2. What Do We Need to Live?
• Air
– 21% Oxygen
– Free of pollution
• Food
– A variety
• Water
– Clean
– Uncontaminated
• Shelter
– Clothes/housing
– Protection from heat/cold/rain
– Fresh
• Hope
– A reason to live
• Love
– Companionship
3. How Do We Get These?
• Is there a cost for breathable air?
• What all is involved in getting food to your plate?
• Where does the water we drink come from?
• How are your shoes and clothing made?
• What natural resources provide the materials for
making and your homes (including power, heat, etc.)
6. Biotic Resources
– Resources that come from organic materials
(living or previously living things).
• Fossil Fuels
• Plant products (Biomass)
• Animal products
• Biodiversity
7. Fossil Fuels
• Coal
– mined out of the ground
• Natural gas
– flammable methane gas
– found near petroleum,
underground
• Oil
– liquid found underground
between folds of rock
8. • Coal
Fossil Fuels
– burned for electricity, heat, and in
factories
• Natural gas
– used to heat homes, generate
electricity, & for manufacturing
• Oil
– Gasoline & Diesel fuel
• for transportation (cars, trucks,
airplanes, ships, trains)
– Lubricants
• petroleum jelly, grease, engine oil
– Plastics
– Asphalt
• paved roads, parking lots, etc.
– Kerosene, propane, butane
• burned for light/heat
12. Biodiversity
• Many different species increases an
ecosystem's stability
• Extinction reduces biodiversity
– habitat loss and degradation (climate change)
– excessive nutrient load and other forms of
pollution
– over-exploitation and unsustainable use
– invasive species
13. Abiotic Resources
– Resources from inorganic (non-living) materials.
• Wind/Air
• Land/Soil
• Water
• Solar Power
• Geothermal Energy
• Minerals
14. Wind/Air
• Surface air contains 21% Oxygen
– essential for cellular respiration in all
living organisms
• Wind produced from uneven
heating of Earth's surface
– air moves from areas of high (hot) to
low (cool) pressure
15. AIR POLLUTION
• An increase in the content of harmful
substances (pollutants) in the lower atmosphere.
– Where do pollutants come from?
• Emissions
– vehicles
– manufacturing plants
– Charcoal grills, lawnmowers
• Photochemical smog
• Ozone loss
– CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
• Smoke
– forest fires, wood stoves, etc.
• Natural disasters
– volcanic eruptions, fires, earthquakes
16.
17. Consequences of Air Pollution
• Humans/animals
–
–
–
–
–
respiratory & renal problems
high blood pressure
problems of nervous system
eye irritation
cancer
• Plants
– reduced growth
– degeneration of chlorophyll
• mottling of leaves (patches/
spots of color)
• Acid rain
• Greenhouse effect
• Ozone layer destruction
18. Land/Soil
• Land for
building &
development
• Soil for growing food
(crops/livestock)
– loamy soil is best
• holds water but allows
for drainage
• rich in nutrients &
organic material
19. SOIL POLLUTION
• Agricultural use of chemical
fertilizers & pesticides
– can kill organisms (decomposers)
that help replenish healthy soil
• Landfills, septic
systems, nuclear &
industrial waste
– buried chemicals/toxins
dissolve into soil/water
20.
21. SOIL POLLUTION
• Clear-cutting forested areas, construction zones
– leads to erosion & leaching of soil nutrients
– can eliminate of beneficial microbes
• Impervious surfaces (cement/asphalt)
– storm water runoff carries pollutants into soil/water
– bioswales help filter naturally
22.
23.
24. Water
•
Drinking water
– required for all cellular reactions
& transport of chemicals
•
Irrigation
– to grow food crops, water lawns, etc.
•
Sanitation
– laundry, showers, dishes & other household uses
•
Recreation
– swimming, river rafting, water-skiing,
sailing, fishing, etc.
•
Landscaping
– fountains, streams/ponds
• The average American uses
150-250 gallons of water EVERY DAY!
25. Hydroelectric Power Plants
• Flowing water moves turbines.
• Turbines spin giant magnets.
• Spinning magnets create a flow
of electrons (electricity!).
26. Water for Industry
• Steam-powered machinery
• Manufacture of products
– food/beverages, drugs, cosmetics,
– chemicals, cleaners, paint, etc.
• Cooling of materials
– metals, nuclear reactors, etc.
27. • Is there any relationship between the
amount of available water and the number
and variety of plants and animals that can
live in a given area?
28. WATER POLLUTION
• Contamination of water
– Pipes
• lead dissolves into water
– Litter/household garbage
– Farming
• fertilizers and pesticides
• algal "blooms"
– Industry waste
• mercury salts, sulfates, minerals
– Runoff
• chemicals from impermeable surfaces
29. • Disease-causing organisms
– cholera, typhoid, hepatitis,
botulism, dysentery, polio, etc.
