What are the causes of the current ecological situation. We solve environmental problems together

1. INTRODUCTION.

The anthropogenic period is revolutionary in the history of the Earth. Mankind manifests itself as the greatest geological force in terms of the scale of its activities on our planet. And if we remember the short time of human existence in comparison with the life of the planet, then the significance of his activity will appear even clearer.

Man's technical capabilities to change the natural environment grew rapidly, reaching their highest point in the era of the scientific and technological revolution. Now he is able to carry out such projects for the transformation of the natural environment, which until relatively recently he did not even dare to dream of. The growth of human power leads to an increase in the negative consequences for nature and, ultimately, dangerous for the existence of man, the consequences of his activity, the significance of which is only now beginning to be realized.

Formation and development human society accompanied by local and regional environmental crises of anthropogenic origin. It can be said that the steps of humanity forward along the path scientific and technological progress relentlessly accompanied, like a shadow, negative moments, the sharp aggravation of which led to environmental crises.

A characteristic feature of our time is inten specification and globalization human impact on the natural environment, which is accompanied by unprecedented intensification and globalization negative consequences this impact. And if earlier humanity experienced local and regional ecological crises that could lead to the death of any civilization, but did not prevent the further progress of the human race as a whole, then the current ecological situation is fraught with a global ecological collapse. Because the modern man destroys the mechanisms of integral functioning of the biosphere on a planetary scale. There are more and more crisis points, both in the problematic and in the spatial sense, and they turn out to be closely interconnected, forming an increasingly frequent network. It is this circumstance that makes it possible to speak of the presence global environmental crisis and rose of ecological disaster.

2. BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

The problem of environmental pollution is becoming so acute both because of the growth in industrial and agricultural production, and in connection with the qualitative change in production under the influence of scientific and technological progress.

Many metals and alloys used by man are unknown to nature in their pure form, and although they are to some extent subject to recycling and reuse, some of them dissipate, accumulating in the biosphere in the form of waste. The problem of pollution of the natural environment in full growth arose after in the XX century. man significantly expanded the number of metals he used, began to produce synthetic fibers, plastics and other substances that have properties that are not only unknown to nature, but harmful to the organisms of the biosphere. These substances (the number and variety of which is constantly growing) after their use do not enter the natural circulation. More and more industrial waste pollute the lithosphere , hydrosphere and atmosphere sphere of the earth . The adaptive mechanisms of the biosphere cannot cope with the neutralization of the increasing amount of substances harmful to its normal functioning, and natural systems begin to collapse.

1) Pollution of the lithosphere.

The soil cover of the Earth is the most important component of the biosphere. It is the soil shell that determines many processes occurring in the biosphere.

Imperfect agricultural practices lead to rapid soil depletion, and the use of extremely harmful but cheap pesticides to control plant pests and increase crop yields exacerbates this problem. An equally important problem is the extensive use of pastures, which turns vast tracts of land into deserts.

Deforestation causes great damage to soils. So, if 1 kg of soil per hectare is lost annually under tropical rainforests due to erosion, then after cutting down this figure increases by 34 times.

With deforestation, as well as with extremely inefficient management practices Agriculture associated with such a threatening phenomenon as desertification. In Africa, the advance of the desert is about 100 thousand hectares per year; on the border of India and Pakistan, the Thar semi-desert is advancing at a speed of 1 km per year. Of the 45 identified causes of desertification, 87% are the result of overexploitation of resources.(3;p 325)

There is also the problem of increasing acidity of precipitation and soil cover. ( Acidic is any precipitation - rain, fog, snow - the acidity of which is higher than normal. They also include the fallout from the atmosphere of dry acidic particles, more narrowly referred to as acid deposits..) Areas of acidic soils do not know droughts, but their natural fertility is lowered and unstable; they are rapidly depleted and yields are low. Acidity with downward water flows extends to the entire soil profile and causes significant acidification of groundwater. Additional damage occurs due to the fact that acid precipitation, seeping through the soil, is able to leach aluminum and heavy metals. Usually the presence of these elements in the soil does not pose a problem, as they are bound into insoluble compounds and therefore not taken up by organisms. However, at low pH values, their compounds dissolve, become available, and have a strong toxic effect on both plants and animals. For example, aluminum, quite abundant in many soils, getting into lakes, causes anomalies in the development and death of fish embryos. (3; p. 327)

2) Pollution of the hydrosphere.

The aquatic environment is land waters (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, canals), the World Ocean, glaciers, groundwater containing natural-technogenic and technogenic formations. Which, being influenced by exogenous, endogenous and technogenic forces, affect human health, its economic activity and everything else living and non-living on Earth. Water, ensuring the existence of all life on the planet, is part of the main means of production of material goods.

The deterioration of water quality is primarily due to the insufficiency and imperfection of the purification of polluted natural waters due to the growth in the volumes of industrial, agricultural, household wastewater. General shortages, increasing pollution, gradual destruction of sources fresh water especially relevant in the context of a growing world population and expanding production.

Over the past 40 years, the water systems of many countries of the world have been seriously upset. There is a depletion of the most valuable source of fresh water available to us - groundwater. Uncontrolled withdrawal of water, the destruction of forest water protection belts and the drainage of raised bogs led to the massive death of small rivers. The water content is reduced major rivers and inflow surface water to inland waters.

