d)+Human+influences+on+the+environment

Section 4- Ecology and the environment - a) The organism and the environment - b) Feeding relationships - c) Cycles within ecosystems - d) Human influences on the environment

4d) Human influences on the environment
How many different types of pollutant do you know of and what problems do they cause? Brain storm in groups then add your findings to the class map on the board
 * Starter**

You have all heard about global warming and one of the well known impacts is sea level rise. This interactive map from National Geographic shows an estimation of what the world's coastlines would look like if all the ice melted.


 * Learning outcomes (s//tudents will be assessed on their ability to)://**
 * 4.11 || understand the biological consequences of pollution of air by sulfur dioxide and by carbon monoxide ||
 * 4.12 || understand that water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and CFCs are greenhouse gases ||
 * 4.13 || understand how human activities contribute to greenhouse gases ||
 * 4.14 || understand how an increase in greenhouse gases results in an enhanced greenhouse effect and that this may lead to global warming and its consequences ||
 * 4.15 || understand the biological consequences of pollution of water by sewage, including increases in the number of micro-organisms causing depletion of oxygen ||
 * 4.16 || understand that eutrophication can result from leached minerals from fertiliser ||
 * 4.17 || understand the effects of deforestation, including leaching, soil erosion, disturbance of the water cycle and of the balance in atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide. ||


 * Workbook/Notes development**

For this topic you will be constructing your own workbook. Build some revision notes in a word document against each outcome. Use the underlined titles as section headers

To help you in your note construction follow the guidance below:

__4.11 - understand the biological consequences of pollution of air by sulfur dioxide and by carbon monoxide__
 * 1) Write the sub-title Carbon Monoxide down
 * 2) Use the link the US Government site on the [|Environment Protection Agency]
 * 3) click on carbon monoxide
 * 4) find the section titled “Health and Environmental Impacts”
 * 5) Make brief notes on the **biological consequences** of carbon monoxide pollution
 * 6) Repeat these steps for sulphur dioxide

__4.12 understand that water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and CFCs are greenhouse gases and 4.13__ __understand how human activities contribute to greenhouse gases__

Copy and complete the following table using the [|Global Change Research Information Office]
 * Greenhouse gas || Human activities than contribute to it's release into the atmosphere ||
 * Water vapour ||  ||
 * Carbon dioxide ||  ||
 * Nitrous oxides ||  ||
 * Methane ||  ||
 * CFCs ||  ||

//N.B. In reality CFCs have a questionable impact: yes they are a powerful greenhouse gas (per molecule far more effective than carbon dioxide), but their major impact is the depletion of the ozone layer (which soaks up harmful UV radiation) the thinning of this layer probably means that CFCs have a net cooling effect.//

Additional links: [|Brainpop on global warming]

__4.14 understand how an increase in greenhouse gases results in an enhanced greenhouse effect and that this may lead to global warming and its consequences.__

Using draw/find a simple diagram to explain the greenhouse effect, i.e. how greenhouse gases cause the atmosphere to warm. Then underneath outline the major consequences/impacts of global warming. Use the following links:

[|BBC Bitesize] has a good 4 point summary on the greenhouse effect [|BBC News] Science museum great selection of resources on the climate, the greenhouse effect and human changes to the carbon cycle [|Brainpop on the greenhouse effect]

Include in your notes a sentence or two explaining why the greenhouse effect is essential for life on this planet.

__4.15 understand the biological consequences of pollution of water by sewage, including increases in the number of micro-organisms causing depletion of oxygen and 4.16 understand that eutrophication can result from leached minerals from fertiliser__

What is leaching? Watch the demonstration to find out

These two points are closely linked. Sewage, animal manure and fertilisers all add excessive nitrogen to Start with: [|This animation of eutrophication] is a good starting point

Now use the four steps on the last slide as a basis for your notes. Expand on each step to include more details in your own words to complete your understanding.

Additional resources: [|Animation] from absorb learning Blue book pg. 176 16.14Aquatic organisms need clean water

__4.17 understand the effects of deforestation, including leaching, soil erosion, disturbance of the water cycle and of the balance in atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide.__

Reverse this objective. Build a list of effects and against each explain how deforestation causes it to happen (hint: the last two you can do together as they are linked).

This is well covered in your textbooks, but the following links may aid your understanding: [|Earth Observatory] [|National Geographic]


 * Resources**
 * // Green book reference: p164-176 //**

These video tutorials from [|Click4Biology]address each learning outcome. It's recommended that you use them both as part of your learning and your revision. Download links are provided for those who have trouble accessing Youtube.

4.11 Air pollution [|download] media type="custom" key="23734458"

4.12 Greenhouse effect [|download] media type="custom" key="23734462"

4.13 Greenhouse gases [|download] media type="custom" key="23734464"

4.14 Enhanced greenhouse effect [|download] media type="custom" key="23734466"

4.15 Sewage pollution [|download] media type="custom" key="23734470"

4.16 Eutrophication and fertilisers [|download] media type="custom" key="23734472"

4.17 Deforestation [|download] media type="custom" key="23734476"

(download and printing are disabled as this is for reference, not a way to avoid developing your own notes) media type="custom" key="27835775"
 * Teacher notes for this topic**

Read and discuss what 'the death of a spruce tree' means to our society.
 * Extras**