HUMAN IMPACT ON THE LITHOSPHERE

AGRICULTURE

• Agriculture-The cultivation of other life forms for food purposes

• Land must be cleared for agriculture makes area less diverse

• Monoculture-Only one species is present• Easier for farmers to maintain• Less cost efficient

AGRICULTURE• Pesticides-Chemicals designed to protect crops from parasites

• Pesticides can runoff into streams or seep into the groundwater• Pesticides can harm organisms Offset food chains

AGRICULTURE

• Irrigation-Process where farmers supply water to dry land in order to help the growing of crops• Helps saturate very dry land

• Prevents farmers from having to rely on rainfall

• Problems with irrigation:• Groundwater runs out (Aquifer

depletion)

• Ground sinks due to depleted groundwater (San Joaquin Valley)

• Over irrigation may cause water to mix with pesticides and cause water pollution

AGRICULTURE

DEFORESTATION

• Deforestation-Process where trees are removed and not replanted• Done in order to clear area for construction• Trees are also used for products such as paper, firewood

DEFORESTATION

• As trees are removed the topsoil is weakened• This causes an increase in erosion due to soil not being held in place

• If more trees are cut down then carbon dioxide will increase and oxygen levels will decrease• Photosynthesis will stop

• If trees are burned that also releases carbon dioxide Could lead to global warming

DEFORESTATION

URBANIZATION

• Urbanization is the growth of cities as more people move from rural areas to urban areas

• 70% of people in North America live in a city• By 2025-5 Billion people will live in cities

URBANIZATION

• Effects of Urbanization on the environment• Destroys ecosystems – Forests are cleared and wetlands are filled

• Increased erosion

• More factories More emissions More greenhouse gases

SOLUTIONS

• Barriers around construction sites to catch eroded sediment

• Keep sediment from polluting streams

• Modern landfills minimize leakage. Ventilation at landfills cipher out toxic gases

• Mountaintop removal mining-Destructive form of surface mining that blasts away the tops of mountains to acquire resources• Done in the Appalachian

Mountains

• Massive transport trucks

• Burning coal for power releases pollutants

MOUNTAINSIDES