The quality of water in closed reservoirs is deteriorating. Lake Baikal is polluted by industrial effluents from the Baikal Pulp and Paper Plant, the Selengil Pulp and Cardboard Plant and Ulan-Ude enterprises. (3; pp. 327-331)

The increased shortage of fresh water is associated with pollution of water bodies by wastewater from industrial and municipal enterprises, water from mines, mines, oil fields, during the procurement, processing and alloying of materials, emissions of water, railway and road transport, enterprises of leather, textile Food Industry. The surface waste of cellulose - paper, enterprises, chemical, metallurgical, oil refineries, textile factories, and agriculture is especially polluting.

The most common pollutants are oil and oil products. They cover the surface of the water with a thin film that prevents gas and moisture exchange between water and near-aquatic organisms. A serious threat to the purity of water bodies is caused by oil production from the bottom of lakes, seas and oceans. Sudden outbursts of oil at the final stage of well drilling at the bottom of reservoirs lead to serious water pollution.

see If the spot is small, then it usually disappears, settled to the bottom in the cold season, floats to the surface with the onset of a warm period. ”(3; p 382)

Increasingly important (as pollution of water bodies) are surfactants, including synthetic detergents (SMC). The widespread use of these compounds in everyday life and industry leads to an increase in their concentration. sewage. They are poorly removed by treatment facilities, they supply water bodies, including those for domestic and drinking purposes, and from there into tap water. The presence of SMS in water gives it an unpleasant taste and smell.

Salts are dangerous pollutants of water bodies. heavy metals- lead, iron, copper, mercury. The largest flow of their water is associated with industrial centers located off the coast. Heavy metal ions are absorbed by aquatic plants: they are transported through tropical chains to herbivores and then to carnivores. Sometimes the concentration of ions of these metals in the body of fish is ten or hundreds of times higher than the initial concentration of their reservoir. Waters containing domestic wastes, sewage from agricultural complexes serve as sources of many infectious diseases (paratyphoid, dysentery, viral hepatitis, cholera, etc.). The spread of cholera vibrios by polluted waters, lakes, and reservoirs is widely known.

MODERN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND WAYS TO SOLUTION THEM

Simontseva Kristina, 2nd year student of GBPOU VO "Liskinsky Agrarian and Technological College", Liski,

Voronezh region

Scientific adviser Sazanova A. A., lecturer

We live on the beautiful planet Earth. It is famous for its picturesque meadows, beautiful tropical forests, majestic mountains and a huge number of animals inhabiting different parts of the world. But all this may disappear in the near future, as the environmental situation in the world is becoming more and more aggravated every year. Until the 20th century, human impact on the environment was minimal, but humanity does not stand still. In the 20th century, the situation changed dramatically due to the scientific upsurge.

Today, the ecological situation in the world can be called critical. Among the global environmental problems are the following:

Deforestation. Forests enrich the atmosphere with oxygen and at the same time serve as a home for many animals. In addition, they participate in the water cycle. Trees take water from the soil, purify it and release it into the atmosphere, which increases the humidity of the climate. By cutting down forests, man also kills animals. According to statistics, over the past 20 years the world has lost about 200 million hectares of forest. 13 million hectares of forest are cut down annually.
Destruction of the ozone layer. Ozone layer- Earth's ultraviolet shield. The ozone layer protects the planet from the radiation that comes from the sun. If it weakens, skin cancers and eye diseases will rise sharply. Emissions into the atmosphere of fluorinated and chlorinated hydrocarbons and halogen compounds lead to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Reduction in animal diversity. The disappearance from the face of our planet threatens 21% of mammals, 30% of amphibians and 35% of invertebrates. To a greater extent, the extinction of animals is due to the human factor. People hunt animals for trophies. A good example of this is the rhinoceros and the elephant. In addition to animals, plants also disappear. Plants also purify the air, and a sharp decrease in their number or complete destruction will lead to irreversible processes. Accumulation will start carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which will lead to the greenhouse effect and, eventually, to global warming.
Water pollution. Water is the most important wealth of the earth. Water is used in agriculture and industry. After being used in factories, the water is returned back to the reservoir in the form of untreated effluents, which contain a lot of dangerous impurities or debris. Over the past few years, a huge number of rivers and reservoirs have been turned into sewers.
Waste. big problem cost of waste disposal. Some types of waste are difficult to decompose or do not decompose at all. They also emit harmful substances into the atmosphere. This problem concerns not only land, but also water.
Reduction of mineral reserves. Our planet is rich in minerals - oil, coal, gas. To extract minerals, people dig quarries, which leads to an increase in landslides and landslides. Scientists have suggested that in about 100 years the sources of these fossils will dry up. When oil is extracted, it can spill and, as a result, a huge number of animals can die.

Data environmental problems stand very sharp modern world. Therefore, it is very important to find the right ways out of the current environmental situation. For example, to solve problems with garbage, you can use its sorting. This method is already being used in some countries. It involves the separation of garbage into iron, plastic, paper and food waste. Such waste can be recycled and used for any other purpose.

To reduce the extinction of animals allows the creation of reserves that are as close as possible to natural conditions in which the animal lived.

The main measures to combat deforestation are the introduction of accounting and control systems for deforestation, an increase in the number of planted trees, and the use of measures to prevent forest fires.

