainforests (right).
- 23. 4.The Scottish Highlands Beforethe era of oil and concrete, wood had been the most important fuel and building material. The Romans logged large areas around the Mediterranean, sometimes creating entirely new ecosystems. The Scottish Highlands (left) are another example for such forceful change. Once covered with extensive forests (right: mountain forest in Idaho), they are now known for their bare hills and moorlands (left).
- 24. 5.Invasive Animals Wherever humanswent, they brought new species with them. Some came as pets, others to facilitate work and some, like rats, often hid in ships as stowaways. The picture on the left shows a squirrel in Cape Town's Company Gardens. Alien to the area, the animals were introduced for ornamental purposes around 1900. The endemic Black and White Ruffed Lemur (right) is among the endangered species in South Africa.
- 25. 6.Invasive Plants Exotic plantshave often been introduced as ornamental plants. While some species would not survive without humans, others have thrived well in new environments. Kudzu (left image), a vine from Japan, is an extreme example of the latter kind. Introduced in the U.S. in 1876, the plant is now considered a major pest weed that covers and suffocates trees (right) and crops.
- 26. Technology: how itis connected with the Earth’s changes
- 27. Technology Technology is thecollection of techniques, skills, methods and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.
- 28. Effects of technologyin the environment Technology has many effects. It has helped develop more advanced economies (including today's global economy) and has allowed the rise of a leisure class. Many technological processes produce unwanted by- products known as pollution and reduce natural resources to the detriment of Earth's environment. Furthermore, with the use of technology we can deal with nuclear energy and build plants that exploit natural resources.
- 29. Negative Effects ofTechnology on the Environment • Increase in Travel • Excess power consumption • We generate more waste • Excess Deforestation
- 30. Increase in Travel Withtechnology, we travel more. By this we contribute to air pollution. Current technology is so advanced that we travel from one part of the world to another in a short time. This is great but has greater risk for human life and the environment, as the burning of fossil fuels for the engines to work produce polluting gases that lead to global warming.
- 31. Excess power consumption Powerconsumption is high due to technology. We use technology in education, our work place, at home and even in remote places. We always need energy to use gadgets and electric devices. This electric energy is generated by use of fossil or nuclear fuels on a large scale.
- 32. More Waste Production Wecontribute a large amount of toxic waste in the name of technological up-grading. Specifically, we throw away huge amounts of waste such as old computers and machine parts. These products can be recycled, but usually we throw them away and create waste.
- 33. Excess Deforestation In thename of development, comfort etc. there is widespread deforestation. This is possible due to the larger capacity of machine technology. We make vast clearing of greenery in a short time and also dig tunnels through a hill. Moreover we lay out vast roads by clearing the greenery around. Also this increase in technology makes it easier to build many houses and resorts.
- 34. The Positive EcologicalImpacts of Technology Technology does not only impact the environment negatively. It can often be beneficial: "green technology" reducing the need for paper. low carbon technology
- 35. “Green technology" Since therise of technology in the workplace, numerous ICT companies have been designing "green technology" to combat the harmful effect that computers and their accompanying technology have on the environment. The field of "green technology" encompasses a continuously evolving group of methods and materials, from techniques for generating energy to non-toxic cleaning products. Some examples of green technology subject areas are energy, green building, green chemistry and green nano technology
- 36. Reducing the needfor paper One obvious way that technology is helping the ecology of the planet is by reducing the need for paper. With the ever increasing use of email and electronic communication, paperless offices are now a common occurrence in companies. Reducing the need for paper reduces the demand for logging and deforestation, allowing richer lands to expand.
- 37. Low carbon technology Lowcarbon technology is a form of technology that has been developed in China. Largely developed because of China's low carbon footprint (the total set of greenhouse gas emissions) in comparison to other developing countries, low carbon technology aims to offset the amount of emissions polluting the air by using renewable energy.
- 38. Conclusion In conclusion, humansplay a key role regarding the Earth’s changes. The impact of our actions on the environment is huge. If we try to restrict the negative aspects and concentrate on the positive ones and use technology properly, there will be massive positive results, beneficial to the mutual existence of human beings and the environment
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