2. Answer the questions
1) What ecological problems do you know?
2) Why are ecological problems much spoken about nowaday
3) What can you tell about land, water and air pollution?
4) What is deforestation?
5) Why is overpopulation a problem?
6) What causes the greenhouse effect and acid rains?
7) People are responsible for the climate change, aren't they?
8) Why do animals and plants become extinct?
Ответы
Ответ:
1) **Ecological Problems:**
- Deforestation: The large-scale clearing of forests, often for agriculture or logging, leading to habitat loss and environmental imbalance.
- Pollution: Contamination of air, water, and soil by harmful substances, such as chemicals, plastics, and toxins.
- Overpopulation: The presence of too many individuals in a given area, straining available resources and contributing to various environmental issues.
- Greenhouse Effect: The trapping of heat in the Earth's atmosphere due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, leading to climate change.
- Acid Rain: Precipitation with elevated levels of acidic components, primarily caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
- Habitat Loss: Destruction or fragmentation of natural habitats, often due to human activities, leading to the displacement or extinction of species.
- Climate Change: Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions, largely influenced by human activities like burning fossil fuels.
2) **Importance of Ecological Issues Today:**
- Increased Awareness: Growing knowledge about the impact of human activities on the environment.
- Globalization: Interconnectedness makes environmental issues more widespread and significant.
- Technology: Access to information allows for greater awareness and advocacy.
- Immediate Threats: The urgency of addressing issues like climate change and pollution due to their immediate impact on ecosystems and human well-being.
3) **Land, Water, and Air Pollution:**
- Land Pollution: Contamination of land by industrial waste, agricultural chemicals, and improper disposal of waste.
- Water Pollution: Contamination of water bodies by pollutants, including chemicals, heavy metals, and plastics.
- Air Pollution: Presence of harmful substances in the air, often from industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and burning of fossil fuels.
4) **Deforestation:**
- Deforestation is the clearing or removal of large expanses of forests, often for agricultural expansion, logging, or infrastructure development. It leads to habitat loss, biodiversity decline, and contributes to climate change.
5) **Overpopulation:**
- Overpopulation is a problem because it strains available resources such as food, water, and energy.
- It leads to habitat destruction and fragmentation, affecting biodiversity.
- Increased waste and pollution result from the higher demand for goods and services.
6) **Greenhouse Effect and Acid Rains:**
- Greenhouse Effect: Caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide and methane) in the atmosphere, trapping heat and leading to a warming of the Earth.
- Acid Rains: Caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acidic precipitation, harming ecosystems and infrastructure.
7) **Human Responsibility for Climate Change:**
- Human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, contribute significantly to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations.
- Deforestation and land-use changes alter the natural balance, affecting carbon storage and contributing to climate change.
8) **Causes of Animal and Plant Extinction:**
- Habitat Destruction: Deforestation, urbanization, and other human activities destroy natural habitats.
- Pollution: Contamination of air, water, and soil negatively affects many species.
- Climate Change: Altered environmental conditions disrupt ecosystems and can lead to the decline of species unable to adapt.
- Overharvesting: Unsustainable hunting, fishing, or gathering of species for commercial or subsistence purposes can lead to population decline and extinction.