Water pollution can be prevented by frequent cleaning of debris. Recycled water supply can be used in factories. It is also possible to install filters for water purification, both in factories and at water supply stations.

To save minerals that are used as energy, you can switch to another form of energy, such as solar panels or windmills. You can also refuse to use expensive minerals and find a replacement for them.

Based on the data studied, it can be said with confidence that the issue of solving these environmental problems is very acute in the modern world. In order to somehow get closer to solving these problems, the state must act with the support of the people. After all, it is man who causes great harm to the environment by his actions. And only a person, thinking about his actions, can change the situation and save our planet for future descendants.

Bibliographic list

Arzamastseva A.P. Fundamentals of ecology and nature conservation: textbook / Ed. A. P. Arzamastseva. - M .: OJSC "Publishing House" Medicine "", 2008. - 416 p.: ill.
Denisov VV Ecology of the city / VV Denisov. - M .: ICC "MarT", Rostov n / D: Publishing Center "Mart", 2008. - 832 p.
Engineering protection environment[Electronic resource]. -http://environmentalengineering.narod.ru
Improvement of ecology [Electronic resource]. – http://www.cindeb.ru

Ministry of Education and Science Russian Federation

federal state budgetary educational institution higher professional education

"Siberian State Industrial University"

abstract

According to scientists, humanity currently lives at the expense of future generations, who are destined for much worse living conditions, which will inevitably affect their health and social well-being. To avoid this, people need to learn to exist only on the "interest" from the fixed capital - nature, without spending the capital itself.

Since the twentieth century, this capital has been squandered at a steadily increasing pace, and by now the nature of the Earth has changed so much that for several decades now international level global environmental problems are discussed. In the ecosystem used, even the latest technology rational nature management do not allow to preserve biodiversity. For this purpose, specially protected natural areas(SPNA), in which economic activity is completely prohibited or limited. The area of protected areas in Russia is 20 or more times smaller than in developed countries. And in order to preserve the flora and fauna of our country in its current state, it is necessary to increase the territory occupied by protected areas, at least 10-15 times.

The purpose of the work is to consider environmental problems and ways to solve them.

Modern problems of nature conservation

The initial reasons that appeared at the end of the 20th century. global environmental problems were the population explosion and the simultaneous scientific and technological revolution.

The world population was equal to 2.5 billion people in 1950, doubled in 1984 and will reach 6.1 billion in 2000. Geographically, the growth of the world's population is uneven. In Russia, since 1993, the population has been declining, but growing in China, the countries of southern Asia, throughout Africa and Latin America. Accordingly, over half a century, the spaces taken from nature by sown areas, residential and public buildings, iron and highways, airports and marinas, gardens and landfills.

At the same time, the scientific and technological revolution gave mankind the possession of atomic energy, which, in addition to being good, led to radioactive contamination of vast territories. High-speed jet aircraft appeared, destroying the ozone layer of the atmosphere. The number of vehicles polluting the atmosphere of cities with exhaust gases has increased tenfold. In agriculture, in addition to fertilizers, various poisons began to be widely used - pesticides, the washout of which polluted the surface layer of the water of the entire oceans.

All this has led to many major environmental problems. Global environmental problems are the objective result of the interaction between our civilization and the environment in the era of industrial development. The beginning of this era is considered to be 1860. Around this time, as a result of the rapid development of Euro-American capitalism, the then industry reached a new level. Global environmental problems are divided into several groups that are closely related to each other:

· demographic problem (negative consequences of population growth in the 20th century);

· energy problem(energy shortage gives rise to a search for new sources of energy and pollution associated with their extraction and use);

food problem (the need to achieve a full level of nutrition for every person raises questions in the field of agriculture and the use of fertilizers);

The problem of saving natural resources(raw and mineral resources are being depleted with bronze age, it is important to preserve the gene pool of mankind and biological diversity, fresh water and atmospheric oxygen are limited);

· the problem of protecting the environment and humans from the action of harmful substances (there are sad facts of mass casting of whales on the coast, mercury, oil, etc. disasters and poisoning caused by them).

In the last quarter of the XX century. a sharp warming of the global climate began, which in the boreal regions is reflected in a decrease in the number of frosty winters. The average temperature of the surface layer of air over the past 25 years has increased by 0.7°C. Ice water temperature in the area North Pole increased by almost two degrees, as a result of which the ice began to melt from below.

It is possible that this warming is partly natural. However, the rate of warming forces us to recognize the role of the anthropogenic factor in this phenomenon. Now mankind annually burns 4.5 billion tons of coal, 3.2 billion tons of oil and oil products, as well as natural gas, peat, oil shale and firewood. All this turns into carbon dioxide, the content of which in the atmosphere increased from 0.031% in 1956 to 0.035% in 1996 (9. P. 99). and continues to grow. In addition, emissions of another greenhouse gas, methane, have risen sharply.

Now most climatologists of the world recognize the role of the anthropogenic factor in climate warming. Over the past 10-15 years, there have been many studies and meetings that have shown that the rise in the level of the World Ocean is really happening, at a rate of 0.6 mm per year, or 6 cm per century. At the same time, vertical uplifts or subsidences of coastlines reach 20 mm per year.

