Planets are a real scourge of the 21st century. Also, many think about the issue of preserving and restoring the environment. After all, otherwise future generations will get only a lifeless surface.
No man is an island!
It is likely that at least once in a lifetime each of us asked ourselves the question: "What environmental problems of the planet exist at the present time and what can I do to solve them?" It would seem, indeed, that only one person can? Nevertheless, each of us is capable of much. First, begin to "look after" the environment on your own. For example, throwing garbage into strictly designated containers, and it will not be superfluous to also pay attention to the separation of waste into specific materials (glass in one tank, and plastic in another). In addition, you can regulate and gradually reduce the consumption of both electricity and other resources (water, gas) necessary for your comfortable living. In the event that you are a driver and are faced with the choice of a suitable vehicle, then you should pay attention to cars that have a low content of harmful compounds in exhaust gases. It will also be right - both for you and for the whole planet - a small engine size installed in the selected car model. And, as a result, reduced fuel consumption. With such simple and accessible activities for everyone, we can solve the environmental problems of the planet.
Let's help the whole world
Despite everything described earlier, you will not be left alone in this struggle. As a rule, the policy of many modern states is aimed at the well-known environmental problems of the planet and, of course, ways to solve them. In addition, there is an active propaganda program, the purpose of which is to limit and exterminate rare representatives of flora and fauna. Nevertheless, such a policy of world powers is quite purposeful and allows you to create conditions for the normal life of the population, which at the same time do not violate natural ecosystems.
Environmental problems of the planet: list
Modern scientists identify about a few dozen basic issues that require special attention. Such planets arise as a result of significant changes in the natural environment. And those, in turn, are the result of devastating natural disasters, as well as the ever-increasing environmental problems of the planet, it is quite easy to list. One of the first places is air pollution. Each of us knows from an early age that, due to the content of a certain percentage of oxygen in the air space of the planet, we are able to exist normally. However, every day we not only consume oxygen, but also exhale carbon dioxide. But there are still plants and factories, cars and planes are traveling all over the world and knocking on the rails of the train. All of the above objects in the process of their work emit substances of a certain composition, which only aggravates the situation and increases the environmental problems of the planet Earth. Unfortunately, even despite the fact that modern production facilities are equipped with the latest developments in cleaning systems, the state of the airspace is gradually deteriorating.
Deforestation
Since the school biology course, we know that representatives flora contribute to maintaining the balance of substances in the atmosphere. Thanks to natural processes, such as photosynthesis, the green spaces of the Earth not only purify the air of harmful impurities, but also gradually enrich it with oxygen. Thus, it is easy to conclude that the extermination of flora, in particular forests, only exacerbates the global environmental problems of the planet. Unfortunately, the economic activity of mankind leads to the fact that felling is carried out in a particularly large scale, but the replenishment of green spaces is often not carried out.
Reducing fertile land
Similar ecological problems of the planet arise as a result of the previously mentioned deforestation. In addition, the misuse of various agricultural techniques and improper farming also leads to the depletion of the fertile layer. And pesticides and other chemical fertilizers for many years poison not only the soil, but also all living organisms that are interconnected with it. But, as you know, the layers of fertile land are restored much more slowly than forests. It will take more than one century to fully replace the lost land cover.
Reducing fresh water supplies
If you are asked: "What environmental problems of the planet are known?", you have the right to immediately recall the life-giving moisture. Indeed, in some regions there is already an acute shortage of this resource. And as time goes on, this situation will only get worse. Therefore, the above topic can be considered one of the most important in the list of "Ecological problems of the planet". Examples of misuse of water can be found everywhere. Starting from the pollution of lakes and rivers by all kinds of industrial enterprises and ending with the irrational consumption of resources in household level. In this regard, already at the present time, many natural reservoirs are closed areas for swimming. However, the environmental problems of the planet do not end there. The list can be continued with the next paragraph.
Extermination of flora and fauna
Scientists have calculated that in the modern world, one representative of the animal or plant world of the planet dies every hour. At the same time, it is important to remember that not only poachers are involved in such actions, but also ordinary people who consider themselves respectable citizens of their country. Every day, mankind conquers more and more new territories both for the construction of their own housing and for agricultural and industrial needs. And animals have to move to new lands or die, remaining to live in an ecosystem destroyed by anthropogenic factors. Among other things, it must be remembered that all of the above factors also adversely affect the state of flora and fauna, both present and future. For example, pollution of water bodies, destruction of forests, etc., entails the disappearance of the diversity of the animal and plant world that our ancestors used to see. Even over the last hundred years, the species diversity has significantly decreased under the direct or indirect impact of the anthropogenic factor.
Earth's protective shell
If the question arises: "What environmental problems of the planet are currently known?", then holes in the ozone layer are easily remembered. Modern reference economic activity human means the release of special substances that cause thinning of the protective shell of the Earth. Consequently, the formation of new so-called "holes", as well as an increase in the area of existing ones. Many people know this problem, but not everyone understands how all this can turn out. A leads to the fact that the surface of the Earth reaches a dangerous solar radiation which adversely affects all living organisms.
desertification
The global environmental problems presented earlier are causing the development of a severe catastrophe. It's about desertification. As a result of mismanagement of agriculture, as well as pollution water resources and deforestation, there is a gradual weathering of the fertile layer, drainage of soils and other negative consequences, under the influence of which the land covers become unsuitable not only for further use for economic purposes, but also for human habitation.
