How Do Humans Impact Their Environment?How Do Humans Impact Their Environment?

Water Diversion/ManagementWater Diversion/Management

• Humans need water to live and grow food. Humans have invented several techniques for managing water supplies such as building reservoirs and canals for irrigating crops and ensuring a constant supply of water.

• Humans need water to live and grow food. Humans have invented several techniques for managing water supplies such as building reservoirs and canals for irrigating crops and ensuring a constant supply of water.

VocabularyVocabulary

• Reservoir• Irrigation• Canal

• Reservoir• Irrigation• Canal

Examples Examples

• The Aral Sea• Colorado River• Aswan High Dam

• The Aral Sea• Colorado River• Aswan High Dam

The Aral SeaThe Aral Sea

• The Aral Sea is located in Central Asia between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Since the 1960s it has been shrinking due to over irrigation. It is now 20% of its original size. The Soviets used the diverted water to irrigate cotton fields.

• The Aral Sea is located in Central Asia between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Since the 1960s it has been shrinking due to over irrigation. It is now 20% of its original size. The Soviets used the diverted water to irrigate cotton fields.

The Aral Sea The Aral Sea

The shrinking of the Aral Sea has caused:A. The collapse of the local fishing industry.B. Increase in respiratory illnesses due to

wind stirring up dust of exposed seabed.C. Extinction of plants and animals.

The shrinking of the Aral Sea has caused:A. The collapse of the local fishing industry.B. Increase in respiratory illnesses due to

wind stirring up dust of exposed seabed.C. Extinction of plants and animals.

The Aral SeaThe Aral Sea

The Aral SeaThe Aral Sea

The Colorado RiverThe Colorado River

• The Colorado River is an excellent example of how humans can impact the environment through irrigation. The River starts in Colorado and empties into the Gulf of California. On every stretch of the river farmers take water to irrigate crops. People have also built several dams on the river, the most famous is the Hoover Dam.

• The Colorado River is an excellent example of how humans can impact the environment through irrigation. The River starts in Colorado and empties into the Gulf of California. On every stretch of the river farmers take water to irrigate crops. People have also built several dams on the river, the most famous is the Hoover Dam.

The Aswan High DamThe Aswan High Dam

• The Aswan High Dam was built on the Nile River in 1960 - 1970.

• The Aswan High Dam was built on the Nile River in 1960 - 1970.

Aswan High Dam (Benefits)Aswan High Dam (Benefits)

A. The dam provides around 15% of Egypt’s electricity.

B. The dam has stopped the Nile River from flooding every year.

C. The dam created Lake Nasser, which provides water for irrigation and local use.

A. The dam provides around 15% of Egypt’s electricity.

B. The dam has stopped the Nile River from flooding every year.

C. The dam created Lake Nasser, which provides water for irrigation and local use.

Aswan High Dam (Negatives)Aswan High Dam (Negatives)A. Around 90,000 people had to move.B. The dam blocks nutrient rich silt from being

deposited on farmland and farmers have to use artificial fertilizers.

C. Poor irrigation practices have led to an increase of salt in surrounding farmland.

D. Fish stocks in the Mediterranean have depleted because the dam blocks nutrients from entering the sea.

A. Around 90,000 people had to move.B. The dam blocks nutrient rich silt from being

deposited on farmland and farmers have to use artificial fertilizers.

C. Poor irrigation practices have led to an increase of salt in surrounding farmland.

D. Fish stocks in the Mediterranean have depleted because the dam blocks nutrients from entering the sea.

Changing LandscapesChanging Landscapes

• Humans change the landscape of the earth in order to farm or raise animals.

• Humans change the landscape of the earth in order to farm or raise animals.

ExamplesExamples

• Agricultural Terracing• Polders• Deforestation• Desertification

• Agricultural Terracing• Polders• Deforestation• Desertification

Agricultural TerracingAgricultural Terracing

• People practice agricultural terracing in mountainous areas in order to make flat land to farm on.

• People practice agricultural terracing in mountainous areas in order to make flat land to farm on.

Think!Think!

• Look at a map and try to think of some countries or areas where people may practice agricultural terracing.

• Look at a map and try to think of some countries or areas where people may practice agricultural terracing.

A. The Andes Mountains in South America

B. The Himalaya Mountains in Asia

Agricultural Terraces in Peru

Cultivation of Rice in Terraces in China

PoldersPolders

• A polder is an area of reclaimed land from the sea.

• Polders are found in countries with low elevations next to the sea such as Belgium and the Netherlands.

• Windmills were used to pump the water out of polders, but they have been replaced by diesel pumps.

• http://static.nai.nl/polders/qt/640-480_h264.mov

• A polder is an area of reclaimed land from the sea.

• Polders are found in countries with low elevations next to the sea such as Belgium and the Netherlands.

• Windmills were used to pump the water out of polders, but they have been replaced by diesel pumps.

• http://static.nai.nl/polders/qt/640-480_h264.mov

Netherlands without polders Netherlands with polders

DeforestationDeforestation

• Deforestation is when humans cut down trees faster than they can grow back.

