The Human Factor

How humans use technology to affect ecosystems is central to the program’s stories. The possible effects of global warming on the environment are discussed in the first segment. Dr. John Roads explains how increased CO2 might cause global warming, while Dr. Walter Oechel measures how CO2 affects plant growth and predicts the potential impact changes might have on the atmosphere.

The second segment explores new non-carbon-based fuel supplies, hydrogen-powered vehicles, solar power, and fusion as possible solutions to a dependency on carbon fuels.

In the third segment, Dr. William Frankenberger illustrates an innovative way to clean up toxic wastes by using microorganisms that occur naturally in the environment. The concept of bioremediation is explained.

These stories help to illuminate balance in ecosystems and human beings’ role in the environment.

Learning Objectives
After completing all assignments in this lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Relate the first and second laws of thermodynamics to the use of world resources and food supplies, and discuss the potential for all people on Earth to enjoy the benefits of an industrialized lifestyle.
2. Discuss ways humans are and are not unique among organisms in their relationship to the environment, and generally discuss the impact of humans on the ability of ecosystems to be self-sustaining.
3. Identify the major classes of air pollutants and their sources, and discuss the effect of these pollutants on the Earth’s biosphere.
4. Identify the major sources of water pollution, describe their general effects on living organisms, and discuss the challenges of maintaining water quality in the modern world.
5. Examine the effects of human land use decisions on various ecosystems of the Earth, noting the roles of agriculture, desertification and deforestation.
6. Use the human growth curve and the need for increased agricultural productivity to show the interrelationship of changes in water use, land usability, atmosphere, ecosystem diversity, and energy consumption.
7. Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Discuss the current level of use for each and the promise they hold for the future.