Reduction of mineral reserves
A similar topic is also present in the list "Ecological problems of the planet." It is quite easy to list the currently used resources. These are oil, coal of various varieties, peat, gas and other organic components of the solid shell of the Earth. According to scientists, in the next hundred years, mineral reserves will come to an end. In this regard, humanity has begun to actively introduce technologies that work on renewable resources, such as wind, solar, and others. However, the use of alternative sources is still quite small compared to more familiar and traditional ones. In connection with this state of affairs, modern governments of countries are conducting various incentive programs that contribute to a deeper introduction of alternative energy sources both in industry and in the everyday life of ordinary citizens.
overpopulation
Over the past century, a significant increase in the number of people has been observed on the globe. In particular, over a period of just 40 years, the world's population has doubled - from three to six billion people. According to scientists, by 2040 this number will reach nine billion, which, in turn, will lead to a particularly acute shortage of food, water and energy resources. The number of people living in poverty will increase significantly. There will be an increase in deadly diseases.
Municipal solid waste
In the modern world, a person produces several kilograms of garbage every day - this is cans from under canned food and drinks, and polyethylene, and glass, and other waste. Unfortunately, at present, their secondary use is carried out only in countries with a highly developed standard of living. In all others, such household waste is taken to landfills, the territory of which often occupies vast areas. In countries with a low standard of living, heaps of garbage can lie right on the streets. This not only contributes to soil and water pollution, but also increases the growth of disease-causing bacteria, which in turn leads to widespread acute and sometimes fatal diseases. It should be noted that even the Earth's atmosphere is filled with tons of debris left after the launch of research probes, satellites and spacecraft into the vastness of the Universe. And since it is quite difficult to get rid of all these traces of human activity in a natural way, it is necessary to develop effective methods solid waste processing. Many modern states are implementing national programs that promote the spread of easily recyclable materials.
Representing serious danger the existence of all mankind, did not take shape immediately. Only by the beginning of the 80s. this topic has become the subject of serious research by various specialists.
Environmental danger is one of those problems that drew attention long before it became a completely tangible reality. A great merit in this belongs to the prominent Russian scientist V.I. Vernadsky, who warned more than 80 years ago that if we want to continue on the path of social progress, we must seriously think about the interaction of nature and society. If society does not develop on a reasonable basis, in accordance with the natural laws of nature, he noted, then the death of all life on Earth is inevitable. IN AND. Vernadsky created the concept of the evolution of the biosphere into the noosphere - the sphere of mind on Earth. He considered the noosphere as a certain stage, a stage in the development of the biosphere, when the conscious, transforming activity of people becomes real. driving force this development. At the same time, the idea of the noosphere was developed by the French scientists E. Leroy, P. Thayer de Chardin. They tried to substantiate the uniqueness of man as an integral part of the biosphere, they understood the noosphere as an ideal formation, as a special non-biospheric “shell of thought” of the planet. Based on these ideas, they built the concept of harmonizing the relationship between man and nature, while calling for the rejection of selfish aspirations in the name of uniting all of humanity. Even then, an understanding was formed that a new era was coming - the era of planetary phenomena, and that in these new conditions people would be able to resist the natural and social elements only together.
On the present stage In the development of the “man-society” system, the dynamics of global environmental problems is observed: the replacement of some problems occurs not because the severity of the real threat to life is decreasing, but because new, no less important environmental problems arise all the time, such as climate warming, thinning of the ozone layer, fallout of acid rain. The dynamics of global environmental problems is understood as the emergence of new global environmental problems, while existing ones do not lose their relevance, but are not solved, we are talking about the effect of the so-called "snowball" of environmental problems.
The content of the concept of "global environmental problems" has changed from insoluble, the existence of which inevitably leads to the death of a person, to reducing them to a metaphor, as a kind of language trap. The last approach is caused by the crisis of human thinking.
What are the global environmental problems in the 21st century? What is the probability of their solution? What role does it play in their decision? All the material presented below contains answers to the questions posed.
The dynamic development of environmental problems at the beginning of the new millennium puts forward the problem of global climate change associated with the "greenhouse effect". Sources of greenhouse gases are anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, freon and some other gases. The impact of anthropogenic emissions is exacerbated by a number of indirect causes, which include deforestation, landscape and land use changes. By 2000, the increase in the average annual temperature of the northern hemisphere was 1.3 degrees Celsius higher than in the middle of the 20th century. Industrial emissions of carbon dioxide from factories, plants, cars, and aircraft are especially dangerous. An increase in emissions of this substance is predicted throughout the 21st century, which is due to the combustion of fossil energy sources (oil, gas, coal). By 2100, the average global temperature will rise to a maximum of 5.8 degrees Celsius. The greatest influence on climate warming, based on carbon dioxide emissions, is exerted by industrialized countries, such as the United States,. Grade negative impact carbon dioxide emissions within the ETR are estimated by scientists ambiguously. There is an opinion that the increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere should slow down and stabilize by 2100.
The second global environmental problem is the destruction of the ozone layer, which requires its cardinal solution. As you know, the ozone layer, located at an altitude of over 20 km, protects the earth's surface from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, among which the greatest danger is short-wave radiation. Especially negatively they affect the health of the population, its immune and gene systems. Depletion of the ozone layer leads to an increase in the rate of infectious diseases. The reason for the thinning of the ozone layer and the formation of "holes" are emissions of fluorinated and chlorinated hydrocarbons (FHC) and halogen compounds (halons) into the atmosphere. Ultra-violet rays are destroyed by plankton, which are the basis of the food chain in the sea and ocean. Due to the warming of the waters in which plankton live, there is a change in its quantity and species composition, and in general, it will affect the supply of food. Scientists have found the effect of ozone depletion (by 25%) on a decrease in soybean yield by 20-25%. In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was adopted, significantly limiting chlorofluorocarbon-12, or freon, which have the most damaging effect on the ozone layer. Russia is also one of the largest producers and consumers of ozone-depleting substances. UN environmental programs envisage an increase in the content of chlorine over several decades, even if all countries reduce its emissions into the atmosphere by 50%. According to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Atmosphere (1985) and the Montreal Protocol (1987), since 1993 annual consumption ozone-depleting substances should be reduced to 80% of the 1986 level. A ban is imposed on the import of chemicals from countries that have not signed the protocol, as well as on the import of goods containing CFCs (fluorinated and chlorinated hydrocarbons) and halogens. The creation of an international climate fund is envisaged, from which countries can receive assistance for investment in technology that contributes to the preservation of the ozone layer.