At present, the main environmental problems that have arisen under the influence of anthropogenic activities are: ozone depletion, deforestation and desertification of territories, air and hydrosphere pollution, acid rain, and a decrease in biological diversity. In this regard, the most extensive research and in-depth analysis of changes in the field of global ecology are needed, which could help in making cardinal decisions at the highest level in order to reduce damage to natural conditions and provide a favorable habitat.

The current state and protection of the atmosphere, water resources, soil, vegetation

Atmospheric protection is regulated primarily by the Convention on Transboundary Air Pollution (1979), the Montreal (1987) and Vienna (1985) agreements on the ozone layer, as well as protocols on the control of emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides.

A special place among the international conventions and agreements on the protection of the air basin was held by the Moscow Treaty of 1963 on a test ban nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, outer space and under water, concluded between the USSR, the USA and England, other agreements of the 70-90s. on the limitation, reduction and prohibition of nuclear, bacteriological and chemical weapons in various environments and regions. In 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was solemnly signed at the UN.

Modern international cooperation in the field of environmental protection is carried out at three levels:

1. Expanding the exchange of experience. The better nature is protected on the territory of each country, the less effort and resources will be required at the international level.

2. Development and implementation of measures for the protection of elements of the natural environment in limited zones or geographical areas with the participation of two or more countries (bilateral, sub-regional or regional cooperation).

3. Increasing efforts of all countries of the world in solving the problems of environmental protection. At this level, the development and implementation of universal environmental protection measures take place.

The current stage of the international environmental movement ends with the formalization of mechanisms and procedures for implementing the decisions of the World Forum in Rio de Janeiro. In the 21st century humanity enters with a clear understanding of the vital importance of environmental problems and with reasonable confidence in their solution for the benefit of all the peoples of the world and the nature of the Earth. Society can live and develop only within the biosphere and at the expense of its resources, therefore it is vitally interested in its preservation. Mankind must consciously limit its impact on nature in order to preserve the possibility of further evolution.

Rational use and protection of animals

The Law of the Russian Federation on the Protection and Use of Wildlife defines the following types of activities: fishing, hunting for birds and animals, use of waste products and useful properties animals, the use of the animal world for scientific, cultural, educational, educational, aesthetic purposes. All of them are covered by licensing. Licenses for their use are issued by the authorities for the protection and use of the animal world, in particular, for wild animals - the hunting supervision authorities, for fishing - the Rybnadzor authorities.

Licenses are also issued by the Ministry of Nature Protection in the event of the sale of animals or projects of their life activity outside the state, and for the export of medicinal raw materials also by the Ministry of Health of Russia.

The license is essential not only as a means of protecting the natural environment, but also as one of the ways to regulate nature management.

Ecological crisis. Ecological disasters. Environmental monitoring.

The ecological crisis of the biosphere, which scientists are talking about, is not a crisis of nature, but of human society. Among the main problems that caused its occurrence are the volume of anthropogenic impact on nature in the 20th century, which brought the biosphere closer to the limit of sustainability; contradictions between the essence of man and nature, his alienation from nature; continued development of the "civilization of consumption" - the growth of non-mandatory needs of people and society, the satisfaction of which leads to an increase in excessive technogenic pressure on the environment.

Efforts to protect the environment in all countries are undertaken, however, locally within the generally accepted paradigm of "mismanagement". It is considered possible to correct the situation by investing additional funds in the improvement of technologies. The "green" movement advocates bans on the nuclear, chemical, oil, microbiological and other industries. Scientists and practitioners of ecology, for the most part, are not engaged in "knowledge of the economy of nature", but in the development of particular issues - technologies for reducing emissions and discharges from enterprises, the preparation of norms, rules and laws. There is no agreement among scientists in the analysis of the causes and consequences of the "greenhouse effect", "ozone holes", in determining the permissible limits for the withdrawal of natural resources and population growth on the planet. Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is recognized at the international level as a panacea for the global greenhouse effect, which will require multibillion-dollar costs, but, as will be shown below, will not solve the problem, and senseless spending will only exacerbate the crisis.

Greenhouse effect and ozone holes"

The greenhouse effect, as some scientists believe, is a modern physico-chemical process of violation heat balance planets with accelerating temperature rise on it. It is generally accepted that this effect is caused by the accumulation of "greenhouse gases" in the Earth's atmosphere, which are formed mainly in the process of fossil fuel combustion. Infrared (thermal) radiation from the Earth's surface does not go into outer space, but is absorbed by the molecules of these gases, and its energy remains in the Earth's atmosphere.

Over the past hundred years, the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by 0.8 ° C. In the Alps and the Caucasus, glaciers have halved in volume, on Mount Kilimanjaro - by 73%, and the level of the World Ocean has risen by at least 10 cm. According to the World Meteorological Service , already by 2050 the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere increases to 0.05%, and the increase in the average temperature on the planet will be 2-3.5 ° C. The results of such a process are not accurately predicted. It is assumed that the level of the World Ocean will rise by 15-95 cm with dense flooding. populated areas river deltas in Western Europe and South-East Asia, shift climatic zones, changes in wind direction, ocean currents (including the Gulf Stream), and precipitation.

A reduction in the area of glaciers in the mountains will reduce the average value of the Earth's albedo (the coefficient of reflection of the sun's rays from the surface), the thawing of permafrost on the swampy plains of Eastern Siberia will release methane accumulated there into the atmosphere, an increase in ocean temperature will lead to the release of dissolved carbon dioxide and an increase in humidity on the planet. All these factors will accelerate and increase the greenhouse effect.

