B2g: Population and Pollution

Young people are aware of the increasing human population and how this is related to an increase in pollution levels. The use of living and non-living indicators of pollution are considered. 

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Is the population of humans increasing or decreasing?
Increasing exponentially.
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Name two finite resources that the human population uses.
Fossil fuels and minerals.
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What happens as human population increases?
Resource use increases and therefore more pollution is created.
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Name four pollutants that have become more apparent because of an increase in population.
Household waste, sewage, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels.
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What does pollution affect?
The number and type of organisms that can survive in a particular place.
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What is population growth the result of?
The birth rate exceeding the death rate.
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What are the causes of global warming
Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels are used.Its a greenhouse gas that can prevent heat escaping from the Earth into space.Increased emissions of carbon dioxide are causing a rise in carbon dioxide levels,which contributes to global warming
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What are the causes of ozone depletion
In the past, CFCs were widely used in aerosol cans, refrigerators and insulating materials. CFCs destroy ozone in the upper atmosphere, leading to ozone depletion. This causes increased levels of ultraviolet light to reach the Earth’s surface.
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What are the causes of acid rain
Many fuels contain small amounts of sulfur compounds. When these fuels are burned sulfur dioxide is released into the air.
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What are the consequences of global warming
scientists have predicted that, if global warming continues to go up, sea level will rise, weather system's will become less predictable and agricultural output will fall.
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What are the consequences of ozone depletion
Increase the risk of skin cancer (can be reduced with suncream) may kill plankton in the sea - has a massive effect on the sea ecosystem because they're at the bottom of the food chain. Scientists predict fish levels will drop (meaning less food)
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What are the consequences of acid rain
Damages soils,kill trees,cause lakes to be acidic-has a serious effect on lake's ecosystem.Many organisms are sensitive to pH changes&can't survive in more acidic conditions.Many plants&animals die.It damages limestone,ruining buildings&stone statues
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Talk about people in the developed world - linked to population
They enjoy a high standard of living, with abundant food, cars and comfortable housing. Their impact on the use of resources is greater than the impact of poorer people, even though the population of the developed world is much smaller.
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Explain the term 'Carbon Footprint'
Lots of people, companies and countries are measuring the amount of greenhouse gases there giving out so they can reduce their emissions. The amount go greenhouse gases given off in a certain period of time is called their carbon footprint.
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What are the possible consequences of exponential growth?
Putting pressure on the environment as more resources are being used up and more pollution (acid rain, global warming, ozone depletion) is being produced.
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In what two ways can pollution be measured?
By direct measurement of pollutant levels or by measuring the occurrence of indicator species.
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How could you measure pollution using pollutant levels?(2)
Sensitive instruments can measure the concentrations of chemical pollutants or satellite data can be used to indicate pollutant level.
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How could you measure pollution using indicator species?(2)
A simp survey to see if a species is present or absent from an area. This is quick but not good for telling you how polluted it is or counting the number of times an indicator species occurs in an area will give you a numerical value.
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Give an example of measuring pollution by using sensitive instruments to measure concentrations of chemical pollutants.
Carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide in samples of air or water
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Give an example of measuring pollution by using satellite data to indicate pollutant level.
Satellites can show where the ozone layer is thin or absent, which is linked to CFC level.
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What species indicates no pollution in water?
mayfly larva
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What species indicates low pollution in water?
freshwater shrimp
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What species indicates high pollution in water?
water louse
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What two species indicate no pollution in water?
rat-tailed maggot and sludgeworm
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What species indicates no pollution in air?
Bushy lichens
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What species indicates low pollution in air?
Leafy lichens
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What species indicates high pollution in air?
crusty lichens
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If no lichens are growing, what is it a sign of?
The air is heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide.
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What species are used to monitor air quality?
Lichens - they're damaged by pollution. The cleaner the air, the greater the diversity of lichens that survive.
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An advantage of using living methods (indicator species) to measure pollution levels
Using living methods is relatively quick, cheap and easy way of saying whether an area is polluted or not. No expensive equipment or highly trained workers are needed
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A disadvantage of using living methods (indicator species) to measure pollution levels
Factors other than pollution (e.g. temperature) can influence the survival of indicator species so living methods aren't always reliable.
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Two advantages of using non-living methods (indicator species) to measure pollution levels
1. Directly measuring the pollutants gives reliable, numerical, data thats easy to compare between different sites. 2. The exact pollutants can be identified too.
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A disadvantage of using non-living methods (indicator species) to measure pollution levels
Non-living methods often require more expensive equipment and trained workers than methods that use indicator species.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Name two finite resources that the human population uses.

Back

Fossil fuels and minerals.

Card 3

Front

What happens as human population increases?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Name four pollutants that have become more apparent because of an increase in population.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What does pollution affect?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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