The third problem is acid rain and transboundary air pollution. Sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide, resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels, can be carried by wind to considerable distances from the source of emission and return to the ground with rain, snow, and. Acid rains change the acidity of lakes, rivers, soils in places where they fall, lead to the death of many animals and plants, and to significant losses and costs in the public sector. Acid precipitation leads to the death of forests, to the sea of fish in inland waters, which are hundreds of kilometers away from the source of pollution. Corrosion of open metal structures also occurs, monuments of culture and history are damaged. Germany also makes the main contribution to the transboundary acidification of the European territories of Russia. Russia is more of a "consumer" of transboundary air pollution than its exporter.
The fourth problem is the reduction of forest area. In the twentieth century vast forests were destroyed, about half of the tropical forests. While maintaining the current rate of deforestation, their area will decrease by early XXI in. by 40%. The value of forests is very high, they produce the bulk of oxygen, which plays an important role in ensuring a closed cycle of substances in, deforestation leads to soil erosion, a reduction in the diversity of flora and fauna, degradation of water basins, a reduction in the absorption of carbon dioxide, a decrease in the amount of fuel and industrial wood. Russia accounts for 22% of the world's forests. To the greatest extent, the processes of degradation and reduction of forest areas are typical for South America, Asia and the countries of the Pacific basin.
The next global problem is the reduction of biological diversity. According to experts, the planet may lose up to half of its biological diversity. Possible ways solutions - increasing the areas of specially protected natural areas national level, this is in Germany, . In Russia, this figure is very low. The Red Book of the Russian Federation includes a list of rare animals and plants, the disappearance of which last years increased by 1.6 times.
There are also other global environmental problems, which include the decline in soil fertility, the depletion of mineral resources, water problems, demographic problems, food supply and others. The problems of degradation of the agricultural resource base are calculated by the existence of the . In total, during the existence of agriculture, 2 billion hectares of biologically productive soils have been lost. The main reasons for the loss of land resources are soil erosion, mainly due to uncontrolled water supply, mechanical soil degradation (overconsolidation, violation of the structure of the arable layer, etc.), as well as a decrease in the natural fertility of the land. One of the most serious manifestations of land degradation is "technogenic desertification". The problem of land degradation is closely related to the production of monocultures in developing countries Oh. As a rule, monocultures quickly deplete soils, environmental problems arise due to the use of chemical fertilizers. This is especially true for African countries (, etc.). In Russia, there is a steady trend towards a reduction in productive areas.
As for the problem of the exhaustibility of mineral resources, oil reserves will last for 40 years, gas - for 60 years, coal - a little over 100 years, mercury - for 21 years, etc. The world community is recommended to carry out a total reconstruction of the global economic system without prejudice to economic growth in three areas: to stabilize the increase in population, to switch to alternative sources energy generation, as well as through the use of industrial materials that can be recycled.
In terms of global reserves, there is a huge surplus of water resources on Earth, but the amount of water that is unusable due to pollution is almost equal to the amount consumed by the entire economy. For its needs, mankind mainly uses fresh water, the volume of which is slightly more than 2%, and the distribution of natural resources across the globe is extremely uneven. In Europe, Asia, where 70% of the world's population lives, only 39% are concentrated river waters. The total consumption of river waters is increasing in all regions of the world. The lack of water is exacerbated by the deterioration of its quality. The waters used in industry, agriculture and everyday life are returned to water bodies in the form of poorly treated or generally untreated effluents. Currently, many rivers are heavily polluted - the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Ohio, Volga, Dnieper, Dniester, etc. In Russia, water is purified up to a maximum of 80%, although there are modern technologies that allow water to be purified up to 100%. Pollution of fresh water continues to progress in our country, in recent years, pollution of not only surface, but also groundwater has increased. Over the past 50 years, catches of valuable species of commercial fish have decreased by almost 20 times, and in the basin by 6 times. In Russia, the rivers and lakes of the Irkutsk region are the reservoir of fresh water, the Kemerovo region takes the second place.
Absolutely all tendencies of deterioration of the ecological situation extend to the territory of Russia. Moreover, Russia acts as one of the regions that make a significant contribution to the development, preservation and strengthening of negative global environmental trends. Resource and energy consumption in the country per unit of gross national product is 2-3 times higher than in countries, 5-6 times higher than in . There are two polar views on natural features Russia. According to one assessment, large areas of wetlands contribute to the intensification of some anthropogenic impacts. Based on a different approach, the North of Russia, Western and Eastern Siberia and Far East, like Scandinavia, are centers of environmental stabilization of the first order, which together with Scandinavia represent 13 million square meters. km of taiga and forest tundra.
