Sustainable Development and Environmental Challenges
Sustainable Development
Principles
- Collection: Extraction rate at or below regeneration rate.
- Discharge: Rate of extraction equals the creation rate of substitute resources/energies.
- Broadcast: Below the assimilative capacity of receiving ecosystems.
- Zero Emission: No bioaccumulative emissions.
- Integration: Mimic natural ecosystem processes.
- Technology Selection: Prioritize efficient technologies.
- Precautionary Principle: Avoid exceeding ecosystem limits.
Brackish Water
Saline intrusion in wells.
Alternative Energy Sources
- Solar Energy: Solar panels for hot water and electricity.
- Wind Power: Wind turbines for electricity generation.
- Biomass Energy: Wood, agricultural waste for heat, steam, and biofuels (biodiesel, ethanol).
- Geothermal Energy: Hot water/steam from Earth’s crust for heat and electricity.
Risk Analysis and Planning
Danger: Probability of occurrence, magnitude, and return time.
Vulnerability: Damage, loss of life, and economic impact.
Exposure: People or property exposed to risk.
Volcanic Hazard Areas
Subduction zones, island arcs, rifts, oceanic ridges, and hot spots.
Seismic Activity
Magnitude (M): Energy released by an earthquake.
Intensity (I): Effects and damage caused by an earthquake.
Cyclones, Hurricanes, and Typhoons
Large storms around low-pressure areas in warm tropical oceans. Winds exceeding 118 km/h. Formation due to rising warm air, releasing energy as strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Local Environmental Issues
Smog
- Sulfurous Smog: High sulfur oxide and carbon content.
- Photochemical Smog: Oxidizing compounds (PAN) from reactions with UV radiation.
Thermal Inversion
Temperature increases with altitude in the troposphere, trapping pollutants and creating a heat island.
Ozone Layer Depletion
Caused by CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) used in aerosols, refrigerants, and cleaning products.
Climate Change
Greenhouse Effect
- Solar radiation warms Earth’s surface.
- Earth emits longwave radiation, absorbed by greenhouse gases.
- Heat is re-emitted towards Earth.
- Greenhouse gases: Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides.
Global Warming
- Fossil fuel burning, deforestation, and livestock increase greenhouse gases.
- Increased atmospheric heat warms the planet.
Global Dimming
Atmospheric darkening due to pollution blocking sunlight.
Potential Effects
Rising sea levels, health impacts, changes in forests and natural areas.
Kyoto Protocol (1997)
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% (2008-2012).
Montreal Protocol (1987)
Prevent ozone layer depletion (CFCs).
Water Pollution
Eutrophication
Excessive algae growth blocks light, killing other aquatic life.
Deforestation
Causes
Agriculture, livestock, timber overexploitation, urbanization, and public works.
Consequences
Loss of CO2 sinks, contributing to global warming.
Biodiversity Loss
Causes
Habitat loss, commercial hunting, invasive species, pesticide use.
Waste Management
Reduce, reuse, recycle (3 Rs).
Second Evaluation: Medical Advancements
Immune System
Organs, cells, and molecules defending the body against infections and abnormal cells.
Disease Treatment
- Chemotherapy: Chemical substances to fight disease.
- Disinfectants: Destroy microorganisms on objects (alcohol, bleach).
- Antiseptics: Eliminate microorganisms on living tissue (iodine, hydrogen peroxide).
- Antibiotics: Kill bacteria (bactericides, bacteriostatic).
- Antivirals: Target viral RNA to inhibit DNA replication.
- Anti-inflammatory Drugs: NSAIDs, analgesics, steroids.
Cancer Treatment
- Chemotherapy: Cytotoxic substances.
- Immunotherapy: Vaccines, antibodies, radioimmunotherapy.
- Radiation Therapy: Ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells.
Surgery
- General Surgery: Gastrointestinal.
- Cardiac Surgery: Heart and blood vessels.
- Neurosurgery: Brain and spinal cord.
- Vascular Surgery: Blood vessels.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Nose to neck.
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Injuries, aesthetics.
- Orthopedic Surgery: Bones and muscles.
- Pediatric Surgery: Children.
New Medicine
- Cell Therapy: Implantation of differentiated or stem cells.
- Applications: Cardiovascular disease, nervous system disorders, autoimmune diseases.
Assisted Reproduction
- Artificial Insemination: Semen deposited in the uterus.
- In Vitro Fertilization: Ova and sperm combined in a laboratory.
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): Sperm injected into an egg.
- Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT): Gametes transferred to the fallopian tube.
Computer Processing Unit (CPU)
- Control Unit: Synchronizes and decodes instructions.
- Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU): Performs mathematical operations.
Main Memory (RAM)
Stores data and software.
Buses
Communication pathways for information transfer.
Input/Output Units
Peripherals (keyboard, mouse, screen).
Cosmology
Hubble’s Law
Galaxy recession velocity is proportional to distance.
The Future of the Universe
- Big Chill: Indefinite expansion, slow death in cold and darkness.
- Big Crunch: Gravitational pull reverses expansion.
- Big Rip: Dark energy overcomes gravity, causing rapid expansion.