Chapter 9-Endangered Ecosystems

Objectives:
i) To understand the issues that affect and endanger our ecosystem.
ii) To evaluate human activities that endangers an ecosystem.
iii) To realise the importance of proper and sustainable management of development
activities.

Group 1
Flash floods & landslides
Air pollution

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 Index Page

Flash Floods
Definition of problem Page 3
Cause of problem Page 3
Impact of problem on humans and other organisms Page 4
Measures taken to overcome the problem Page 4
Relevant pictures Page 5

Landslides
Definition of problem Page 6
Cause of problem Page 6
Impact of problem on humans and other organisms Page 7
Measures taken to overcome the problem Page 7
Relevant pictures Page 8

Air pollution
Definition of problem Page 9
Cause of problem Page 9
Impact of problem on humans and other organisms Page 10
Measures taken to overcome the problem Page 11
Relevant pictures Page 12

Bibliography Page 13

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 FLASH FLOODS

Definition of problem
A flash flood is a sudden and rapid flood of low-lying areas, rivers and streams that is caused
by the intense rainfall associated with thunderstorm. Flash floods can also occur after the
collapse of a natural ice or debris dam, or a human structure such as a man-made dam.

Causes of problem
Flash flooding occurs when a barrier holding back water fails or when water falls too
quickly on saturated soil or dry soil that has poor absorption ability. The runoff collects in
low-lying areas and rapidly flows downhill. Flash floods most often occur in normally dry
areas that have recently received precipitation, but may be seen anywhere downstream from
the source of the precipitation, even dozens of miles from the source. In areas on or near
volcanoes, flash floods have also occurred after eruptions, when glaciers have been melted by
the intense heat. Flash floods are known to occur in the highest mountain ranges of the
United States and are also common in the arid plains of south-western U.S.

In summary, the factors that cause flash floods are

 Poor drainage system

 Rubbish clogging the drainage system
 Sedimentation of rivers due to deforestation

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 Impact of Problem on Humans and Other Organisms

Flash floods make an enormous impact on the environment and society. It can destroy
drainage systems in cities, causing raw sewage to spill out into bodies of water. Moreover, in
cases of severe floods, buildings can be significantly damaged and even destroyed. This can
lead to catastrophic effects on the environment as many toxic materials such as paint,
pesticide and gasoline can be released into the rivers, lakes, bays, and ocean, killing maritime
life. Apart from that, flash floods bring suffering and misery to the local community, with the
possible loss of lives and property. It can cause millions of ringgits worth of damage to a city,
both evicting people from their homes and ruing businesses. Furthermore, the government
has to input many resources for aiding and reconstruction. This also brings a great loss to
society. Besides, flash floods carry great amount of water that can wash away topsoil and
livestock.

Measures taken to overcome the problem

1) Use of smart tunnels to channel water from upstream into retention ponds before
slowing releasing it into the rivers
2) Deepen river
3) Establish forest reserves
 Forests play the role of reducing the amount of water that comes across as run-
off from the land surface. In lands where there is little or no forest cover; there
is increased incidence of erosion of the soil and also increased probability of
flash floods.
4) improve drainage system

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Relevant pictures
Flash Floods

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 LANDSLIDES

Definition of problem
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground
movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can
occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments.

 In short, landslide is a sudden fall of rocks and earth down a hill slope.

Causes of problem
Landslides occur when the stability of a slope changes from a stable to an unstable condition.
A change in the stability of a slope can be caused by a number of factors, acting together or
alone.

Natural causes of landslides include:

 groundwater (pore water) pressure acting to destabilize the slope

 Loss or absence of vertical vegetative structure, soil nutrients, and soil structure (e.g.
after a wildfire)
 erosion of the toe of a slope by rivers or ocean waves
 weakening of a slope through saturation by snowmelt, glaciers melting, or heavy rains
 earthquakes 
 volcanic eruptions

Landslides are aggravated by human activities. Human causes include deforestation,

cultivation and construction, which destabilize the already fragile slopes.

 vibrations from machinery or traffic
 blasting
 earthwork which alters the shape of a slope, or which imposes new loads on an
existing slope
 in shallow soils, the removal of deep-rooted vegetation that
binds colluvium to bedrock
 Construction, agricultural or forestry activities (logging) which change the amount
of water which infiltrates the soil.

