Unit 7 Station 1: The Environment Name: _______________________ Per: ______ Station 1: Environment Part 1: Vocab Directions: Use the textbook (pages 298303) to locate the following vocab words and their definitions. Write their definitions on the right hand column below. Vocab Word Definition Ozone Layer Acid Rain Deforestation Desertification Chernobyl Greenhouse Effect Global Warming Chemical Pollution Unit 7 Station 1: The Environment Station 1: Environment Part 2: Reading Directions: Read the following handout and answer the accompanying questions. (Remember: It makes sense to read the questions first!) Source: Goldberg/DuPre. Prentice Hall Brief Review: Global History and Geography. Prentice Hall; New Jersey, 2013. Acid Rain Acid rain occurs when rain falls through air that is polluted by the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil Fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas. Acid rain damages forests, lakes, farmland and ancient structures in Europe. Marble buildings and statues, for example, are becoming discolored and corroded. Acid rain also damages the forests across Europe, such as the Black Forest in Germany. Possible Solution: International agreements have been signed to reduce emissions of the substances that cause acid rain. Depletion of the Ozone Some scientists are concerned about depletion of the ozone layer, a layer of gas high in the atmosphere that protects the Earth from the dangerous ultraviolet rays of the sun. This layer is becoming thinner, perhaps because of the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) and other chemical pollutants. Possible Solution : Many developing countries have agreed to eliminate production and use of CFC’s and other harmful substances. Global Warming Scientists are concerned about a gradual rise in global temperatures. Many scientists believe that this phenomenon is caused by the greenhouse effect , in which warm air becomes trapped in the lower atmosphere. The population of most nations using large amounts of gasoline, oil, and coal in developed nations is causing the greenhouse effe ct . The use of these products releases carbon dioxide, which is believed to destroy the ozone layer, which protects the earth from harmful solar radiation. Many scientists fear that this overall warming could affect agriculture and cause coastal flooding as polar ice caps melt. Many places in Europe rely heavily on tourism. Areas that rely on winter tourists will slowly watch their economy be hurt as the temperature increases globally. Climate change seems to be causing extreme events that affect people: destructive floods in Pakistan, Thailand and Australia; droughts in the Amazon and Africa; and heat waves and record cold and snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Not only do these events kill people, but they destroy their ability to supply their basic needs. Possible Solution: Many countries around the world have set limitations on types of emissions that are thought to contribute to climate change, but unfortunately those that emit the most, the United States and China, did not keep to limits. Deforestation Europe used to be covered in forests. Today, many of these forests are being cut down. The land is then used for farmland and development. Trees are not being replaced as they are cut down. This makes the forests decrease quickly in size. One of the largest areas of destruction are the tropical rainforests. These forest are cut down for the hardwood lumber, to clear space for farming, for building settlements, and for grazing animals. Many medicines available today derive from plants in the rainforests. When the forests are gone, so will these medicines be gone. The effects of deforestation include changes in local weather patterns, a building of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (which may lead to the greenhouse effect , soil erosion, and extinction of certain plants and animals.) Possible Solution: Most great forests are located in developing nations. These developing nations would benefit from farming on the land and selling the products of their land, however when land is taken from the Unit 7 Station 1: The Environment forests and made into farmland, the global world is affected negatively. There needs to be a balance between supporting developing nations and supporting the global health of the world. Right now there is really no easy solution. Desertification Desertification is the changeover from arable land (land that can be farmed) into desert (land that cannot be farmed). Desertification is caused mostly by human activity, especially overgrazing, when sheep and livestock eat from one area for too long and cutting down forests, which robs the land of another barrier to soil erosion. As grass and trees are eliminated, the soil loses its nutrients. Without plant roots to hold the soil, wind erosion removes the fertile topsoil. The land is then unable to sustain plant life. The Sahara is Africa, for example, is expanding at the rate of about 50 miles per year. The expansion of deserts is one cause of famine. Possible Solution: Methods to control desertification include restricting livestock (to prevent overgrazing) and the planting of new trees to act as a barrier against erosion. Nuclear Proliferation In 1986, the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine had a nuclear meltdown. It was the worst accident ever at a nuclear power plant. Many people in the surrounding area were exposed to radiation. Some developed cancer, and others died. Before the accident, there were 14,000 residents in Chernobyl. After the accident, everyone within 30 kilometers of the plant was evacuated. Chemical pollution Modern farming techniques often require spraying the land with fertilizer. The runoff mixes with water in lakes and rivers. This mix causes water pollution. These chemicals also affect the soil and the air. Possible Solutions: Use organic products (natural products). Questions: 1. What is global warming and why is it a global (world) problem? __________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What is a possible solution to global warming? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What’s the difference between deforestation and desertification? ________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 4. What happened in Chernobyl, Ukraine? ____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Who and What does acid rain effect? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Unit 7 Station 1: The Environment Station 1: Environment Part 3: Thematic Prompt Short Answer Directions: Read the following Thematic Prompt and answer the prompt with evidence in 2 paragraphs total (each paragraph should be 35 sentences) (hint: look through the handout for this station). N ote: you are not writing an essay, just a short response to the question! Theme: Global Problems Throughout history, global problems have posed major challenges for nations and regions. Task: Select two different global problems and for each ● Describe one major cause of the global problem ● Discuss one effect of the global problem on a specific nation or region ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Unit 7 Station 1: The Environment Station 1: Environment Part 4: Multiple Choice Practice Directions: Read the following multiple choice questions and choose the best answer. (You may use your notes) 1. A study of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Soviet Union would lead to the conclusion that 1. technology can cause problems throughout the world 2. international trade is more profitable than domestic commerce 3. modern science cannot solve most political problems 4. agricultural nations have caused major world environmental problems 2. A major environmental problem affecting Latin America, SubSaharan Africa, and Southeast Asia has been 1. air pollution 2. Deforestation 3. disposal of nuclear waste 4. acid rain 3. Many scientist believe that the greenhouse effect is the result of 1. overgrazing on land in developing nations 2. using large amounts of gasoline, oil, and coal in developed nations 3. testing nuclear weapons in violation of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 4. using natural fertilizers to increase crop production 4. A major factor contributing to the destruction of the Amazon rain forests is the 1. movement of people from rural to urban areas 2. attempt of native peoples to end illegal drug traffic 3. need for more farmland 4. spread of Christianity 5. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased in recent years. Environmentalists suggest this change is a direct result of the 1. improper storage of solid and nuclear waste 2. overcutting of forests and the increased use of fossil fuels 3. dumping of inorganic material into lakes and rivers 4. use of herbicides and toxic substances such as asbestos and DDT 6. In Latin America, the deforestation of the Amazon rain forest has led to 1. the maintenance of a traditional way of life 2. the discovery of new medicines 3. overpopulation in rural regions 4. environmental dangers