ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM

ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM
Effects of unplanned development and mismanagement of the ecosystem

Greenhouse effect and thinning of the ozone layer

Proper management of development activities and the ecosystem

Cause and effect Soil erosion Impact on ecosystem Flash flood Landslide Eutrophication Global warming Ozone depletion Climate change Extinction of living things Deforestation Pollution
Sources of pollution Effects of pollution

Implementation of laws Use of technology Education on the management of resources Preservation and conservation of soil, water, forests and mangrove swamps Practice of biological control Use of renewable energy Efficient use of energy

Types of pollution

Air Water Thermal Noise

Human health Habitat of animals and plants Buildings Agriculture climate

Effects of Unplanned Development and Mismanagement of the Ecosystem

Species extinction Soil erosion Flash floods landslides Deforestation Climatic changes Green house effect
Ozone depletion

Acid rain
Air

Eutrophication

Water Pollution Thermal

Sound

Deforestation
The act of clearing of the forest by cutting down trees for its valuable timber, and for building of roads, houses, industrial estate and so on.

Effects of deforestation: Soil erosion, landslides and flash floods. Loss of biodiversity. Affects carbon and nitrogen cycles. Causes climatic changes.

Soil Erosion / Landslide

Removal and thinning of the soil layer due to physical and climatic processes, such as heavy rain fall. Causes landslides and eventually flash floods.

SOIL EROSION

POLLUTION
Undesirable changes in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics.

It is brought about when harmful substances or energy are released by human activities.

Water Pollution
The sources of water pollution: Effluent from industrial and domestic sources. Agricultural waste. Discharge of untreated sewage. Leaching of heavy metals from underground lead pipes. Oil spills in the sea.

Water Pollution

Eutrophication
Enrichment of an aquatic system with organic material or inorganic nutrients, causing an excessive growth of aquatic plant life

Eutrophication
Leaching of inorganic fertilisers / input of untreated sewage / run off animal waste Increase in mineral and nutrients into bodies of water Algal bloom (rapid growth of algae) Restricts the penetration of light into the water Death of other aquatic photosynthetic plants and algae Decomposition by bacteria (rapid growth of bacteria) Bacteria use up oxygen BOD level increase Aquatic organisms die

B.O.D. (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)

Refers to amount of oxygen consumed by aquatic organisms per litre of water. B.O.D. = water pollution= dissolved oxygen level

Air Pollution
Pollutants Carbon monoxide (CO) Sources Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels Factories Factories Effects Combines with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin which reduce the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen, causes dizzines and headache, slow down the brain. Irritates and damages the lining of eyes, air passages and lungs, cause acid rain that may cause skin diseases. Damages tissues of lung (bronchitis), irritate the eyes, lower the body defence against flu, acid rain. Irritates the eyes, cause conjunctivitis, asthma and bronchitis Disrupt the ability of body to produce new cells, cause retardation of brain in children. Causes emphysema

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Oxides of nitrogen Dust , dirt, smoke, soot and haze Lead Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Factories, exhaust Car exhaust combustion of fossil fuels

API

A system adopted by Malaysia Government to indicate the level of air pollution based on its health impact
API (Air Pollution Index) 0 50 51 100 101 200 201 300 > 300 Descriptor Good Moderate Unhealthy Very unhealthy Hazardous

Air Pollution

ACID rain
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Caused by: Oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2)
Combine with water vapour in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid respectively. They fall back on earth as acid rain.

Noise Pollution
When the noise of the surroundings become excessive and disturbs the comfort of living. Sources: aeroplane, trains, construction works wheels and factory machines, vehicles along the roads. Excessive exposure to high level of noise: high bp, coronary disease, headache

Noise intensity of daily human activities

Thermal pollution is caused when the temperature of a body of water is unintentionally raised due to human activities. discharge of warm water from industries, generators in power station, reactor stations and reflection of heat from glass building resulting in excess heat in the environment. Increase in temperature can be in the range between 5C to 10C. As the temperature of water increases, oxygen become less soluble in water. Ways to prevent: Control the amount of hot water discharged into lake, slow- moving rivers.

THERMAL POLLUTION

This effect is similar to a greenhouse used in farming, it is usually found in hot countries, whereby the glass of the greenhouse traps the heat of the sun to keep the soil and air warm The phenomena of over warming of the earth atmosphere is known as a greenhouse effect.

The increase in carbon dioxide levels are due to combustion of fossil fuel, mainly coal and deforestation and open burning.
Some scientist predicted that the earth temperature could rise 1.5C to 4.5C by 2030.

How it happens.? Energy from the sun reaches the earth through radiation.

Some of this radiation is absorbed by the earth to warm the surfaces of sea and land, as the earth warms up, heat in the form of infrared radiation is emitted back to the space.
However, much of this radiation is prevented from escaping to the space by green house gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, CFC, nitrous oxide and water vapour. These gases particularly carbon dioxide absorb the infrared radiation. As a result the heat is radiated back to the Earth surface, warming the earth further.

Carbon dioxide (60%) Methane (15 - 30%) Nitrous oxide (15%) CFC (12%)

Overall rise in the average temperature of earths atmosphere. The increase in the atmospheric temperature is high enough to cause changes in the global climate. Effects: Melting of polar ice caps and glaciers. Greater evaporation of water. Increase outbreak of disease by disease carrying vectors Imbalanced local weather pattern some place experience drought and some other greater rainfall.

How to overcome:
Reduce burning fuels. Develop alternative sources of energy. Reduce deforestation. Replant trees.

Global temperature increase parallels the increase in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

The Thinning of The Ozone Layer

mainly due to the increasing levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in the atmosphere
CFC uses as coolants in air conditionals and refrigerators, as propellants in aerosol cans and as foaming agents in making Styrofoam packaging

 CFC active and extremely stable chemical that contain chlorine, carbon and fluorine. CFC is broken down by UV rays in the stratosphere into highly reactive chlorine radicals that break down ozone molecules (O3). With the thinning of the ozone layer, more UV radiation reaches the earth surface. The effects of ozone depletion on the environment, include increase in surrounding temperature, change in wind directions, change in climate.
On plants damage of crops due to over exposure to UV, and damage of the phytoplanktons. On human health skin cancer, cataract, and weakened immune system.

OZONE DEPLETION

Effects of Ozone Depletion

Proper management of development activities and the ecosystem

Implementation of laws Use of technology catalytic converter unleaded petrol sewage treatment Education on the management of resources 4Rs- recycle, reuse, reduce, renew Preservation and conservation of soil, water, forests and mangrove swamps. Practice of biological control- use of natural predator. Use of renewable energy Efficient use of energy Substitute natural gas for coal Hybrid cars- combined electric and gasoline engine