1 Suggested Answer Outline

Now you have completed your answer, compare it to the following suggested answer.

Human activities may impact on the carbon cycle in the following ways:

o Burning of fossil fuel in energy generation and transportation, which

releases large quantities of carbon dioxide into the air contributing to climate
change. Normally, this fossilised carbon would be locked away from the
carbon cycle.
o Burning of biomass (plants), which releases carbon dioxide to air
contributing to climate change.
o Deforestation and other types of land use change, which removes plants
that are a key sink for atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis. This
increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributing to
climate change.
o Use of carbonate rocks in cement manufacture, which releases carbon
dioxide to the air.
o Extraction and transportation of fossil fuels from activities such as coal
mining, oil drilling, oil transportation and hydraulic fracturing (commonly
known as ‘fracking’), which also pose a significant risk of water, land and air
pollution.
b. Human activities may impact on the water cycle in the following ways:
o Depletion of aquifers, with the water in aquifers being used at a faster rate
than it can be replenished. Underground water sources provide drinking
water and supply water for rivers, streams and other types of surface water.
o Damming of rivers, which can lead to water being impeded, which will harm
fish and other aquatic organisms.
 o Deforestation, which means that more water will end up in rivers, which may
cause flooding.
o Climate change, which is altering the location and amount of water around
the planet.
o Changes in land use will increase or decrease the flow of water in a
catchment.

 Suggested Answers to Study Questions

 Question 1
The environment is:

“Surroundings in which an organisation operates, including air, water, land, natural

resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelationships ...

Surroundings can extend from within an organisation to the local, regional and global
system ... [and] ... can be described in terms of biodiversity, ecosystems, climate or
other characteristics.”

 Question 2
Water is transferred to the atmosphere by evaporation from water bodies, soil and
vegetation. As a vapour it will rise, cool and condense to form clouds, which eventually
release rain, sleet and snow. The water is then used within biological systems, or
seeps into the ground, from where it is eventually recycled by evaporation.

 Question 3
Human activities can impact on the nitrogen cycle in the following ways:

 Run-off into water of nitrogen-based fertilisers, both natural and synthetic, causing
nutrient enrichment (eutrophication) leading to excessive growth in plants,
causing oxygen depletion, blockage of light and nuisance.
 Combustion of fossil fuels, leading to release of nitrogen into the atmosphere,
which causes acidification of ecosystems (e.g. damage to forests and lakes).
 Discharge of sewage containing nitrogen compounds into rivers, lakes and streams,
which causes nutrient enrichment.
 Emissions of nitrogen (mainly ammonia compounds) from manure to air from
intensive rearing of pigs and chickens.

 Question 4
Reasons why biodiversity should be conserved include:

 Ecological - if key pieces of the ecological framework are removed then the whole
framework may be in danger of collapsing. The ecological arguments for
 conserving biodiversity are therefore based on the premise that we need to
preserve biodiversity in order to maintain our own life-support systems.
 Economic - maintaining and enjoying a high-quality natural environment and the
regenerative effects of an improved environment can bring substantial financial
benefits to an area. Resources can also be taken from nature for consumption.
 Cultural/spiritual/aesthetic - the beauty of nature is something many people are
enthralled by. There is something within the natural environment which people
really connect to, and which gives them an immense sense of satisfaction when
they experience nature. For some, there are also cultural or spiritual meanings
attached to the landscape.
 Recreation/tourism - many people take day trips and holidays to areas because of
the quality of the natural environment, as well as to visit wildlife.
 Education/information - unique natural spaces have an important function in
enabling society to improve its knowledge of the natural world. Scientists can use
these areas to gather data and conduct research which can materially benefit
society.

(Only three were required.)

 Question 5
The four ecosystem services are:

 Provisioning.
 Regulating.
 Cultural.
 Supporting.

 Question 6
Deforestation can cause the following environmental problems:

 Burning and decay of wood releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
contributing to climate change.
 Trees and other plants photosynthesise - this involves removing carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere to produce oxygen, thereby reducing atmospheric carbon
 dioxide levels. If large forests are removed, less carbon dioxide is removed from
the atmosphere causing an increased risk of climate change.
 The water cycle can be significantly affected. Trees take groundwater through
roots, which is emitted into the atmosphere. When deforestation occurs, the lack
of trees and other plants means that water is not evaporated and local climates are
much drier.
 The cohesion of the soil is reduced by deforestation, resulting in:
o Fertile agricultural soils being eroded.
o Increased risk of landslides on steep slopes.
 A reduction in forest cover means that surface water run-off will increase, which
may result in flash floods and increase the risk of localised floods in comparison to
what would occur if the forest cover was present.
 Deforestation can result in a decrease in biodiversity as an important habitat for
many plants and animals is destroyed. This can also lead to a reduction in genetic
variation. Genetic variation can lead to many agricultural benefits such as
development of crops that are resistant to pests or have the ability to grow in poor
quality soils.
 Forests often contain many plants which are still to be discovered, some of which
may have properties which can be used to fight disease and ill health.

 Question 7
The precautionary principle defines much of the way we are beginning to respond to
the challenges of sustainable development, particularly within the environmental
context. It urges a willingness to take action in advance of scientific proof of evidence
of the need for the proposed action, on the grounds that further delay could prove
ultimately most costly to society and nature and, in the longer term, selfish and unfair
to future generations. Central to the application of the precautionary principle is the
concept of proportionality or cost-effectiveness. Will environmental benefits of
precautionary action outweigh the economic and societal costs?

 Question 8
The role of trade unions in influencing high environmental standards is:

 Provision of learning on environmental management for members.

 Influencing governments to increase or strengthen environmental laws and their
enforcement.
 Encouraging members to work for a more environmentally aware employer.
 Influencing employers to provide high environmental standards.
 Providing guidance for members on good standards of environmental
management.

 Question 9
Pressure groups may cause the following:

 Reduced sales.
 Raising consumer awareness of an issue.
 Increasing the costs of a business through improved risk controls, etc.
 Changing current business practices.
 Influencing the making of law and government policy.
 Damaging the reputation of an organisation.