GEOG 106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Dynamic Equilibrium, Permafrost, Ozone Depletion
Document Summary
Persistent organic pollutants: toxic materials that persist in nature due to resistance to degradation and allows them to be transported long distances (pesticides, industrial pcb. Radionuclides: unstable atoms from nuclear decay, results from humans conducting nuclear testing or if an explosion happens. Heavy metals: humans are increasing the release of heavy metals and once they hit a threshold level they can be toxic to the environment. Can travel long distances in wind or water currents: eg. Mercury, nickle, lead (damage to central nervous system: contaminants ingested by fish and other species, the chemicals travel up the food chain, accumulating in the fatty tissue of predatory animals, including people. Circulation of the atmosphere: grasshopper effect evaporate chemicals out of the soil in warmer conditions travel in the atmosphere toward cooler areas, condensing out again when the temperature drops in the form of precipitation.
