Handouts
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revitalizing_local_waterfront_economies_video.docx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Our List of Environmental Concerns
- Global Warming – greenhouse gases become trapped in the atmosphere, and reflect heat from the sun back into earth
- Smog (air pollution) – pollution generally caused by industries or vehicles around large cities
- Radiation – nuclear waste / nuclear reactors
- Light Pollution – too much man-made lights (usually in cities) that prevent darkness / the night sky from being visible
- Forest Fires – mostly caused by lightning, but can also be caused by human involvement (can be very good for the forest)
- Waste / Garbage dumps – no good way of getting rid of garbage (and we make a horrifying amount of garbage a year)
- Industrial Pollution – can heavily pollute lakes with chemicals, and can also warm up lakes which kills local species
- Dams – changes the natural flow of water, floods areas that were otherwise drier, which changes the natural ecosystems around those areas
- Oil spills – oil clings to and kills a lot of sea species and birds, a small amount can contaminate a huge area of the water
- Acid Rain – water molecules surround air pollution particles, and make raindrops that are acidic
- Clear cutting / lumber – entire forests will be cut down and harvested, which take decades to regrow (if they are able to regrow)
- Noise pollution / Visual Pollution – noise you can’t escape usually loudest in cities / billboards and other things that block the sight of natural environment
Acid Precipitation
Acid Rain
•Coal-burning factories, cars, & trucks release chemicals that pollute the air.
•The pollutants mix with water molecules in clouds and turn the water acidic.
•High levels of acid in rain can damage or kill trees and pollute lakes enough to kill fish.
•Houses, buildings, and statues can also be damaged.
•Southern Canada (near the Great Lakes region) experiences the highest levels of acid rain.
•50-75% of the pollution that causes acid rain actually comes from the US.
•Wind patterns tend to move the pollution from the US north into Canada.
•Canada’s government has done several things to reduce pollution:
•They are building factories that don’t pollute the air.
•Laws have been passed that require cars to produce less pollution.
•They are encouraging people to walk or ride bikes/buses, rather than driving.
•Coal-burning factories, cars, & trucks release chemicals that pollute the air.
•The pollutants mix with water molecules in clouds and turn the water acidic.
•High levels of acid in rain can damage or kill trees and pollute lakes enough to kill fish.
•Houses, buildings, and statues can also be damaged.
•Southern Canada (near the Great Lakes region) experiences the highest levels of acid rain.
•50-75% of the pollution that causes acid rain actually comes from the US.
•Wind patterns tend to move the pollution from the US north into Canada.
•Canada’s government has done several things to reduce pollution:
•They are building factories that don’t pollute the air.
•Laws have been passed that require cars to produce less pollution.
•They are encouraging people to walk or ride bikes/buses, rather than driving.
Great Lakes Pollution
Pollution in the Great Lakes
•In the 1970s, the Great Lakes had high levels of water pollution.
•Fishing was unsafe; tons of animals and plants were harmed or killed.
•Factories around the region used the lakes as a place to dump wastes.
•Factories also used the chemical phosphorus when producing things like toothpaste, fertilizer, pesticides, detergents, etc.
•This was really bad for lakes because it caused a rapid increase in algae.
Pollution Solutions
•In 1971, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was signed by US and Canada (renewed in 2002).
•The goal was to restore the lakes’ environment and to prevent further damage.
oThe countries are working together to reduce the amount of human wastes dumped in lakes.
oThey’re working to make sure that chemicals (like phosphorus) are not put into lakes.
•In the 1970s, the Great Lakes had high levels of water pollution.
•Fishing was unsafe; tons of animals and plants were harmed or killed.
•Factories around the region used the lakes as a place to dump wastes.
•Factories also used the chemical phosphorus when producing things like toothpaste, fertilizer, pesticides, detergents, etc.
•This was really bad for lakes because it caused a rapid increase in algae.
Pollution Solutions
•In 1971, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was signed by US and Canada (renewed in 2002).
•The goal was to restore the lakes’ environment and to prevent further damage.
oThe countries are working together to reduce the amount of human wastes dumped in lakes.
oThey’re working to make sure that chemicals (like phosphorus) are not put into lakes.