The stability of the biosphere is ensured only if the rate of carbon uptake by the biota is proportional to the rate of its growth in the environment. This balance has been broken. The situation is exacerbated by a decrease in the area of photosynthesis due to the destruction of forests (for example, in the Amazon River valley) and a decrease in the mass of phytoplankton in the World Ocean. With an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the process of biomass growth should accelerate, but scientists noted that at the beginning of the last century, the land biota stopped absorbing excess carbon from the atmosphere and, moreover, began to emit it itself. The sign of stationary systems is violated - the principle of Le Chatelier-Brown: "When an external influence brings the system out of a state of stable equilibrium, this equilibrium shifts in the direction of weakening the effect of external influence."

Another global effect is the destruction of the Earth's ozone layer. The ozone layer is air at altitudes of 7-18 km with a high concentration of ozone O3, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun that is harmful to living things. When it is depleted, the UVR flux on the Earth's surface increases, which will lead to damage to the eyes and suppression of the immune system of people, and a decrease in plant productivity.

The main reason for the decrease in the concentration of ozone is considered to be emissions of chlorine and fluorine-containing compounds into the atmosphere: freon from refrigeration equipment, cosmetic sprayers (another hypothesis is a change magnetic field Earth, caused by human activity). The really observed result is "ozone holes" over Antarctica (the maximum decrease in ozone concentration is 3 times), over the Arctic, Eastern Siberia and Kazakhstan.

AT recent times, as the technical power of mankind increases, the process of evolution is transferred to the field of minerals, the composition of soil, water and air changes. The evolution of species passes into the evolution of the biosphere. For example, powerful earthquakes have become more frequent. During the first half of the 20th century, 15 earthquakes with a power of more than 7 points were noted (740 thousand people died), and in the second half - 23 (more than a million people died). In the last decades, man-made earthquakes have been noted in non-seismic regions (Tatarstan, Stavropol Territory). The number of powerful hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, catastrophic river floods (Rhine, Lena) is increasing.

The intensification of human activity leads to the disruption of the ecosystems of the biosphere. Of the 150 million km2 of land area under direct human control (agro-industrial complexes, cities, landfills, roads, mining, etc.) is 28%. This leads to a reduction in the area of forests (at the beginning of the era of agriculture, the forest area was 75% of the land, and now - 26%), desertification ( average speed– 2600 ha/h), dehydration of rivers and seas.

The soil is poisoned by "acid rain", it is polluted with heavy elements and emissions of other harmful substances. Soil erosion, loss of humus, salinization are increasing. Every year, 20 million hectares of land lose their productivity as a result of erosion and sand encroachment.

The World Ocean is the most important regulator of processes in the biosphere and the source of bioresources suffers from oil pollution. Their film disrupts photosynthesis, leads to the death of eggs, fish, birds and other animals. Every year, due to leaks from ships, accidents and rivers, 12-15 million tons of oil enter the World Ocean, which leads to a total area pollution of 150 million km2 out of a total area of 361 million km2.

Over 2000 years of our era, 270 species of large mammals and birds disappeared, and a third of them - over the past century (Pyrenean ibex, Barbary lion, Japanese wolf, marsupial wolf, etc.). But each type of living thing is connected with other species, therefore, with the disappearance of a species, there is always a restructuring in the entire system. According to scientists, by the end of this century in different countries Europe and America will disappear 50-82% of the land species of the inhabitants of the Earth.

Causes of the ecological crisis

In the literature, the growth of the Earth's population and its scientific and technical power are considered as the causes of the crisis. This gives rise to the illusion that "prudent housekeeping", environmental education, birth control or World Government can prevent the crisis from developing. To dispel this misconception, let us consider the causes of the ecological crisis, dividing them into three groups: scientific and technical, biological and psychological, and socio-political.

The main reasons for the degradation of the biosphere are the excessive removal of the living and mineral resources of the planet and its poisoning with man-made waste of human activity.

The biosphere can remain stable when about 1% of its net primary production is withdrawn. As calculations by V.B. Gorshkov, the production of biomass in the entire biosphere in terms of energy equivalent corresponds to a power of 74 TW (74 * 1012 W), and a person takes more than 16 TW, that is, 20%, into his anthropogenic channel for the use of bioproducts. The extraction of bioproducts from the natural circulation of substances destroys systemic links in food chains and impoverishes the species composition of natural biocenoses.

Thus, one of the causes and components of the ecological crisis is the approximately twenty-fold excess of human consumption of biosphere products over the level acceptable for stable biosystems.

An ecological catastrophe is understood as a natural anomaly, often arising from direct or indirect human impact, or an accident of a technical device, leading to adverse catastrophic changes in the natural environment, mass death of living organisms and economic damage.

Recently, in connection with the development of the theory of sustainable development, the term social and environmental catastrophe is increasingly used, which is understood as an event that threatens the viability of the population in a particular territory, produced by various sources of risk.

According to modern scientific concepts, the following processes lead to a socio-ecological catastrophe:

1. depletion of natural resources ("collapse" of industrial and agricultural production);

2. genetic degeneration of the population due to direct or indirect (through mutations of pathogenic microorganisms) impact of chemical pollution;

3. exceeding the ecological capacity of regional ecosystems.