• swim diapers or pet and farm
animal waste, broken sewers,
• storm runoff/flooding
• Temperature change
– can affect breeding
– eggs/larvae particularly
sensitive
• Depletion of oxygen
– aquatic organisms rely
on dissolved O2 for
breathing
30.
31.
32. Solar Power
• Powers photosynthesis in producers
• Solar heating
– greenhouses
– solar cookers
– water heating
• Solar power plants
33. Solar Wastewater Treatment
• Gresham’s Wastewater Treatment Plant
takes dirty water from bathrooms,
kitchens, laundries and businesses,
cleans it, and returns it to the natural
water cycle via the Columbia River.
• The treatment plant treats an average
13 million gallons of wastewater daily.
• The treatment plant serves
108,000 customers and
treats wastewater from the
cities of Gresham, Fairview
and Wood Village.
34. Geothermal Energy
• Direct use
– hot water from springs or reservoirs near surface
– used for bathing or heating homes
• Electricity generation
– Power plants require water or
steam at high temperatures
(300° to 700°F)
– Geothermal power plants built
where geothermal reservoirs
are located within a mile or two
of the surface
• Heat pumps
– use stable ground or water
temperatures near Earth's
surface to control building
temperatures above ground
36. Renewable vs. Nonrenewable
Biotic
Fossil Fuels
Biomass (Plants)
Animal Product
Abiotic
Minerals
Wind/Air
Water
Land/Soil
Geothermal Energy
Solar Energy
• Only ~ 10% our
nation's energy usage
comes from
renewable resources.
37. Nonrenewable Resources
• Resources being used up faster than they can be
replaced by natural processes are called nonrenewable.
– Fossil Fuels
• in 2011, 42% of all electricity in the US was generated
from burning coal
– Minerals
What's Left?
38.
39. Renewable Resources
• Renewable resources can be replenished by
natural processes at least as quickly as they are
used.
•
•
•
•
Air
Land
Water
Many plant & animal sources, if carefully
managed
Air - 3 to 7 minutes
Shelter - 3 hours (in extreme conditions)
Water - 3 to 10 days
Food - 3 to 5/6 weeks
...and only 3 seconds without spirit/hope, 3 months without companionship/love
Biodiversity can simply be defined as the variation of life at a given site or ecosystem. However, it is through this diversity that natural systems adapt, evolve, and thrive. This link is so strong that the term biodiversity is regarded as synonymous with ecosystem health.1 Diverse ecosystems usually have “increased stability, increased productivity, and resistance to invasion and other disturbances.”2 It is these features that make biodiversity desirable within a given biological community/biome. Most importantly, biodiversity holds enormous value for the entire planet!
“At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change.”
Biodiversity can simply be defined as the variation of life at a given site or ecosystem. However, it is through this diversity that natural systems adapt, evolve, and thrive. This link is so strong that the term biodiversity is regarded as synonymous with ecosystem health.1 Diverse ecosystems usually have “increased stability, increased productivity, and resistance to invasion and other disturbances.”2 It is these features that make biodiversity desirable within a given biological community/biome. Most importantly, biodiversity holds enormous value for the entire planet!
“At least 40 per cent of the world’s economy and 80 per cent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change.”
http://www.greeniacs.com/GreeniacsArticles/Wildlife/Importance-of-Biodiversity.html
Montreal Protocol of 1987 - This pact to phase out the use of CFCs and restore the ozone layer was eventually signed by every country in the United Nations—the first UN treaty to achieve universal ratification.
The unparalleled cooperation has had a major impact. "If we had just kept letting CFCs increase at a pretty nominal rate, characteristic of the 1970s, the decreased ozone levels of the hole would have eventually covered the entire planet," said atmospheric physicist Paul Newman of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "Global ozone dropped a little bit [after CFCs were banned], but the good news is that if we had done nothing, it would have gotten really, really bad." Now a complete rebound seems imminent. Some scientists project that by 2080 global ozone will return to 1950s levels.
Photochemical smog is a unique type of air pollution which is caused by reactions between sunlight and pollutants like hydrocarbons and nitrogen dioxide. Although photochemical smog is often invisible, it can be extremely harmful, leading to irritations of the respiratory tract and eyes. In regions of the world with high concentrations of photochemical smog, elevated rates of death and respiratory illnesses have been observed.
Smog itself is simply airborne pollution which may obscure vision and cause various health conditions. It is caused by small particles of material which become concentrated in the air for a variety of reasons. Commonly, smog is caused by an inversion, in which cool air presses down on a column of warm air, forcing the air to remain stationary. Inversions are notorious in Southern California, where smog can sometimes get so severe that people are warned to stay indoors.