The well-known American historian, Professor of the University of Arizona Douglas Weiner highly appreciated the scientific ecological potential of Russia in the 20-30s, since in our country for the first time in the world they began to allocate specially protected areas for the study of ecological communities. Soviet government was the first to implement this idea. In addition, in our country, for the first time, the importance of regional land use planning and the restoration of destroyed landscapes, which must be carried out on the basis of environmental studies, was realized. At present, these ideas and concepts are guided by the development of policy in the field of protected areas not only in Russia, but also in many other countries. These same ideas have received international recognition in the UNEP Biosphere Reserve Program.
The concept of sustainable development has been criticized since its inception, but nevertheless it remains the only real concept the survival of mankind. The solution of global problems is associated with the formation of a new man, according to V.I. Vernadsky, a man of the noosphere, that is, with a formed ecological worldview. The tool for the formation of such a personality should be statistic ethics, namely environmental ethics.
The environmental crisis is characterized by the presence of a number of problems that threaten sustainable development. Let's consider only some of them.
Destruction of the ozone layer . The content of ozone in the atmosphere
insignificant and amounts to 0.004% by volume. Ozone is formed in the atmosphere under the action of electrical discharges, synthesized from oxygen under the action of cosmic UV radiation. Within the atmosphere, elevated concentrations of ozone form the ozone layer, which is essential for life on Earth. The ozone shield attenuates deadly UV radiation in the atmosphere between 40 and 15 km above the earth's surface by about 6,500 times. The destruction of the ozone shield by 50% increases UV radiation by 10 times, which affects the vision of animals and humans and can have other detrimental effects on living organisms. The disappearance of the ozonosphere would lead to unpredictable consequences - an outbreak of skin cancer, the destruction of plankton in the ocean, mutations of flora and fauna. The appearance of the so-called ozone hole over Antarctica was first recorded by ground-based and satellite measurements in the mid-199970s. The area of this hole was 5 million m², and the ozone in the air column was 30-50% less than the norm.
Several suggestions have been made about the causes of the destruction of the ozone layer: the launch of spacecraft, supersonic aircraft, the significant production of freons. Subsequently, based on scientific research, it was concluded that freons, which are widely used in refrigeration and aerosol cans.
The international community has taken a number of measures aimed at preventing the destruction of the ozone layer. In 1977, the United Nations Environment Program adopted a plan of action on the ozone layer, in 1985 a conference was held in Vienna that adopted the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, a list of substances that adversely affect the ozone layer was established, and a decision was made on mutual information states on the production and use of these substances, on the measures taken.
Thus, the harmful effects of changes in the ozone layer on human health and the environment were officially announced, and that measures to protect the ozone layer required international cooperation. The signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 was decisive, according to which control over the production and use of freo-
new The protocol was signed by more than 70 countries, including Russia. In accordance with the requirements of these agreements, the production of freons harmful to the ozone layer must be stopped by 2010.
The greenhouse effect. The release of many gases into the atmosphere: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons, i.e. methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), etc., which accumulate as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels and other production processes, leads to the greenhouse effect, although these substances are almost not dangerous as independent pollutants (except for high concentrations).
The mechanism of the greenhouse effect is quite simple. Ordinary solar radiation in cloudless weather and a clean atmosphere relatively easily reaches the Earth's surface, is absorbed by the soil surface, vegetation, etc. Heated surfaces give off thermal energy back into the atmosphere, but already in the form of long-wave radiation, which is not scattered, but absorbed by the molecules of these gases (CO2 absorbs 18% of the heat given off), causing intense thermal motion of the molecules and an increase in temperature.
Atmospheric gases (nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor) do not absorb heat radiation, but scatter it. The concentration of CO2 annually increases by 0.8-1.5 mg/kg. It is believed that with a doubling of the CO2 content in the air, the average annual temperature will rise by 3-5ºС, which will cause global climate warming, and in 125 years we can expect massive melting of the ice of Antarctica, a rise in the average level of the World Ocean, flooding of a significant part of the coastal territory and other negative consequences. . In addition to the greenhouse effect, the presence of these gases contributes to the formation smog.
Smog comes in wet, dry, and icy forms. wet smog (London type) - a combination of gaseous pollutants, dust and fog droplets. Thus, in a 100-200-meter layer of air, a poisonous thick dirty yellow fog-moist smog arises. It is formed in countries with a maritime climate, where fogs are frequent and relative humidity is high.
dry smog (Los Angeles type) - secondary air pollution as a result of chemical reactions accompanied by
resulting in the appearance of ozone. Dry smog does not form fog, but a bluish haze.
ice smog (Alaskan type). It occurs in the Arctic and Subarctic at low temperatures in the anticyclone. A dense fog is formed, consisting of the smallest crystals of ice and, for example, sulfuric acid.
Global warming - one of the most significant consequences of anthropogenic pollution of the biosphere. It manifests itself in climate and biota changes: the production process in ecosystems, shifting the boundaries of plant formations, and changing crop yields. Especially strong changes concern the high and middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The rise in ocean level due to warming will be 0.1-0.2 m, which may lead to flooding of the mouths of large rivers, especially in Siberia. At the regular conference of the countries-participants of the Convention on Prevention of Climate Change, held in Rome in 1996, the need for coordinated international action to solve this problem was once again confirmed.
Tropical forest destruction. Over the past 50 years, with the participation of man, 2/3 of the forests covering the Earth have been destroyed. Over the past 100 years, 40% of the forests that existed on Earth have been irretrievably lost. The tropical rainforest is one of the most important suppliers of oxygen to the atmosphere and plays a huge role in maintaining the oxygen balance. Rainforests are called the "green lungs of the planet". The problem is that these forests have already been destroyed by 40%. Every year, 15-20 million hectares of tropical forest are lost in the world, which is equivalent to half the area of Finland. The greatest losses were suffered by 10 countries of the world, including Brazil, Mexico, India, Thailand. If the destruction of tropical forests continues at the same pace, then in 30-40 years it will no longer remain on Earth.
