Environmental Impacts of Human Activities on Earth
Environmental Impacts of Human Activities
A significant change in the environment caused by human activity is called an environmental impact.
Types of Impacts
According to the Conclusions
- Positive effect: Improves the environment or human nature itself.
- Adverse impacts: Harm human nature itself or the environment.
What Affects the Environment
- Environmental Impacts: Changes to some other living beings, bodies of water, air, and land relief.
- Human impacts on the environment: Directly affect our way of life.
In Terms of the Extent of the Changes
- Local effects: The consequences of these effects are seen only in the immediate area.
- Regional effects: Large areas are affected, often far from the place where the action that led to the impact occurred.
- Global influences: The effects impact the entire planet.
Negative Impacts on the Natural Environment
Human activities, such as war and industrial activities, along with the increasing urban population, have diverse harmful effects on the natural environment.
The ease or difficulty of correcting the harmful effects will determine the level of concern.
Impacts on Different Systems
- Impacts on the atmosphere: Reduce air quality and change the characteristics of the atmosphere.
- Impacts on the hydrosphere: Cause a reduction in the quality of water bodies.
- Impacts on the natural landscape: Profoundly alter the landscape through the construction of bridges and dams.
- Impacts on soil: Leave the soil unprotected, leading to erosion or contamination. Impermeable soils are also threatened.
- Impacts on the biosphere: Cause irreversible damage to the biosphere, leading to species loss and a decrease in biodiversity.
Atmospheric Impacts
Gas emissions and the effects of microscopic solid particles that remain suspended in the atmosphere are significant concerns. Air pollution from soot and solid particles is created by burning various materials, resulting in microscopic byproducts. Due to their size and stickiness, these are dangerous pollutants for human health. A black layer of dirt also forms on buildings.
Impacts on the Hydrosphere
There are three main types of effects:
- Changes in water quality: Pollution, reduced dissolved oxygen, and altered water temperatures.
- Changes in water dynamics: Alterations to the water cycle, aquifer recharge, and river systems.
- Changes in water distribution: Diversion of water between river basins, depletion of aquifers, and the drying up of reservoirs and wetlands, leaving vast territories flooded. These changes often occur in continental waters.
Three Common Cases in Continental Waters
- Eutrophication: The enrichment of water with inorganic nutrients, particularly nitrates and phosphates, leading to excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants. Many herbivorous creatures consume the abundant oxygen, ultimately killing off other organisms except for anaerobic bacteria. The water turns dark and murky.
- Salinization of aquifers: Occurs in coastal areas. When excessive amounts of water are extracted from wells, the freshwater supply is reduced, allowing saltwater to intrude and replace it.
- Warming of water bodies: Many industries use large amounts of water to cool boilers, motors, and other equipment. This water is often taken from rivers and returned at a higher temperature with less dissolved oxygen, significantly impacting wildlife.