Human Impact on the Biosphere

Nonrenewable Resources • Cannot be replaced, or are being used faster than

natural processes can create them.• Fossil fuels: formed from the remains of plants &

animals that lived millions of years ago.– Coal: sedimentary rock formed from ancient plant

remains– Oil/petroleum: liquid hydrocarbon formed from

microscopic marine organisms– Natural gas: forms like oil, but in a gaseous state

Renewable Resources• Can be replaced in nature or by humans

within one human lifetime.• Trees

Inexhaustible Resources• Ones that are constant and will never

run out• Solar (sun) power, wind energy, water

(hydroelectric), geothermal

• As the Earth’s population increases, so does the use of all Earth’s resources

• Humans use, pollute, and change ecosystems and resources all over the planet, crowding out other species

How is this increase in population affecting the

Earth?

• Everything on Earth is connected, through energy flow, chemical cycles and population-limiting factors

• Our population is growing exponentially, the Earth is not growing at all.

10 Ways in which humans are impacting the health of the planet

1. Deforestation• Clear-cutting: removing trees faster

than they could grow back• For resources and to use land for other

purposes

2. Depletion of Ocean Resources• Over fishing is driving many fish to

extinction

3. Acid Rain• Chemicals released into air from

the burning of fossil fuels destroys habitat

4. Habitat Destruction• Organism are becoming

endangered and going extinct due to loss of habitat

5. Loss Of Biodiversity• Healthy ecosystems require diversity

6. Introduced Species• Non-native species disrupt ecosystems with

unforeseen consequences

7. Exponential Human Population Growth

• Increased population puts greater demands on all resources

8. Pollution• Burning of fossil fuels, garbage

pollution pollute air and water resources

9. Global Warming/ Climate Change

• The release of CO2 into the ecosystem lead to changes in the atmosphere, weather patterns, and the acidity of the ocean

10. Ozone Depletion• Chemicals released into the atmosphere

breakdown ozone (O3) allowing harmful radiation to enter the ecosystem

• Increases in skin cancer, eye damage

Human Impact Project• Skim through pages 145-160 in your

book, pick one negative human impact on the Earth.

• Write an essay about the topic.• Create a visual to illustrate your topic.• Present to the class (summarize your

essay/share your visual) on Friday.• See the hand-out for specifics and

scoring.