ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES: ORIGIN, CHARACTERISTICS, CONSEQUENCES - SCIENCE - 2024

The anthropogenic activities are those related to the influence of man in nature. The term "anthropogenic" has been used especially to talk about the amount of carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere, produced by human activities and with a great effect on contemporary climate change.

The action of man on the environment has also been the most important cause of the presence of metals in agricultural soils. These metals are highly mobile and toxic to living organisms. In addition, anthropogenic activities produce dangerous chemicals, although this also happens with many natural events.

The Great Fog in London was caused by burning fuel and thousands of people died. NT Stobbs Rates of disturbance in the environment, which include changes in temperature and rainfall, have been accelerated by anthropogenic activities. This is in contrast to natural climate change, which can be caused by the different processes that occur naturally, such as the variation in the brightness of the sun or changes in ocean currents.

Certain anthropogenic activities have been shown to disturb some species. Pollutants produced by anthropogenic action can be organic (fertilizers or pesticides) or of inorganic origin, including heavy metals.

When we refer to climate change, the acronym AGW is often used, which stands for Anthropogenic Global Warming. It is a way of highlighting that climate changes are produced by man.

The word "anthropogenic" comes from the Greek. It is the union between anthropos, which means "man", and genos, which means "origin."

Origin

The term "anthropogenic" was first used by Russian geologist Alexey Pavlov to refer to human influences on plant communities. Since the beginning of history, human beings have managed to modify their environment and influence the environment.

For scientists, more than 90% of global warming has been a consequence of emissions from humans in their activities, especially after the Industrial Revolution. However, even in the pre-industrial era, humans used the environment and its resources for their survival.

The first negative impact of human beings on the environment began when they adopted a more sedentary lifestyle. At that time the lands began to adapt to be inhabited and for agricultural and livestock activities. Because of this, deforestation is believed to be one of the first anthropogenic activities on record.

In more recent times came industrialization, and with it its consequences for the production of waste. It is estimated that it was in the year 1851 when the effects of anthropogenic activities began to be really significant. In that year the average temperature already showed an important variation.

characteristics

There are different types of pollution caused by anthropogenic activities, such as atmospheric, water, soil, radioactive, visual, light, acoustic or trash. Anthropogenic climate change is characterized by the introduction of a large amount of energy into the atmosphere.

At present, many extreme meteorological phenomena appear, the product of anthropogenic action, especially due to the pollutants that we generate. Man-made pollutants can be primary or secondary.

The primary ones have to do with substances dumped directly by man into the atmosphere or onto the earth. It can occur, for example, by the use of aerosols, pesticides, sulfur oxide or carbon monoxide. Man generates secondary pollutants when the primary pollutants are transformed.

There are two types of emissions in pollution by anthropogenic action. The controlled emission is the one that occurs with the control of specialists and following a series of rules. Then there is accidental release, which is the product of industrial accidents.

Consequences

Anthropogenic pollution has the effect of degrading the environment, and has harmed the planet since its appearance. The action of man has caused a decline in biodiversity and the extinction of some species. In total, it is said that there are 29% fewer amphibians, birds or fish in the world since the beginning of this process.

Global warming also occurs as a result of increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by human action. Over the years, the land and its productivity have been affected, as well as the oceans and the ozone layer.

Also the human being himself has suffered the consequences of his own actions. Global warming and pollution have been shown to have negative effects on people's health.

Examples

There are many examples of anthropogenic activities, as well as different events that demonstrate the effect of these actions. There are many different sources of pollutants: industries, deforestation, mining, the use of transport or construction.

Pollution due to industry

For example, industries release gases and dust into the atmosphere and cause pollution in the air, water, and land. Pollution in this sector is caused by combustion when burning fossil fuels to run industrial machines or generate electricity (vehicles or thermal power plants).

For example, the cement industry contributes to the emission of CO2 into the environment and it is estimated that it produces 5% of man-made emissions. One of the most extreme examples of this was the Great London Fog. During the year 1952, over four days a great environmental pollution was visible due to the burning of fuels. It is estimated that thousands of people died and many more became ill.

Loss of diversity

The loss of diversity in forests and other natural habitats is attributed to anthropogenic factors. Deforestation and overexploitation of resources affect the structure, dynamics and species present in these areas. Deforestation increases the greenhouse effect, leading to further global warming.

Problems due to technological advances

Historically, the use of fire, although it represented an important advance in human development, had a strong impact on the ecosystem. For example, in Australia the large number of fires caused by mankind caused species such as the marsupial lion to completely disappear.

Agriculture, used since the beginning of human history, has meant the redirection of water, and has caused pollution by the use of chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers. Thus, the impact of this activity has been very high.

During the 1960s and 1970s temperatures were much colder than usual globally. Some scientists claim that this was the product of nuclear tests, which the United States, France, the Soviet Union, China and the United Kingdom were already carrying out.

References

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4. Anthropogenic risks. (2019) Recovered from iingen.unam.mx
5. Three Biodiversity Changes Due to Anthropogenic Effects: Critical Environmental Issues. (nineteen ninety five). Recovered from nap.edu