Due to the deforestation of tropical forests, the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere decreases annually by 10-12 billion tons, and the content of carbon dioxide compared to the middle of the 20th century. increased by 10-12%. There is a risk of oxygen imbalance.
The main causes of deforestation are: the plowing of forest land for agricultural land; increase in demand for timber
spring fuel; industrial deforestation; implementation of large-scale development projects.
According to the UN, approximately 90% of the rural and 30% of the urban population in Asia, Africa and Latin America use mainly woodfuel. Commercial logging
The main works are carried out without taking into account environmental requirements and, as a rule, are not accompanied by planting trees in clearings.
After the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro (1992), developing countries confirmed their readiness to reach an international consensus on the problem of conservation of forest resources, intending to take measures on their part to ensure the sustainable development of forestry.
Water shortage. Many scientists attribute it to a continuous increase in air temperature over the past decade due to an increase in the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is not difficult to make a chain of problems that give rise to each other: a large energy release (solution of the energy problem) - the greenhouse effect - lack of water - lack of food (crop failures). Over the past 100 years, the temperature has increased by 0.6ºС. In 1995-1998 there was a particularly large increase. Carbon dioxide, methane and some other gases absorb thermal radiation and increase the greenhouse effect.
An even more important factor is the sharp increase in water consumption for industrial and domestic purposes. The lack of water has sharply worsened the ecological situation in many regions and caused a food crisis.
Desertification. This is the name of the totality of natural and anthropogenic processes that lead to the destruction (violation) of the balance in ecosystems and to the degradation of all forms of organic life in a particular area. Desertification occurs in all natural areas peace.
The main reason for the current increase in desertification in various countries of the world is the discrepancy between the existing structure of the economic use of natural resources and the potential natural possibilities of this landscape, population growth, an increase in anthropogenic pressures, and the imperfection of the socio-economic structure of a number of countries. According to UNEP*, now deserts of anthropogenic origin
more than 9 million km² are occupied, and up to 7 million hectares of land are annually removed from productive use.
Pollution of the oceans. The World Ocean, covering 2/3 of the earth's surface, is a huge reservoir, the mass of water in which is 1.4 10²¹ kg. Ocean water makes up 97% of all water on the planet. The oceans provide 1/6 of all animal proteins consumed by the world's population for food. The ocean, especially its coastal zone, plays a leading role in maintaining life on Earth, because about 70% of the oxygen entering the planet's atmosphere is produced in the process of plankton photosynthesis. Thus, the World Ocean plays a huge role in maintaining a stable balance of the biosphere, and its protection is one of the urgent international environmental tasks.
Of particular concern is the pollution of the oceans harmful and toxic substances, including oil and oil products, radioactive substances.
The most common ocean pollutants are oil and oil products. An average of 13-14 million tons of oil products enter the World Ocean annually. Oil pollution is dangerous for two reasons: firstly, a film forms on the surface of the water, which deprives marine life of oxygen; secondly, oil itself is a toxic compound that has a long half-life; when the oil content in water is 10-15 mg/kg, plankton and fish fry die. Major oil spills during the crash of supertankers can be called real environmental disasters.
Especially dangerous is Nuclear pollution in the disposal of radioactive waste (RW). Initially, the main way to get rid of radioactive waste was the disposal of radioactive waste in the seas and oceans. This was usually low-level waste, which was packed in 200-liter metal drums, filled with concrete and dumped into the sea. The first such disposal of radioactive waste was carried out by the United States 80 km from the coast of California. Until 1983, 12 countries practiced RW discharge into the open sea. Into the water Pacific Ocean in the period from 1949 to 1970, 560,261 containers with radioactive waste were dumped.
Recently, a number of international documents have been adopted,
whose main goal is to protect the oceans.
Lack of food. An important reason for the lack of food is the reduction since 1956 of arable land per capita due to soil erosion and the withdrawal of fertile land for other purposes. Thanks to the "Green Revolution" of the 1970s. managed to compensate for the decline in yield through the introduction of new varieties, irrigation, the use of fertilizers and herbicides. However, this was not achieved in Australia and Africa - there was not enough water for irrigation. Now it is clearly lacking in Asia and America.
Fish stocks have been drastically reduced. From 1950 to 1989, the world catch increased from 19 to 89 million tons, after which there was no increase. An increase in the fishing fleet does not lead to an increase in catch.
Population growth. The rapidly growing population is the most serious problem of the Earth.
Numerous attempts to reduce the birth rate have been unsuccessful. Currently in Africa, Asia and South America there is a population explosion. In the Russian Federation, the situation unfavorable for population growth has developed due to a drop in the birth rate.
Questions for self-examination
What signs characterize the modern ecological crisis?
What are the main causes of pollution of the biosphere.
Give examples of depletion of energy resources.
What global changes are taking place in the atmosphere?
What are the causes and what are the consequences of ozone layer depletion?
What are the causes and what are the consequences of the greenhouse effect?
What global continental problems do you know?
What are the main causes of rainforest destruction?
What are the main sources of pollution in the oceans?
What are the consequences of population growth?
Environmental problems of the earth- these are critical environmental situations that are relevant for the entire planet, and their solution is possible only with the participation of all mankind.
It should be immediately noted that any environmental problems of the earth are closely related to other global world problems, they affect each other and the occurrence of one leads to the emergence or exacerbation of others.