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 Impact of Problem on Humans and Other Organisms
Landslides cause property damage, injury, and death and adversely affect a variety of
resources. For example, water supplies, fisheries, sewage disposal systems, forests,
dams, and roadways can be affected for years after a slide event. The negative economic
effects of landslides include the cost to repair structures, loss of property value, disruption of
transportation routes, medical costs in the event of injury, and indirect costs, such as lost
timber and fish stocks. Water availability, quantity, and quality can be affected by landslides.

Measures taken to overcome the problem

Steps to reduce or avoid landslides are

a) Trimming and reducing hill gradients

b) Stabilising denuded hill slopes by planting grass and trees on them
c) Constructing retentions walls on hill slopes
d) Constructing proper drainage systems to prevent water from accumulating on hill
slopes and hill tops

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Relevant pictures
Landslides

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 AIR POLLUTION

Definition of problem
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that
cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damages the natural
environment, into the atmosphere.

Causes of problem
The sources of air pollution are divided in two groups that are anthropogenic (generated
by human activity) and natural.

Examples of anthropogenic causes are open air burning, burning of fuels in vehicles and
industrial sector, cigarette smoke and usage of refrigerator, air conditioner and aerosol tins.

Natural causes include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal,
evaporation of organic compounds, and natural radioactivity.

Carbon
CFC monoxide
Volatile
(Chlorofluor organic
ocarbons) compounds

Carbon Oxides od
dioxide nitrogen
Types of air pollutants

Sulphur
dioxide Lead

Particulate
Ozone
matter

An air pollutant is known as a substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the
environment. Pollutants can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. In
addition, they may be natural or man-made.

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 Impact of Problem on Humans and Other Organisms
Air pollution can causes bad impacts on the health of humans. There is a positive
correlation between the amount of air pollutants and the number of respiratory ailments and
other related infections, such as bronchitis (acute inflammation of air passages within the
lungs), emphysema of lungs (alveolar walls collapse that causes the total effective respiratory
surface of lungs for gaseous exchange is reduced) , silicosis (is caused by the breathing in of
silicon dioxide and carbon particles that stimulate the growth of scar tissue or fibroid around
the dust in the lung) and lungs cancer.

Besides, pollutants such as ozone, sulphur dioxide and acids from sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide and dust will cause damage to the plants of the habitat. Air pollutants
damage plants and animals by oxidising their cellular components and the enzymes. The
symptoms of air pollution are chlorosis (failure to produce chlorophyll) and the destruction of
plant tissues. Moreover, air pollutants lower plant resistance towards diseases .

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 Measures taken to overcome the problem
Air pollution must be controlled so that its harmful effects can be reduced.

1) Governments, especially the Environment Ministries, should take action and

implement stiffer penalties to make sure air pollution does not occur, such as:

 Slapping fines on motored vehicles which emit an excessive amount of fumes into the
atmosphere.
 Banning open burning by the public.
 Industrial sites have to be built far away from any housing area, and factories which
give out too much smoke should be closed down or given a stern warning. These
factories should use alternative methods of disposing wastes.
 Limit burning of fossil fuels such as biomass, which pollute the air, and replacing
them with fuels such as liquefied petroleum and also electricity.

2) Motorists and factory operators have to take the initiative to avoid polluting the air.
Motorists should check their vehicles often to make sure they don't pollute while
factory operators should burn their wastes in incinerators or make sure that their
chimneys are built high above land. Factories producing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
gases should find alternatives or shut down.

3) Innovators can try inventing some gadget which can be placed on exhaust pipes and
factory chimneys which will control fumes and possibly turn them into something
useful to all.

4) Besides, we should reduce the use of chlorofluorocarbon and other gases which cause
air pollution and destroy the Earth’s ozone layer.

5) Ban nuclear tests through an international agreement to be organised by the United

Nations.

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Relevant pictures

Air pollution

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 Bibliography
Internet

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/flash-flood.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/air_pollution.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_flood
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landslide
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090526021546AA883jR
http://www.sabo-int.org/dott/landslide.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution
http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/air_pollution.html

Reference books
Mah Chee Wai, Dr. Tina Lim Swee Kim Nexus Pro Biology Form 4 and 5

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