The environmental problem is ... The causes of environmental problems. Ecological problems of the Earth

The ecological problem is a certain change in the state of the natural environment as a result of anthropogenic impact leading to a malfunctioning of the structure and functioning of the natural system (landscape) and leading to negative economic, social or other consequences. This concept is anthropocentric, because negative transformations in nature are assessed relative to the conditions of human existence.

Classification

The ecological problems of the Earth associated with violations of the constituent parts of the landscape are conventionally divided into six categories:

- atmospheric (thermal, radiological, mechanical or chemical pollution of the atmosphere);

- water (contamination of oceans and seas, depletion of both underground and surface waters);

- geological and geomorphological (activation of negative geological and geomorphological processes, deformation of the relief and geological structure);

- soil (soil contamination, secondary salinization, erosion, deflation, waterlogging, etc.);

- Biotic (degradation of vegetation and forests, reduction of species diversity, pasture digression, etc.);

- landscape (complex) - deterioration of biodiversity, desertification, failure of the established regime of nature protection zones, etc.

On the basis for environmental changes of nature, these problems and situations stand out:

- Landscape-genetic. They arise as a result of the loss of the gene pool and unique natural objects, the violation of the integrity of the landscape system.

- Anthropoecological. Are considered with regard to changes in the living and health conditions of people.

- Natural resource. Are associated with the loss or depletion of natural resources, worsen the process of doing business in the affected area.

Additional division

Environmental problems of nature, in addition to the above options, can be classified as follows:

- For the main reason of occurrence - ecological-transport, industrial, hydraulic engineering.

- Acute - inconsistent, moderately sharp, sharp, extremely sharp.

- In complexity - simple, complex, complex.

- By solvability - solvable, solvable difficult, almost insoluble.

- In terms of coverage of affected areas - local, regional, planetary.

- On time - short-term, long-lasting, practically not disappearing.

- The coverage of the region - the problems of the north of Russia, the Ural Mountains, the tundra, etc.

Impact of active urbanization

The city is called the socio-demographic and economic system, which has a territorial complex of means of production, a permanent population, an artificially created habitat and an established form of organization of society.

The current stage of development of mankind is characterized by a rapid rate of growth in the number and size of settlements. Particularly intensively increase the large cities of a hundred thousand people. They occupy about one percent of the world's land area, but their impact on the world economy and natural conditions is really great. It is in their activities that the main causes of environmental problems lie. In these limited areas, more than 45% of the world's population lives, producing about 80% of all emissions that pollute the hydrosphere and atmospheric air.

Ecological problems of cities, especially large ones, are much more difficult to solve. The larger the settlement, the more significantly the natural conditions are transformed. If we compare with the countryside, then in most megacities the ecological conditions of people's lives are much worse.

According to the ecologist Raymer, the ecological problem is any phenomenon connected with the impact of people on nature and with the reversible influence of nature on people and their vital processes.

Natural and landscape problems of the city

These negative changes in the majority are connected with degradation of a landscape of megacities. Under large populated areas, all components change - underground and surface water, relief and geological structure, flora and fauna, soil cover, climatic features. Environmental problems of cities are also that all living components of the system begin to adapt to the rapidly changing conditions, which leads to a reduction in species diversity and a decrease in the area of plantations.

Resource-economic problems

They are associated with the enormous scale of the use of nature's resources, with their processing and the formation of toxic waste. The causes of environmental problems - in human intervention in the natural landscape in the process of urban development and in the thoughtless recycling of waste.

Anthropological problems

The environmental problem is not only negative changes in natural systems. It can also consist in the deterioration of the health of the urban population. The decline in the quality of the urban environment entails the emergence of a variety of diseases. The nature and biological properties of people that have formed over the course of thousands of years can not change as quickly as the world around them. Mismatches between these processes often lead to a conflict between the environment and human nature.

Considering the causes of environmental problems, we note that the most important of them is the impossibility of rapid adaptation of organisms to environmental conditions, and in fact adaptation is one of the main qualities of all living things. Attempts to influence the speed of this process do not lead to anything good.

