Human Impact on Atmospheric Composition (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Atmospheric component affected by human activity

Activities affecting atmospheric component

Effects on ecosystems

Ozone

Release of ozone-depleting substances (e.g. CFCs used in aerosols, gas-blown plastics, pesticides, flame retardants and refrigerants) reduces the amount of atmospheric ozone

Increases UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, harming organisms, including phytoplankton, plants, and humans

Carbon dioxide

Burning fossil fuels, deforestation and industrial processes all increase atmospheric carbon dioxide

Enhances the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change, affecting ecosystems and biodiversity

Water vapour

Land use changes, agriculture and industrial processes can disturb atmospheric water vapour concentrations

Alters precipitation patterns, contributing to droughts or excessive rainfall in certain regions, impacting ecosystems, agriculture, and water availability

Methane

Agriculture (livestock and rice production), fossil fuel extraction and use, and waste management (landfill sites) can increase atmospheric methane

Enhances the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change, affecting ecosystems, melting permafrost (resulting in positive feedback) and ice caps, and contributing to sea-level rise

Nitrous oxide

Agriculture (fertiliser use, animal waste), combustion processes (e.g. in vehicle engines) and industrial activities all increase atmospheric nitrous oxide

Contributes to global warming and climate change, and affects air quality

Aerosols

Aerosols (e.g. fine particles, such as soot and dust, as well as gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) are produced by industrial processes, biomass burning and vehicle emissions

Alters radiative properties of atmosphere, affects air quality, and can influence cloud formation and precipitation patterns, impacting ecosystems and human health (fine particulate matter can be inhaled by humans and animals, leading to respiratory problems and other health issues) - atmospheric sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides lead to acid rain formation