1. Climate change
First of all, we are talking about global warming. It has been worrying ecologists and ordinary people around the world for several decades.
The consequences of this problem are completely bleak: rising sea levels, a decrease in agricultural production, a shortage of fresh water (primarily for lands that are located north and south of the equator). One of the main causes of climate change is greenhouse gases.
Ecologists have proposed the following solutions to this problem:
– reduction of carbon dioxide emissions
– switch to carbon-free fuels
– developing a more economical fuel strategy
2. Overpopulation of the planet
During the second half of the 20th century, the world's population grew from 3 to 6 billion. And according to existing forecasts, by 2040 this figure will reach the milestone of 9 billion people. This will lead to shortages of food, water and energy. The number of diseases will also increase.
3. Depletion of the ozone layer
This environmental problem leads to an increase in the inflow to the Earth's surface ultraviolet radiation. To date, the ozone layer over countries with a temperate climate has already decreased by 10%, which causes irreparable harm to human health, can cause skin cancer, vision problems. The depletion of the ozone layer can also harm agriculture, as many crops are damaged by excessive ultraviolet radiation.
4. Reduction of biodiversity
Due to intensive human activities, many animals and plants have disappeared from the face of the earth. And this trend continues. The main causes of biodiversity loss are believed to be habitat loss, overexploitation biological resources, environmental pollution, the impact of biological species brought from other territories.
5. Pandemics
Recently, almost every year, new dangerous diseases have appeared, caused by previously unknown viruses and bacteria. What caused the centers of epidemics around the world.
6. Crisis of fresh water resources
About a third of people on earth suffer from lack of fresh water. At the moment, practically nothing is being done to preserve the existing water sources. Most cities around the world don't clean up properly, according to the UN Wastewater. Because of this, nearby rivers and lakes are prone to pollution.
7. Widespread use of chemical and toxic substances, heavy metals
Over the past two centuries, mankind has been actively using chemical, toxic substances, heavy metals in industry, which causes great harm to the environment. An ecosystem polluted with toxic chemicals is very difficult to clean up, and in real life this is rarely done. Meanwhile, reducing the production of harmful compounds and minimizing their release is an important part of preserving the environment.
8. Deforestation
Deforestation around the world is proceeding at alarming rates. The first place in this environmental problem is occupied by Russia: in the period from 2000 to 2013, 36.5 million hectares of forest were cut down. This problem irreparably harms the vital habitat of many plants and animals and leads to the loss of biodiversity and the deterioration of important ecosystems, as well as an increase in the greenhouse effect due to a decrease in photosynthesis.
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As noted above, the global problems of mankind, first of all, pose a danger directly to the existence of man himself.
Most often, both scientific and popular literature, the following environmental problems associated with anthropogenic activities are considered:
The "greenhouse effect" is a natural phenomenon, the existence of which is not associated with anthropogenic activity and exists on the planet due to the presence of the atmosphere. Moreover, this phenomenon is a necessary condition for the existence of a protein form of life. Greenhouse gases are of natural origin. These include: water vapor, oxides of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, some other inorganic and organic compounds (hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, etc.).
However, human activity leads to an increase in emissions of these gases, which in turn can cause an increase in the "greenhouse effect" and, as a result, climate change.
In the natural biosphere, the content of carbon dioxide in the air is regulated so that its intake equals its removal. At present, people are disturbing this balance. As a result of fuel combustion, additional portions of carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse" gases enter the atmosphere. It is this process that is considered as a trend that can lead to global warming. As a result, melting may occur polar ice, sea level rise and possible flooding.
Changes in the temperature difference at the poles and the equator may also cause changes in atmospheric circulation. Stronger warming at the poles will weaken it. This will change the whole picture of circulation and the transfer of heat and moisture associated with it, which will entail global climate change. In most regions, which are now characterized by a hot and dry climate, the amount of precipitation will increase, in the temperate zone it will become drier.
At the same time, there are hypotheses that the accumulation of particulate matter in the atmosphere, which enter there with various emissions, can also cause the opposite effect - global cooling. Since a sufficiently large amount of the sun's rays can be blocked and not hit the earth, gradually the surface of the Earth will cool.
Recently, the ecological concepts of climate change and its causes have been significantly different from each other.
Not without reason, there is a concept of natural directed climate change, based on periodic climate changes on the planet of the type of cooling-warming. Moreover, these changes do not depend much on the anthropogenic contribution, but are entirely associated with cosmic changes, with the activity of the sun and the general cycle of the planet's development.
Perhaps, at the present stage, the anthropogenic contribution to the enhancement or reduction of the greenhouse effect is not so significant on a global scale, but a constant increase in greenhouse gas emissions can sooner or later lead to pronounced climate changes that will become fatal for the existence of mankind.
Destruction of the ozone layer. Along with visible light, the Sun also has ultraviolet radiation. Of particular danger to protein organisms is the short-wave part - hard ultraviolet radiation. Over 99% of it is absorbed by the ozone layer in the stratosphere. The ozone layer is a layer of the atmosphere (stratosphere) with a high content of ozone (O 3), located at an altitude of 20-45 km. The ozone content in it is about 10 times higher than in the atmosphere near the Earth's surface.
Ozone is formed when ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by oxygen molecules. Oxygen atoms split off from these molecules and, colliding with oxygen molecules, combine with them. The same radiation destroys ozone molecules. The formation of ozone is facilitated by electrical discharges and the presence of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. In the process of formation and destruction of ozone, ultraviolet radiation is absorbed.
Three main mechanisms for the destruction of atmospheric ozone are described - the hydrogen cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the chlorine cycle.