Climate

The ecological problem is the result of the interaction of nature and society, which can lead to a global catastrophe. At present, the following extremely negative changes are observed on our planet:

- A huge amount of waste - 81% - gets into the atmosphere.

- More than ten million square kilometers of land are eroded and deserted.

- The composition of the atmosphere changes.

- Density of the ozone layer is violated (for example, a hole appeared over Antarctica).

- Over the past ten years, 180 million hectares of forest have disappeared from the face of the earth.

- As a result of pollution of the World Ocean, the height of its waters annually increases by two millimeters.

- There is a constant increase in consumption of natural resources.

Scientists have calculated that the biosphere has the ability to fully compensate for anthropogenic disturbances in natural processes if the consumption of primary biological products does not exceed one percent of the total, but now this figure is close to ten percent. Compensatory capabilities of the biosphere are hopelessly undermined, as a result, the ecology of the planet is deteriorating constantly.

Ecologically acceptable threshold of energy consumption is the indicator in 1 TW / year. However, it is significantly exceeded, therefore, the favorable properties of the environment are destroyed. In fact, we can talk about the beginning of the third world war, which mankind leads against nature. Everyone understands that the winners in this confrontation simply can not.

Disappointing prospects

The development of the global ecological crisis is associated with the rapid growth of the world population. To meet increasing needs, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of natural resources by three times in countries with a high level of development and contribute to the improvement of the well-being of individual states. The upper permissible trait is twelve billion people. If there are more people on the planet, then three to five billion will simply be doomed to death from thirst and hunger every year.

Examples of environmental problems of a planetary scale

The development of the "greenhouse effect" has recently become more and more threatening for the Earth process. As a result, the heat balance of the planet changes and annual temperatures increase. Culprits of the problem are "greenhouse" gases, in particular, carbon dioxide. The consequence of global warming is a gradual melting of snow and glaciers, which in turn leads to an increase in the water level of the World Ocean.

Sour precipitation

The main culprit of this negative phenomenon is sulfur dioxide. The area of negative influence of acid precipitation is quite wide. Many ecosystems have already been seriously affected, but most of the damage is done to plants. As a result, mankind may face a mass death of phytocenoses.

Insufficient amount of fresh water

The lack of fresh water in some regions is observed due to the active development of the rural and communal economy, as well as industry. An essential role here is played, rather, not by the quantity, but by the quality of the natural resource.

Deterioration of the state of the "light" planet

Unthinking destruction, deforestation and irrational use of forest resources led to the emergence of another serious environmental problem. Forests are known to provide absorption of carbon dioxide, which is a "greenhouse", and produce oxygen. For example, due to one ton of vegetation, 1.1 to 1.3 tons of oxygen is released into the atmosphere.

Ozone layer under attack

The destruction of the ozone layer of our planet is primarily associated with the use of freons. These gases are used in the assembly of refrigeration plants and a variety of cans. Scientists have determined that in the upper atmosphere, the thickness of the ozone layer is reduced. A vivid example of the problem is the ozone hole over Antarctica, the area of which is constantly increasing and has already exceeded the boundaries of the continent.

Solving global environmental problems

Does humanity have the opportunity to avoid a global catastrophe? Yes. But this requires taking concrete steps.

- At the legislative level, establish clear norms of nature management.

- Actively apply centralized measures to protect the environment. This can be, for example, the common international rules and norms for protecting the climate, forests, the oceans, the atmosphere, etc.

- Centrally plan complex restoration works to solve environmental problems of the region, city, village and other specific objects.

- Educate the ecological consciousness and stimulate the moral development of the individual.

Conclusion

Technical progress is gaining increasing speed, there is a constant improvement of production processes, the modernization of devices, the introduction of innovative technologies in a variety of areas. However, only a small amount of innovation concerns the protection of the environment.

It is very important to understand that only a complex interaction of representatives of all social groups and the state will help improve the ecological situation on the planet. It's time to look back to realize what awaits us in the future.