CGS NS 202 Study Guide - Final Guide: Ecological Footprint, Soil Health, Carbon Cycle
16 May 2018
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• Possible Solutions
o Fixing leaking water fixtures
o Spending less time in the shower
o Drought tolerant landscapes
• Ecosystems
o Increased coral bleaching
o Changes in carbon flux
o Expansion of disease zones
• Possible solutions
o Protect endangered species
o Regulation of trade for endangered species
o Ecotourism
• Food
o Local negative effects on small farmers and local fisheries
o Chronic hunger
o Decrease in cereal productivity at low latitudes
o Increase in cereal productivity at high latitudes
• Possible solutions
o Education about sustainable farming practices
o Food donations
o Resources to implement sustainable practices
• Reducing Ecological Footprint
o Water: water saving devices, rainwater capture
o Energy: energy saving lighting and appliances, renewable energy source
• Ecological Footprints
o Waste disposal: recycling, compost, reuse
o Food: eat less meat, locally produce food, sustain grown products
o Transportation: fuel efficient vehicles, public transport.
• Videos
o Our Soil Is Dying
▪ Decline in soil health because of misuse
▪ Topsoil loss has declined because of modern agricultural practices
▪ Soil has been lost at 17x rate in US than when it is formed
▪ Tilling, and spraying chemicals results in changing the original chemicals and system in the soil.
▪ Healthy soil→ healthy plants→ humans. Dying soilless nutrient food being grown.
o Soil: an essential ingredient to healthy food and nutrition
▪ Hidden hunger= people that are lacking micronutrients
▪ Unsustainable soil management depletes soil nutrients
▪ Nutrient depleted soil cannot produce the soil that is necessary for human health
o 97% Statistic Videos Climate Change
▪ The statistic says that 97 percent of scientists believe that earth’s climate is warming and that human
activity is the most likely source. But is that statistic truly factual and accurate? No, says Dr. Roy
Spencer, a former NASA scientist. While Spencer is a part of the 97 percent of scientists who agree
that climate change is due to human activity, he argues that it’s not totally clear the extent to which
humans are to blame. Spencer says, after research and analysis, that he doesn’t agree with the 97
percent consensus. He says that over time, the belief system that humans are responsible for the
entirety of climate change will slowly evaporate.
▪ Spencer also asserted that the term, “climate change denier” may not have the meaning
that some readers think it does. Spencer says that many think a “climate change denier” is one who
completely and wholly does not believe that climate change is caused by human activity. Spencer
argues that a denier can be someone who only they party disagrees with the assertion.
o 4 ways to avoid drought David Sedlak
▪ David Sedlak’s goal is to shift our water supply towards new, local sources of water and create a
system that is capable of withstanding any of the challenges climate change may throw at us in the
coming years.
▪ Stormwater harvesting-- harvest vital water source from rain and storms.
▪ Water reuse-- reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation to turn treated wastewater into drinking
water
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Possible solutions, fixing leaking water fixtures, spending less time in the shower, drought tolerant landscapes, ecosystems. Increased coral bleaching: changes in carbon flux, expansion of disease zones, possible solutions, protect endangered species, regulation of trade for endangered species, ecotourism. Local negative effects on small farmers and local fisheries: chronic hunger, decrease in cereal productivity at low latitudes. Topsoil loss has declined because of modern agricultural practices: decline in soil health because of misuse, soil has been lost at 17x rate in us than when it is formed, healthy soil healthy plants humans. The statistic says that 97 percent of scientists believe that earth"s climate is warming and that human activity is the most likely source. While spencer is a part of the 97 percent of scientists who agree that climate change is due to human activity, he argues that it"s not totally clear the extent to which humans are to blame.
