How are we affecting the Environment?
Student note sheet
1. Air pollution
a. ___________, dust and exhaust fumes will pollute the air
b. _________ – a form of air pollution that is created when
sunlight reacts with pollutant chemicals produced by burning
fuels.
c. _____________ – any substance that contaminate the
environment and causes pollution
2. Acid rain
a. Acid rain is rain or snow with a pH below ____ (it is ___________)
b. Kills plants and can change the pH of lakes and ponds (which can
kill the ____________ and plants)
c. Happens when ___________ ____________ gas mixes with
____________ molecules during the formation of rain drops.
d. ____________ of sulfur and nitrogen oxides will form sulfuric acid
and nitric acid
3. Ozone depletion
a. Upper _______________ layer of atmosphere blocks
out harmful ________________ (UV radiation)
b. ____________ depletion – the _____________ of
the ozone layer due to air pollutants.
c. _____________________ (CFCs) used in refrigerators,
freezer, air conditioners.
d. World governments have agreed to __________
producing CFCs by 2000????
4. Greenhouse effect
a. _________________ is trapping heat , known as the
_______________ _________________ effect
b. Greenhouse gases – _______________ _____________.
c. By-product of _______________ fossil fuels
d. ____________ ___________ – potential warming of
Earth – will disrupt weather patterns
e. Melt polar ice caps, flooding, stronger storms
Effects of Global warming:
1. ______________ could decrease – affect food production and wildlife
2. ___________ polar ice caps – flood coastal areas
3. Increase number and severity of _____________
5. Land pollution:
a. ___________ and __________ – any toxic materials
that are put in landfills can pollute the soil and water
b. _______________ wastes – waste material that is
harmful to organisms
c. Examples: pesticides, nuclear waste, chemicals, batteries,
paint and household cleaners
6. Water pollution
a. Acid rain starts as land pollution and can lead to ____________ pollution
b. Wastewater from factories and sewage treatment plants is released into __________,
rivers or sometimes directly into the ocean
c. Sometimes its treated to remove some or all of the pollutants
7. Groundwater pollution
a. Groundwater is ___________ contained in the soil or trapped in underground pockets
formed by nonporous rock.
b. Comes from rainfall and runoff that soak down through the soil
c. Can be polluted
8. Ocean pollution
a. _____________ of raw sewage into coastal waters can encourage the overgrowth of
_________ and ________________.
b. ________________ to fish and wildlife
c. _________ spills – destroy habitats and life