Thus, the concept of "environmental catastrophe" can include:

Destructive and irreversible changes in natural ecosystems;

Various adverse consequences of such changes for society;

Significant violations of the territorial complexes of the population and economy with their natural and ethno-cultural basis.

Territorial complexes of the population and economy can have different sizes - from a separate locality to a state and a group of states.

The system of criteria for assessing environmental distress can be divided into four groups, taking into account the following characteristics:

Negative changes in the natural environment;

Public health response to environmental changes;

Deterioration of conditions for economic and other human activities.

When determining the ecological status of a particular territory, these criteria are used taking into account regional natural, economic, historical, ethnic and other features, as well as geographical location territory (to take into account the influence of neighboring territories on the state of its natural environment).

For environmental disasters of man-made origin, the following classification is used:

Catastrophes associated with environmental pollution;

Catastrophes associated with mechanical disturbances of the natural environment;

Catastrophes associated with the loss of the gene pool and biodiversity.

There are a number of environmental disasters generated purely natural phenomena. According to their genesis, they belong to solar-cosmic, climatic and hydrological, geological-geomorphological, biogeochemical and biological. The most typical of them include hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, squalls, earthquakes, mudflows, landslides, collapses, floods, etc. It should be noted that man-made environmental disasters often occur as a result of natural disasters. For example, it may be the destruction of a nuclear power plant due to an earthquake, followed by radioactive contamination of the natural environment.

Before the eyes of just one generation, the sea disappears. The Aral, the mother of many peoples, is disappearing, and only a person can save it.

Ecological monitoring should be understood as organized monitoring of the natural environment, which, firstly, provides a constant assessment of the environmental conditions of the human habitat and biological objects (plants, animals, microorganisms, etc.), as well as an assessment of the state and functional value of ecosystems , secondly, conditions are created for determining corrective actions in cases where targets for environmental conditions are not achieved.

In accordance with the above definitions and the functions assigned to the system, monitoring includes several basic procedures:

Selection (definition) of the object of observation;

Examination of the selected object of observation;

Drawing up an information model for the object of observation;

Measurement planning;

Assessment of the state of the object of observation and identification of its information model;

Forecasting changes in the state of the object of observation;

Presentation of information in a user-friendly form and bringing it to the consumer.

Conclusion

To make long-term decisions, it is necessary to pay attention to the principles that determine sustainable development, namely:

Stabilization of the population;

Transition to a more energy and resource-saving lifestyle;

Development of environmentally friendly energy sources;

Creation of low-waste industrial technologies;

Waste recycling;

Creation of a balanced agricultural production that does not deplete soil and water resources and does not pollute the earth and food;

Preservation of biological diversity on the planet.

Another important step in correcting the current environmental situation is finding a new source of energy. After all, this will help solve the main problem - air pollution. Chemical fuels are the only economically viable source of energy today. However, not the most environmentally friendly, moreover, mineral fuel will sooner or later be exhausted so much that it will not be enough for humanity with their needs (unless, of course, by that time humanity has disappeared due to its actions on Earth). Therefore, it is necessary to look for a new source of energy, and this source should not only be environmentally friendly, but also profitable from an economic point of view. Of course, already today there are alternative energy sources: an electric car, a water engine, alcohol, and many others. But they are not promising, because either they are not profitable in economic terms or have low efficiency. In any case, progress is constantly moving forward, so it is necessary to both improve the old and invent the new.

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5. Snurikov A.P. Rational nature management. – M.: Nauka, 1996.

Environmental problems today occupy the same important place in the world as political, social and economic ones. Many people have already understood that active anthropogenic activity has caused irreparable damage to nature, and before it’s too late, you need to stop or at least change your actions, reduce the negative impact and decide environmental problems of the world.

Global environmental problems are not a myth, fiction or delusion. You can't close your eyes to them. Moreover, every person can start fighting against the destruction of nature, and the more people join this cause, the more benefit it will be for our planet.

The most pressing environmental problems of our time

There are so many environmental problems in the world that they cannot be included in one big list. Some of them are global and some are local. However, let's try to name the most acute environmental problems that we have today:

the problem of pollution of the biosphere - air, water, land;
destruction of many species of flora and fauna;
depletion of non-renewable minerals;
global warming;
destruction of the ozone layer and the formation of holes in it;
desertification;
deforestation.

Many environmental problems boil down to the fact that by polluting a small area, a person invades the whole ecosystem, and absolutely destroys it. So cutting down trees, shrubs and grasses will not be able to grow in the forests, which means that birds and animals will not have anything to eat, half of them will die out, and the rest will migrate. Then soil erosion will occur, and water bodies will dry up, which will further lead to desertification of the territory. In the future, environmental refugees will appear - people who, having lost all the resources for existence, will be forced to leave their home and begin to look for new habitats.

Solving environmental problems

Conferences and various meetings, events and competitions dedicated to environmental issues are held annually. Global environmental issues now they are of interest not only to scientists and caring people, but also to representatives of the highest levels of government in many countries. They form various programs that are implemented. So many countries began to apply eco-technologies:

fuel is produced from waste;
many items are reused;
secondary raw materials are made from used materials;
the latest developments are introduced at enterprises;
the biosphere is cleared of the products of industrial enterprises.