Some of the particulate matter in the air can oxidize very readily when exposed to the UV spectrum. Nitrogen dioxide and various hydrocarbons produced through combustion will interact with sunlight to break down into hazardous chemicals. It doesn't have to be sunny for photochemical smog to form; UV light can also penetrate clouds. The pollutants released through human activity in this situation are known as “primary pollutants,” and they include sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other volatile organic compounds. When these compounds interact with the sun, they form “secondary pollutants” like ozone and additional hydrocarbons.
While ozone is an excellent thing in the upper atmosphere, since it protects the delicate environment of the Earth, it is not desired at ground level. Ozone can be extremely irritating to the respiratory tract, leading to fits of coughing and various medical conditions if exposure is prolonged. The mixture of hazardous pollutants formed by the reaction between UV rays and smog can travel on the wind to rural areas, meaning the photochemical smog does not just impact big cities.
Some measures have been taken around the world to reduce photochemical smog. Tight emissions regulations on vehicles and factories are one such step; many factories must use scrubbers and treatment systems before releasing air from their manufacturing facilities, for example. The use of harmful chemicals is also restricted in some regions of the world, since these chemicals can create photochemical smog. Government agencies also monitor air quality through testing, citing companies which violate the law and issuing warnings when smog levels are dangerous.
Salt Lake City
timescience.com
It may take between 30 and 40 gallons for one bath.
The average toilet uses about 5 gallons of water per flush.
It takes 20-50 gallons of water for one shower.
Washing machines use an average of 25 gallons per load.
The kitchen sink takes roughly 20 gallons per day for preparing food and washing dishes.
The bathroom sink, used for washing hands, shaving and brushing teeth, requires about 15 gallons per day.
These numbers are estimated for the average household in America.
Water is also essential in industry. It is heated and the steam is used to run machinery. Water is used to cool hot metal such as in the production of steel. It is an important element in many products like chemicals, drugs, lotions, shampoos, cosmetics, cleaners, and also beverages. Water is used in processing food and in innumerable factories and industrial processes including the manufacturing of paper. Water used in processing foods and beverages must be absolutely clean, while other industries such as a manufacturing plant may use a lower quality of water. "In the early 1900s, American industry used about 10 to 15 billion gallons of water a day. With the huge growth in industry following World War II, the industrial use of water also grew. By 1980, industry was using about 150-200 billion gallons each day." - Water: A Resource in Crisis by Eileen Lucas
Chinese child swimming in polluted water.
Federal statutory regulation of water pollution has been governed primarily by three pieces of legislation: the Refuse Act (1899), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948), and the Clean Water Act (1972). The Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 1899, commonly known as the Refuse Act, was the first major piece of federal legislation regulating water pollution.
Gresham’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) takes dirty water from bathrooms, kitchens, laundries and businesses, cleans it, and returns it to the natural water cycle via the Columbia River.
The treatment plant treats an average 13 million gallons of wastewater daily.
The treatment plant serves 108,000 customers and treats wastewater from the cities of Gresham, Fairview and Wood Village.
Nearly 300 miles of sewer lines in Gresham carry wastewater to the treatment plant from homes, businesses and institutions.
The WWTP recycles its leftover sludge, or biosolids, for reuse as a crop nutrient and soil conditioner on agricultural land for harvests not for human consumption.
To help reduce the volume of water sent to the wastewater treatment plant, consider reducing the amount of water you use.
WWTP Goes Green, Saves Money and the Environment
The City has an ambitious goal to make its wastewater treatment plant energy independent by 2014, by producing its electrical power onsite through a combination of cogeneration and solar power. This video shows what City staff have accomplished so far and what remains to be done.
Solar Power
The Wastewater Treatment Plant added solar power at the facility in 2010.
Turning Byproduct Gas Into Electrical Power
The WWTP’s Caterpillar lean-burn engine and generator takes methane gas produced from the plant’s digesters and turns it into electrical power and heat used at the facility. This reduces the City’s annual electricity costs by $260,000, an average of $21,600 savings a month.
League of Oregon Cities 2006 Award of Excellence
American Public Works Association 2006 Julian Award for Sustainability (Oregon)
Running on Renewable Energy
The WWTP produces 50% of its energy by converting methane gas into energy. The WWTP also purchases 18% of its electricity as renewable energy from wind farms in Oregon through PGE’s Clean Wind Program. With the addition of 7% solar power, the treatment plant is 75% sustainable.
There have been direct uses of hot water as an energy source since ancient times. Ancient Romans, Chinese, and Native American cultures used hot mineral springs for bathing, cooking, and heating. Today, many hot springs are still used for bathing, and many people believe the hot, mineral-rich waters have natural healing powers.
After bathing, the most common direct use of geothermal energy is for heating buildings through district heating systems. Hot water near the Earth's surface can be piped directly into buildings and industries for heat. A district heating system provides heat for 95% of the buildings in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Industrial applications of geothermal energy include food dehydration, gold mining, and milk pasteurizing. Dehydration, or the drying of vegetable and fruit products, is the most common industrial use of geothermal energy.