The main substances of anthropogenic origin that destroy ozone are compounds such as fluorochlorohydrocarbons (freons) and nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxides can also be of natural origin. The hydrogen cycle is an exclusively natural mechanism for the destruction of the ozone layer.
The mechanism of hydrogen decomposition of ozone was discovered as early as 1965 and has been well studied by now. The key role in them belongs to the OH - hydroxyl group, which is formed during the interaction of hydrogen, methane and water molecules with atomic oxygen.
These ions quite actively destroy ozone molecules, acting as a catalyst for the hydrogen cycle of ozone decomposition, which can be represented by the following reactions:
OH + O 3 \u003d HO 2 + O 2,
HO 2 + O 3 \u003d OH + 2 O 2,
Result: 2 O 3 \u003d 3 O 2.
In total, the cycle has more than forty reactions and is always interrupted by the formation of water according to the scheme:
OH + HO 2 \u003d H 2 O + O 2,
OH + OH \u003d H 2 O + O.
The light gases hydrogen and methane, released from the depths to the earth's surface, quickly rise to stratospheric heights, where they actively react with ozone. The water resulting from such a reaction freezes at stratospheric heights with the formation of stratospheric clouds. The presence of streams of hydrogen, methane, and many other gases coming from underground has long been confirmed by multiple instrumental measurements. In the 80s of the last century, A.A. Marakushev formulated the hypothesis that the main storage of the planetary hydrogen reserve is the liquid core of the Earth. The process of crystallization of the solid inner core leads to the removal of hydrogen into the outer outer zone of the liquid core, to the boundary with the mantle.
The same instrumental measurements made it possible to detect and important feature deep degassing. The outflow of gases is uneven in time and occurs mainly (hundreds of times more than in other regions of the planets) in rift zones located on the crests of mid-ocean ridges. The obvious coincidence of the main ozone anomalies and rift zones is a strong argument in favor of the hydrogen concept.
energy crisis. Modern energy consumption of mankind is about 10 13 W/year and is based on non-renewable fossil fuels - coal, oil, gas. It is approximately an order of magnitude higher than the power of renewable energy sources available for human use - solar, geothermal, wind, tidal, hydropower of rivers, etc.
The impending energy crisis is connected not so much with the fact that exhaustible energy sources will run out sooner or later, but with the fact that the growing anthropogenic contribution to the energy of the biosphere threatens its stability.
In natural ecosystems, which are characterized by a state of stable homeostasis, primary production is mainly processed by heterotrophic organisms, which ensures the closure of the biotic cycle - necessary condition sustainable functioning of the biosphere. In terrestrial ecosystems, about 90% of vegetation production is consumed by decomposers - bacteria and saprophage fungi; about 10% of vegetation production is consumed by worms, mollusks and arthropods and vertebrates. All vertebrates, including humans, consume no more than 1% of vegetation production; with this ratio, ecosystems are stable.
According to some calculations, in the modern biosphere, about 25% of all primary plant production enters the anthropogenic channel formed by people and domestic animals. Naturally, the 25-fold increase in consumed products is no longer due to solar energy, but mainly due to additional energy sources.
In order to ensure the closure of the biotic cycle in natural economic systems, in order to maintain modern anthropogenic consumption, people need to construct an analogue of natural ecosystems with a power of about 10 15 W. Additional energy consumption on such a scale, even in the presence of unlimited reserves of energy sources, can destroy the stability of the Earth's climate.
The energy crisis is closely linked to the depletion of the planet's oxygen supply. A series of increasing aggressiveness of fuel in relation to oxygen is as follows: coal, oil, gas, hydrogen.
When burning 1 part of natural gas, 4 parts of oxygen are destroyed (for oil - 3.4, for coal - 2.7). True, after this, oxygen can partially return through carbon dioxide and photosynthesis. With hydrogen energy sources, 8 kg of oxygen per 1 kg of hydrogen disappears, and irrevocably, since water is formed. In addition, hydrogen leaks lead to the destruction of the ozone layer.
Therefore, promising in this regard are renewable energy sources and fuels that do not bind oxygen into water.
Population explosion. The beginning of the population explosion is attributed to the middle of the twentieth century. Every day the population increases by 250 thousand people, 1 million 750 thousand weekly 7.5 million per month, 90 million per year. At the same time, the highest population density is traditionally observed in Europe, China and India, some regions South-East Asia, South and North America, with a predominance of the urban population in these areas. Rapid population growth in developing countries is exacerbating environmental and social problems. The number of inhabitants of developing countries makes up three quarters of the world's population, and consumes only one third of the world's production.
To demonstrate general characteristics population of the Earth we present the calculations of one sociological study. If the entire population of the Earth were “compressed” to the size of a village with a population of 100 people, and all the existing ratios of modern humanity would remain the same, then the following would happen: 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 representatives of the North, Central, and South would live in it. America, 8 Africans; 70 out of 10 would be non-white; 50% of all wealth would be in the hands of 6 people and all of them would be US citizens; 70 people would not be able to read; 50 would suffer from malnutrition; 80 people would live in dwellings unsuitable for habitation; only 1 person would have higher education.
Although in itself the fact of a decrease in the birth rate in developed countries is positive on a global scale, however, in the future it will have a negative effect on society. The role of social institutions of an aging society will have to increase more and more. In addition, politically, an older, more conservative society will experience problems with innovation, which will eventually cause that society to lose out to the younger, more mobile systems of developing countries.
