Theory question 208
Environmental Hazards and Conservation(a) State three ways in which human activities affect the composition of the atmosphere (b) Describe the physical changes that are likely to be associated with the increasing reduction of the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere
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(a) Burning fossil fuels (vehicles, factories, power stations) adds carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and smoke; deforestation and bush burning add carbon dioxide and reduce oxygen production; gas flaring; use of CFCs in aerosols and refrigerators; agriculture (methane, fertiliser gases); mining and quarrying dust.
(b) More ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth; rise in temperatures (global warming); melting of ice caps and glaciers; rise in sea level and coastal flooding; changes in rainfall patterns and climate; damage to plants, crops and marine plankton; more skin cancer and eye cataracts.
Physical changes mean changes to the environment.