Not the last place is played by educational programs and competitions that attract the attention of the general public.

Today it is very important to convey to people that the health of our planet depends on each of us. Anyone can save water and electricity, sort and recycle waste paper, use less chemicals and disposable products, find new uses for old things. These simple steps will bring tangible benefits. Let it be a trifle from the height of one human life, but if you put together such actions of millions and even billions of people, then this will be the solution to the environmental problems of the world.

1. INTRODUCTION.

The formation and development of human society was accompanied by local and regional environmental crises of anthropogenic origin. It can be said that the steps of mankind forward along the path of scientific and technological progress were relentlessly accompanied, like a shadow, by negative moments, the sharp aggravation of which led to environmental crises.

A characteristic feature of our time is inten specification and globalization human impact on the natural environment, which is accompanied by previously unprecedented intensification and globalization of the negative consequences of this impact. And if earlier humanity experienced local and regional ecological crises that could lead to the death of any civilization, but did not prevent the further progress of the human race as a whole, then the current ecological situation is fraught with a global ecological collapse. Since modern man destroys the mechanisms of the integral functioning of the biosphere on a planetary scale. There are more and more crisis points, both in the problematic and in the spatial sense, and they turn out to be closely interconnected, forming an increasingly frequent network. It is this circumstance that makes it possible to speak of the presence global environmental crisis and rose of ecological disaster.

2. BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

1) Pollution of the lithosphere.

The soil cover of the Earth is the most important component of the biosphere. It is the soil shell that determines many processes occurring in the biosphere.

Deforestation causes great damage to soils. So, if 1 kg of soil per hectare is lost annually under tropical rainforests due to erosion, then after cutting down this figure increases by 34 times.

With deforestation, as well as with extremely inefficient agricultural practices, such a threatening phenomenon as desertification is associated. In Africa, the advance of the desert is about 100 thousand hectares per year; on the border of India and Pakistan, the Thar semi-desert is advancing at a speed of 1 km per year. Of the 45 identified causes of desertification, 87% are the result of overexploitation of resources.(3;p 325)

2) Pollution of the hydrosphere.

The aquatic environment is land waters (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, canals), the World Ocean, glaciers, groundwater containing natural-technogenic and technogenic formations. Which, being influenced by exogenous, endogenous and technogenic forces, affect human health, its economic activity and everything else living and inanimate on Earth. Water, ensuring the existence of all life on the planet, is part of the main means of production of material goods.

The deterioration of water quality is primarily due to the insufficiency and imperfection of the purification of polluted natural waters due to the growth in the volumes of industrial, agricultural, household wastewater. General shortages, increasing pollution, the gradual destruction of fresh water sources are especially relevant in the face of a growing world population and expanding production.

Over the past 40 years, the water systems of many countries of the world have been seriously upset. There is a depletion of the most valuable source of fresh water available to us - groundwater. Uncontrolled withdrawal of water, the destruction of forest water protection belts and the drainage of raised bogs led to the massive death of small rivers. The water content of large rivers and the inflow of surface water into inland water bodies are decreasing.

The increased shortage of fresh water is associated with pollution of water bodies by wastewater from industrial and municipal enterprises, water from mines, mines, oil fields, during the procurement, processing and alloying of materials, emissions from water, rail and road transport, leather, textile food industries. The surface waste of cellulose - paper, enterprises, chemical, metallurgical, oil refineries, textile factories, and agriculture is especially polluting.

Another source of pollution of water bodies are accidents with oil tankers. Oil enters the sea when hoses break, when oil pipeline couplings leak, when it is pumped to coastal oil storage facilities, and when tankers are washed. “Oil that has fallen into the water forms a surface film 10 cm thick within 40–100 hours. If the spot is small, then it usually disappears, settled to the bottom in the cold season, and floats to the surface with the onset of a warm period.” (3; p. 382)

Increasingly important (as pollution of water bodies) are surfactants, including synthetic detergents (SMC). The widespread use of these compounds in everyday life and industry leads to an increase in their concentration in wastewater. They are poorly removed by treatment facilities, they supply water bodies, including those for domestic and drinking purposes, and from there into tap water. The presence of SMS in water gives it an unpleasant taste and smell.

Dangerous pollutants of water bodies are salts of heavy metals - lead, iron, copper, mercury. The largest flow of their water is associated with industrial centers located off the coast. Heavy metal ions are absorbed by aquatic plants: they are transported through tropical chains to herbivores and then to carnivores. Sometimes the concentration of ions of these metals in the body of fish is ten or hundreds of times higher than the initial concentration of their reservoir. Waters containing domestic wastes, sewage from agricultural complexes serve as sources of many infectious diseases (paratyphoid, dysentery, viral hepatitis, cholera, etc.). The spread of cholera vibrios by polluted waters, lakes, and reservoirs is widely known.

“If we poison groundwater, it will take 300-400 years to restore its purity.”(3;p.388)

3) Atmospheric pollution.