Depletion of soil fertility. One of the consequences of the population explosion is the problem of hunger. The total area of arable land in the world is 1 billion 356 million ha. The total area of possible arable land is 5 billion ha. Since half of the arable land is now used for depletion with the current technology of agriculture, there is gradually an absolute reduction in arable land. During the historical period, humanity has already lost through its own fault - 2 billion quality lands. And the most acute problem is desertification, which threatens 19% of the land.
The surface of the land accessible to man is constantly exposed to man-caused impact. Natural landscapes are changing, forests are being cut down, the development of new territories does not take into account the need to maintain the dynamic balance of natural systems. Great harm causes inadequate land reclamation, leading to salinization and waterlogging of soils, as well as the use of toxic chemicals to increase yields and to control crop "pests".
acid rain. Any acid is called precipitation: rain, fog, snow, the pH value of which (pH) is less than 5.6.
Chemical analysis shows that the formation of acid precipitation is often associated with the release of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus oxides into the atmosphere, which, when interacting with water vapor, form acids. These substances are of both natural and anthropogenic origin. Anthropogenic emissions occur as a result of fuel combustion during the operation of coal-fired thermal power plants, industrial enterprises, road transport, etc.
The pH value is important from an ecological point of view, since the activity of almost all enzymes and hormones in the body that regulate metabolism, growth and development depends on it. Hydrobionts (aquatic living organisms) are especially sensitive to changes in pH.
But at the same time, the damage is not limited to the death of aquatic organisms. Many food chains, covering almost all wild animals, begin in water bodies.
Acid rain causes forest degradation. By breaking the protective wax cover, they make the leaves and needles of plants more vulnerable to insects, mycoorganisms and other pathogenic organisms.
By affecting the soil, acid precipitation disrupts soil ecosystems. At low pH values, the activity of decomposers and nitrogen fixers decreases, which further exacerbates nutrient deficiency: soils lose fertility. In addition, in an acidic environment, compounds of aluminum and other metals become soluble and have a strong toxic effect on soil biota, plants, and animals.
In the fight against soil acidification, it is of great importance buffer capacity soil. Many natural systems contain calcium carbonate as a buffer. Soil liming has long been used in agriculture as an agricultural technique aimed at neutralizing acidic soils.
Pollution of the oceans. Increasing exploitation of the resources of the World Ocean is already having an increasingly strong impact on its ecosystem. However, there are also powerful external sources of pollution - atmospheric flows and continental runoff. As a result, today it is possible to state the presence of pollutants not only in areas adjacent to the continents and in areas of intensive navigation, but also in the open parts of the oceans, including the high latitudes of the Arctic and Antarctic.
More than 30 thousand various chemical compounds are discharged into the World Ocean annually, with a total mass of several billion tons. The most dangerous are pollutants with a toxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic effect on marine organisms - hydrocarbons, toxic metals, and radioactive substances. In addition to them, the role of biological pollution also increases.
Recently, technogenic accidents, for example, an accident in the Gulf of Mexico and the release of radioactive substances during an accident on nuclear power plant Fukushima.
Many countries with access to the sea carry out marine burial of various materials and substances, in particular soil excavated during dredging, drill slag, industrial waste, construction waste, solid waste, explosives and chemicals, and radioactive waste. The volume of burials amounted to about 10% of the total mass of pollutants entering the World Ocean. The basis for dumping in the sea is the ability of the marine environment to process a large amount of organic and inorganic substances without much damage to the water. However, this ability is not unlimited. Therefore, dumping is considered as a forced measure, a temporary tribute to the imperfection of technology by society.
Thermal pollution of the surface of reservoirs and coastal marine areas occurs as a result of the discharge of heated wastewater from power plants and some industrial production. The discharge of heated water in many cases causes an increase in water temperature in reservoirs. A more stable temperature stratification prevents water exchange between the surface and bottom layers. The solubility of oxygen decreases, and its consumption increases, since with increasing temperature, the activity of aerobic bacteria that decompose organic matter increases.
Pollutants change the physical and chemical properties of water, which determine gas exchange, solar radiation and heat fluxes through its surface. All this as a whole can pose a serious threat to the stability of the ecosystem of the World Ocean and the entire biosphere as a whole.
Induced seismic activity. Induced earthquakes resulting from anthropogenic activity are often associated with both direct destruction of integrity as a result of explosions, and with indirect impact, for example, during the construction of hydraulic structures.
Conducting underground nuclear explosions, pumping into the subsoil or extracting a large amount of water, oil or gas from there, creating large reservoirs that put pressure on the earth's interior with their weight, a person, unwittingly, can cause underground strikes. An increase in hydrostatic pressure and induced seismicity are caused by the injection of fluids into deep horizons of the earth's crust.
Weak and even stronger "induced" earthquakes can cause large reservoirs. The accumulation of a huge mass of water leads to a change in hydrostatic pressure in rocks, a decrease in friction forces at the contacts of earth blocks. The probability of manifestation of induced seismicity increases with increasing dam height.
An increase in the activity of weak earthquakes was observed at the time of filling the reservoirs of the Nurek, Toktogul, Chervak hydroelectric power stations.
In India, in 1967, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 occurred near the Koina Dam, from which 177 people died. It was caused by the filling of the reservoir. The nearby town of Koina Nagar suffered great damage. Cases of occurrence of strong induced earthquakes with magnitudes of about six are known during the construction of the Aswan Dam in Egypt, the Koyna Dam in India, Kariba in Rhodesia, Lake Mead in the USA.
With an unfavorable combination of technogenic factors and features of the natural deformation process, the likelihood of technogenic earthquakes, as well as significant displacements of the earth's surface, which can lead to emergency catastrophic situations, increases.