Human Impact on the Environment

• What is the main biological consequence of air pollution by sulphur dioxide?


  It contributes to the formation of acid rain, which kills nature and makes soil toxic.
• How is acid rain formed from sulphur dioxide?

  Sulphur dioxide is released when fossil fuels are burnt and mixes with rainwater to form acid rain.
• What are the effects of acid rain on the environment?

  Acid rain kills nature, makes soil toxic, and can corrode metals and rocks.
• What is carbon monoxide and how is it produced?

  Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced when fossil fuels are burnt without enough air supply.
• Why is carbon monoxide dangerous to humans?

  It binds with haemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing them from carrying oxygen, which can cause suffocation.
• What gases are considered greenhouse gases?

  Water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and CFCs are greenhouse gases.
• What is the role of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

  Greenhouse gases absorb heat reflected by the Earth, trapping it in the atmosphere and warming the Earth.
• How do human activities contribute to the increase of greenhouse gases?

  Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and keeping livestock release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
• What are some sources of carbon dioxide emissions?

  Car exhausts and cutting down of trees are sources of carbon dioxide emissions.
• What are some sources of methane emissions?

  Rice growing and cattle farts/burps are sources of methane emissions.
• What are some sources of nitrous oxide emissions?

  Nitrous oxide is emitted from fertilizers and vehicle engines.
• What are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and where are they commonly found?

  CFCs are greenhouse gases found in refrigerators and deodorants.
• What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

  The enhanced greenhouse effect occurs when an increase in greenhouse gases traps more heat, leading to global warming.
• What are the consequences of global warming?

  Global warming leads to climate change and various environmental impacts.
• How does sewage pollution affect aquatic life?

  Sewage contains nutrients that cause algal blooms, which deplete oxygen and can lead to fish deaths.
• What is eutrophication and how does it occur?

  Eutrophication occurs when nutrients from fertilizers leach into lakes, causing algal blooms that block light and deplete oxygen.
• What happens to plants during eutrophication?

  Plants in the lake can die because no photosynthesis occurs due to blocked light from algal blooms.
• How do microorganisms contribute to the effects of eutrophication?

  Microorganisms feed on dead matter and multiply, using up all the oxygen, which leads to fish deaths.
• What are the effects of deforestation on soil quality?

  Deforestation leads to leaching and creates infertile soil due to the lack of nutrient return from trees.
• How does deforestation contribute to soil erosion?

  Trees hold the soil together, and their removal can lead to soil being washed away, resulting in infertile ground.
• What is evapotranspiration and how is it affected by deforestation?

  Evapotranspiration is the process of water evaporating and plant transpiration, and it is reduced when trees are cut down, leading to a drier local climate.
• How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?


  When trees die, they release CO2 and do not absorb any CO2, disturbing the carbon cycle and reducing O2 release.
• What are the interconnected effects of deforestation on the environment?

  Deforestation leads to leaching, soil erosion, reduced evapotranspiration, and disturbances in the carbon cycle and atmospheric oxygen balance.