• Deforestation is when humans cut down trees faster than they can grow back.

DeforestationDeforestation

• A few causes of deforestation are:A. Forest land is cleared for farming or

human settlement.B. Forests are cut down and the timber is

sold.C. Slash and burn farming in tropical areas.

• A few causes of deforestation are:A. Forest land is cleared for farming or

human settlement.B. Forests are cut down and the timber is

sold.C. Slash and burn farming in tropical areas.

Slash and Burn FarmingSlash and Burn Farming

• Slash and burn farming is a farming method used in tropical areas such as Brazil, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Farmers cut down the forest and burn the trees in order to fertilize the soil. After a few years the land becomes infertile and farmers must repeat the process.

• Slash and burn farming is a farming method used in tropical areas such as Brazil, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Farmers cut down the forest and burn the trees in order to fertilize the soil. After a few years the land becomes infertile and farmers must repeat the process.

DeforestationDeforestation

• Much of the world has been deforested including Europe and many parts of the United States. Areas that are becoming rapidly deforested right now are mainly rainforests such as the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil.

• Much of the world has been deforested including Europe and many parts of the United States. Areas that are becoming rapidly deforested right now are mainly rainforests such as the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil.

DesertificationDesertification

• Desertification is an expansion of arid conditions into a non-arid environment. Basically, desertification is when a desert gets bigger due to natural and human causes.

• Desertification is an expansion of arid conditions into a non-arid environment. Basically, desertification is when a desert gets bigger due to natural and human causes.

DesertificationDesertification

• The fringes of deserts are very fragile environments. If there is a long period of no rain such as a drought this area may turn into a desert. People can also cause desertification by cutting down trees near deserts or herding animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats.

• The fringes of deserts are very fragile environments. If there is a long period of no rain such as a drought this area may turn into a desert. People can also cause desertification by cutting down trees near deserts or herding animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats.

DesertificationDesertification

• Desertification occurs near deserts. The region directly south of the Sahara Desert in Africa is called the Sahel. This area has suffered from rapid desertification due to over grazing, droughts, and poor water management practices.

• Desertification occurs near deserts. The region directly south of the Sahara Desert in Africa is called the Sahel. This area has suffered from rapid desertification due to over grazing, droughts, and poor water management practices.

Map of Western Africa showing Sahel

PollutionPollution

• Humans cause air, water, soil, and nuclear pollution that harm the environment.

• Humans cause air, water, soil, and nuclear pollution that harm the environment.

Air PollutionAir Pollution

• Air pollution is mostly caused by the burning of fossil fuels; oil, coal, and natural gas. Areas with many coal burning power plants, factories, and cars can experience acid rain.

• Air pollution is mostly caused by the burning of fossil fuels; oil, coal, and natural gas. Areas with many coal burning power plants, factories, and cars can experience acid rain.

Acid RainAcid Rain

• A few areas that have acid rain are the Northeast United States and Canada, the Black Forest region in Germany, and China. Acid rain can kill vegetation and fish in streams and lakes over a period of time.

• A few areas that have acid rain are the Northeast United States and Canada, the Black Forest region in Germany, and China. Acid rain can kill vegetation and fish in streams and lakes over a period of time.

Water PollutionWater Pollution

• Water pollution is caused by:A. Runoff that contains pesticides and

fertilizersB. Waste from heavy industry that contains

metals and chemicalsC. Raw sewageD. Oil spills and waste from ships

• Water pollution is caused by:A. Runoff that contains pesticides and

fertilizersB. Waste from heavy industry that contains

metals and chemicalsC. Raw sewageD. Oil spills and waste from ships

Water PollutionWater Pollution

• A few areas that have severe water pollution are:

A. Most of the rivers in EuropeB. The Ganges River in India

• A few areas that have severe water pollution are:

A. Most of the rivers in EuropeB. The Ganges River in India

Nuclear PollutionNuclear Pollution

• Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants must be stored in very safe areas otherwise it can contaminate the water and soil

• Another example of nuclear pollution is when the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union exploded causing radioactive waste to contaminate the air and soil

• Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants must be stored in very safe areas otherwise it can contaminate the water and soil

• Another example of nuclear pollution is when the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union exploded causing radioactive waste to contaminate the air and soil

ChernobylChernobyl

• In 1986, one of the reactors at the nuclear power plant exploded causing a cloud of radioactive material that drifted and fell over parts of Russia and Europe. Over 300,000 people were forced to evacuate the nearby city of Pripyat and today the city is abandoned.

• In 1986, one of the reactors at the nuclear power plant exploded causing a cloud of radioactive material that drifted and fell over parts of Russia and Europe. Over 300,000 people were forced to evacuate the nearby city of Pripyat and today the city is abandoned.

The Lost CityThe Lost City

• A lot of interesting photos of the city of Pripyat, a city near the power plant, which is abandoned to this day.

• http://englishrussia.com/?p=293

• A lot of interesting photos of the city of Pripyat, a city near the power plant, which is abandoned to this day.

• http://englishrussia.com/?p=293