4.13 Summary
105
Acid Rain
• Acid rain affects the aquatic environment by accumulating in water.
• It alters the pH of aquatic environments, thus affecting the ability of species to
cope.
• Acid rain makes trees unable to cope with extreme weather events and diseases.
• It makes precipitation more acidic, thus leading to corrosion.
• Does not have a significant effect on weather and climate as it only affects the
content of water vapor as well as surface runoff.
Pollution
• Air pollution changes the functioning of basic ecosystems.
• Leads to eutrophication in marine ecosystems, thus affecting water quality.
Disrupts the natural balance of the planet, thus impacting various cycles.
• Reduces the amount of oxygen in the oxygen cycle.
• Air pollution influences the climate in various ways, including global warming
or cooling of the atmosphere.
Seasonal Changes
• Lead to changes in biological and chemical functions of an ecosystem.
• Combines with climate change to cause changes within the ecosystem.
• Affect the weather conditions of a particular place, particularly rainfall patterns.
High Rate of Disasters
• Affect wetlands, coastal systems, and forests by spreading invasive species and
habitat loss.
• Leads to degradation and reduces the ability of forests to act as a carbon sink
effectively.
• Has a minimal impact on climate, but affects processes of the water cycle.
Extinction
• Leads to changes in species’ behavior and declined the performance of ecosystems.
• Has unquantifiable effects on weather, climate, and cycles of the world.
Future Trends
• Climate change will make Africa vulnerable to new disease challenges.
• Ocean acidification will impact Africa’s coral reefs and fisheries negatively.
• Climate change will adversely affect Asia because of the vast population, while
intensive farming practices in Europe will lead to the decline of certain species.
• In North and South America, sea levels could continue rising; severe weather
events may likely become a common phenomenon and temperatures will continue rising.
• Deforestation will result in further loss of vast hectares of Australian forests.
• Extinction of species will continue worsening in Antarctica.
105
Acid Rain
• Acid rain affects the aquatic environment by accumulating in water.
• It alters the pH of aquatic environments, thus affecting the ability of species to
cope.
• Acid rain makes trees unable to cope with extreme weather events and diseases.
• It makes precipitation more acidic, thus leading to corrosion.
• Does not have a significant effect on weather and climate as it only affects the
content of water vapor as well as surface runoff.
Pollution
• Air pollution changes the functioning of basic ecosystems.
• Leads to eutrophication in marine ecosystems, thus affecting water quality.
Disrupts the natural balance of the planet, thus impacting various cycles.
• Reduces the amount of oxygen in the oxygen cycle.
• Air pollution influences the climate in various ways, including global warming
or cooling of the atmosphere.
Seasonal Changes
• Lead to changes in biological and chemical functions of an ecosystem.
• Combines with climate change to cause changes within the ecosystem.
• Affect the weather conditions of a particular place, particularly rainfall patterns.
High Rate of Disasters
• Affect wetlands, coastal systems, and forests by spreading invasive species and
habitat loss.
• Leads to degradation and reduces the ability of forests to act as a carbon sink
effectively.
• Has a minimal impact on climate, but affects processes of the water cycle.
Extinction
• Leads to changes in species’ behavior and declined the performance of ecosystems.
• Has unquantifiable effects on weather, climate, and cycles of the world.
Future Trends
• Climate change will make Africa vulnerable to new disease challenges.
• Ocean acidification will impact Africa’s coral reefs and fisheries negatively.
• Climate change will adversely affect Asia because of the vast population, while
intensive farming practices in Europe will lead to the decline of certain species.
• In North and South America, sea levels could continue rising; severe weather
events may likely become a common phenomenon and temperatures will continue rising.
• Deforestation will result in further loss of vast hectares of Australian forests.
• Extinction of species will continue worsening in Antarctica.