Human Factors
Factors associated with human civilization, such as pollution and urban sprawl have had a negative effect on the temperate forests along the east coast of the United States. Examples of pollution include acid rain deposition from coal powered power plants partially destroying spruce-fir forest ecosystems in higher elevations along the Appalachians. Other examples of limiting factors associated with humans include the building of mountain and forest communities as a result of urban sprawl. Currently in the southeast region, mountain top removal is a practice used by coal mining companies to use strip mining and explosives to remove coal mountain tops.
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. Pollution started from prehistoric times when man created the first fires.
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. Pollution started from prehistoric times when man created the first fires.
Acid Rain
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Governments have made efforts since the 1970s to reduce the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere with positive results. Nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning strikes and sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions. The chemicals in acid rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and erosion of stone statues.
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Governments have made efforts since the 1970s to reduce the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere with positive results. Nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning strikes and sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions. The chemicals in acid rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and erosion of stone statues.
Forest Fires
Forest fires can occur from lightning strikes or through human carelessness. Fires are essential to the natural succession of a forest. As a forest matures, a dense canopy formed by older trees blocks sunlight to the forest floor. Leaves, fallen branches, and debris build up. Fires destroy some of the mature trees, but open up areas and let in the sunlight. Grasses, wildflowers, and small trees and shrubs quickly take over and grow in these forest meadows. These areas eventually develop into mature forest. This change to the forest vegetation is called succession.
Forest fires can occur from lightning strikes or through human carelessness. Fires are essential to the natural succession of a forest. As a forest matures, a dense canopy formed by older trees blocks sunlight to the forest floor. Leaves, fallen branches, and debris build up. Fires destroy some of the mature trees, but open up areas and let in the sunlight. Grasses, wildflowers, and small trees and shrubs quickly take over and grow in these forest meadows. These areas eventually develop into mature forest. This change to the forest vegetation is called succession.
Chop Trees
The issues that affect deciduous forests are similar to those of other forested areas. Temperate deciduous forests are one of the most altered biomes on Earth. If you compare a map of population density of the world with one showing temperate deciduous forests, you will find that a good portion of the world’s population lives in this temperate region. Humans have used trees for firewood, construction, and paper for a long time.
The issues that affect deciduous forests are similar to those of other forested areas. Temperate deciduous forests are one of the most altered biomes on Earth. If you compare a map of population density of the world with one showing temperate deciduous forests, you will find that a good portion of the world’s population lives in this temperate region. Humans have used trees for firewood, construction, and paper for a long time.