Man has been polluting the atmosphere for thousands of years. In recent years, strong air pollution has been noted in places, associated with the expansion of centers of industry, with the technicalization of many areas of our life, and successful motorization. Indeed, harmful substances that enter the air can be enhanced by their mutual reactions with each other, accumulation in the mountains, the long duration of their stay in the air, special weather conditions and other factors. In areas where there is a high population density, a cluster of factories and factories, a high saturation of transport, air pollution especially increases. This requires urgent and radical action. On days when air circulation is limited due to weather conditions, smog can occur. Smog is especially dangerous for the elderly and sick people.

Photochemical fog or smog is a multicomponent mixture of gases and aerosol particles of primary and secondary origin. The composition of the main components of smog includes: ozone, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, numerous organic peroxide compounds, collectively called photooxidants. Photochemical smog occurs as a result of photochemical reactions under certain conditions: the presence in the atmosphere of a high concentration of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and other pollutants, intense solar radiation and calm or very weak air exchange in the surface layer with a powerful and, for at least a day, increased inversion. Sustained calm weather, usually accompanied by inversions, is necessary to create a high concentration of reactants. Such conditions are created more often in June-September and less often in winter.

During periods when pollution reaches high levels, many people complain of headaches, irritation of the eyes and nasopharynx, nausea, and a general feeling of being unwell. Apparently, ozone mainly affects the mucous membranes. The presence of a suspension of acid, mainly sulfuric, correlates with an increase in asthma attacks, and due to carbon monoxide, weakening of mental activity, drowsiness and headaches occur. Respiratory diseases and lung cancer have been associated with high levels of suspended matter for a long time. However, all these factors can affect different aspects of health to varying degrees. In some cases, air pollution has reached levels so high as to cause death.

4) Reduction of biological diversity.

By changing his world, a person significantly interferes in the life of his neighbors on the planet. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, since 1600. on the

3. WAYS OF SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

Each of the global problems discussed here has its own variants of partial or more complete solution, there is a set of common approaches to solving environmental problems.

Measures to improve the quality of the environment:

1.Technological:

*development of new technologies

* treatment facilities

*fuel change

* electrification of production, life, transport

2.Architectural planning activities:

* zoning of the territory of the settlement

* landscaping of populated areas

*organization of sanitary protection zones

3.Economic

4.Legal:

*creation of legislative acts to maintain

environmental quality

5. Engineering and organizational:

*reduction of car parking at traffic lights

*decrease in traffic intensity by

congested highways

In addition, over the past century, mankind has developed a number of original ways to deal with environmental problems. Among these methods can be attributed the emergence and activities of various kinds of "green" movements and organizations. Except “ Green Peace^ a” , which is distinguished by the scope of its activities, there are similar organizations directly conducting environmental actions. There is also another type of environmental organization: structures that stimulate and sponsor environmental activities ( Wildlife Foundation).

In addition to various kinds of associations in the field of solving environmental problems, there are a number of state or public environmental initiatives:

environmental legislation in Russia and other countries of the world,

various international agreements or the system of "Red Books".

Among the most important ways to solve environmental problems, most researchers also highlight the introduction of environmentally friendly, low-waste and waste-free technologies, the construction of treatment facilities, the rational distribution of production and the use of natural resources.

Ministry of Public and Vocational Education.

Magnitogorsk State University.

Ecological problems of the present and ways of their solution.

Abstract on OBZh.

Performed: PMNO student,

2 course, 202 gr., UNK,

Mitrofanova Lena.

Checked: older

teacher

Kuvshinova Ira.

Magnitogorsk.

2003

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1. Brodsky A.K. A short course in general ecology: Textbook-3rd ed.-DSAN, 1999-223p.

2. Voitkevich G.V., Vronsky V.A. Fundamentals of the doctrine of the biosphere: Book. For the teacher. - M: Enlightenment, 1989.

3. Gladkov N.D. etc. Nature Protection-M. Enlightenment, 1975-239s.

4. Gorelov A.A. Ecology: Proc. allowance. - M.: Center, 1998-238s.

4. CONCLUSION

Achieving an ideal state of absolute harmony with nature is basically impossible. Just as impossible is a final victory over nature, although in the process of struggle a person discovers the ability to overcome the difficulties that arise. The interaction of man with nature never ends, and when it seems that man is about to gain a decisive advantage, nature increases resistance. However, it is not infinite, and its overcoming in the form of suppression of nature is fraught with the death of man himself.

The current success of man in the fight against natural environment achieved by increasing the risk, which should be considered in two ways: the risk of possible environmental side effects, due to the fact that science cannot give an absolute forecast of the consequences of human impact on the natural environment, and the risk of accidental disasters, due to the fact that technical systems and the person himself do not have absolute reliability. Here, one of Commoner's propositions, which he calls the "law" of ecology, turns out to be true: "nothing is given for free." (1; p. 26)

Based on the analysis of the environmental situation, we can conclude that we should rather not talk about the final and absolute solution of the environmental problem, but about the prospects for shifting particular problems in order to optimize the relationship between man and the natural environment in the existing historical conditions. This circumstance is due to the fact that the fundamental laws of nature impose restrictions on the implementation of the goals of mankind.

1. Introduction. 1st page

2. Basic environmental problems. 2p.

1) Pollution of the lithosphere. 2p.

2) Pollution of the hydrosphere. 3rd page

3) Atmospheric pollution. 5p.

4) Decreased ecological diversity. 5p.

3. Ways to solve environmental problems. 7p.

4. Conclusion. 8p.

5. List of references. 9p.