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Global Environmental Problems: David P. Chynoweth University of Florida
Global Environmental Problems: David P. Chynoweth University of Florida
Global Warming
Chlorofluorohydrocarbons
Release of refrigerant CFCs
CONCENTRATIONS AND WARMING POTENTIAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES Gas Conc., ppm 360 1.8 1.1 Atm. Halflife, yrs. 50-100 10-12 150 16 Warming Potential, % 66 18 11 5
Weather extremes
more rainfall during shorter periods more evaporation and soil moisture deficiencies
Ecosystem disruption
stress and death of vegetation migration of animals
Human Health
heat stress migration of disease vectors
Reduce anthropogenic sources of methane (flooded crops, releases fossil fuel mining, landfills, organic wastes, ruminants) Reduce release of N from fertilizers and combustion
SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES
Developed countries use most of the fossil energy. U.S. has 4% of the world population and uses 25% of the energy Developing countries use about 10% of energy per capita as the U.S. In the U.S., energy use is 36% for building, 32% for transportation, and 32% for industry Power plants waste energy ( a 400 MW plant wastes 800 MW of heat energy) Developed countries have developed on the basis of use of energy and deforestation. How can we ask emerging countries not to do the same?
Acid Rain
80.0 70.0
Million Tons
60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 Compiled by Worldwatch Institute
Nit
Average Annual Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations, Selected Cities, 1985 and 1995
C ai ro
ha ng ha i S
Te hr an
ei jin g
C al c
ut ta
Correctives (1)
Remove SOx and NOx from stacks (scrub with water and lime) Use low sulfur fuels Remove NOx from auto exhaust (catalytic converters) Use less energy (conservation) Replace fossil fuels with alternative energy forms (biomass, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear)
Correctives (2)
Restore environment (liming, replanting) Emissions monitoring
SO2, NOx, CO2, vol. flow, and opacity Use continuous emission monitoring system
Ozone
Ozone Depletion
Solution
Stop using CFSs Atmosphere will recover in 50 years
1,000 800 600 400 200 0 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Ozone Reduction
Population Trend
Population Trend
2000
1500
1000
500
0 1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
Irrigated
Ve ge t
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
World Irrigated Area Per 1,000 People 1950-1998 with Projections to 2050
0.050
0.040
Hectares
0.030
0.020
0.010
0.000 1950
1970
1990
2010
2030
2050
Solutions
Conserve water use, especially in industry and agriculture Move population centers near water supply Reuse water Reduce deforestation to maintain hydrological cycle
Land Use
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
World Grain Harvested Area Per Person, 1950-98 with Projections to 2050
0.250
0.200
Per Capita (hectares)
0.150
0.100
0.050
0.000
19 50 19 60 19 70 19 80 19 90 20 00 20 07 20 17 20 27 20 37 20 47
100 80 60 40 20 0 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
100.0 80.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Asia Africa South America Europe N. & Cent. Amer. Oceania World
26 49 28 23 24 80 35
40 14 41 38 11 12 30
27 24 26 29 57 8 28
7 13 5 10 8 0 8
Note: "Other" includes exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (133 million hectares) and bioindustrial activities such as pollution (22 million hectares).
400
Number
300
200
100
0 1908 1918 1928 1938 1948 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 Compiled by Worldwatch Institute
Deforestation by Area
Region Forested Area Per Capita 1995 2050 (hectares) (hectares) 0.32 0.12 1.1 2.07 3.32 2.14 0.59 0.11 0.08 1.28 1.54 2.02 1.30 0.36
Africa Asia Europe and Russia North and Central America Oceania South America World
Africa Asia North & Central America Central America North America South America Russia and Europe Europe Russia Oceania WORLD
6,799 15,132 12,656 1,779 10,877 9,736 16,449 4,690 11,759 1,431 62,203
2,302 4,275 9,453 970 8,483 6,800 9,604 1,521 8,083 929 33,363
-0.7 -0.7 -0.1 -1.2 0.2 -0.5 -0.3 0.1 -0.1 -0.3
34 28 75 55 78 70 58 32 69 65 54
23 20 41 18 44 65 36 1 43 34 40
Ecological Problems
Destruction of natural habitats Accumulation of toxic compounds Decreased diversity Species extinction Overharvesting of natural environment Nitrogen accumulation Resource depletion
Other
Thousand Tons
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
5 3 2 1 21 17 4 3 56
26 2 17 8 2 1 0.7 2 59
6 22 0.7 0.3 4 2 3 16 54
8 9 2 1 12 6 8 22 --
E8 Total
Compiled by Worldwatch Institute from: Peter H. Gleick, "Water and Conflict," in Occasional paper No. 1, Project on Environmental Change and Acute Conflict, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and University of Toronto, September 1992.
4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 Compiled by Worldwatch Institute Crossbor Total
50,000,000 40,000,000 30,000,000 20,000,000 10,000,000 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
million
600 400 200 0 1960 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 Compiled by Worldwatch Institute
million
200 150 100 50 0 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Compiled by Worldwatch Institute