How Environmental Features Affect the Severity of Pollution

Environmental Features that Influence the Impact of Pollution

Geographical Location

Prevailing winds: The direction and speed of prevailing winds can disperse pollutants over a larger area minimising the localised impact but increasing the risk of trans-boundary pollution.
Topography: Mountainous regions can trap pollutants in valleys due to temperature inversions, compounding the effects of pollution. Conversely, flat landscapes could facilitate more rapid dissemination of pollutants.
Proximity to water bodies: Placement near lakes or seas can mitigate airborne pollution due to deposition into water, but can increase the severity water pollution.

Climate

Temperature: High temperatures can increase the volatility and reactivity of various pollutants, enhancing their potential to spread and cause harm.
Rainfall: Rain can dilute terrestrial and water pollutants and even wash them away, mitigating their impact. However, it can also lead to leaching of soil pollutants into water bodies.
Humidity: Higher levels of humidity can reduce the amount of dust and particulate matter pollution in the air by increasing the mass and settling speed of these particles.

Soil Properties

Soil permeability: Soils with high permeability allow more pollutants to infiltrate and contaminate groundwater. Impermeable soils can lead to surface run-off causing water pollution.
Soil composition: Soils rich in organic matter and certain minerals can absorb and neutralise some pollutants, reducing their harmful impacts. Conversely, nutrient-poor soils may be more susceptible to pollution.
pH of the soil: The acidity or alkalinity of the soil can affect the availability and toxicity of certain pollutants. For example, acidic soils can mobilise heavy metals making them more hazardous.

Biodiversity

Sensitivity of local flora and fauna: Some species are more sensitive to particular pollutants which can create an imbalance in the ecosystem leading to more severe environmental impacts.
Existence of bio-indicator species: Certain bio-indicator species, like lichens for air quality, can provide early warnings about pollution, allowing for mitigation before severe impacts occur.
Presence of pollutant-degrading organisms: Some organisms naturally break down or absorb certain pollutants, which can significantly reduce environmental harm.

Efficiency of the Ecosystem

Carrying capacity: The maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely can predict the potential impact of pollution: the higher the capacity, the greater the absorption of pollution with less net environmental damage.
Health of the ecosystem prior to contamination: Thriving ecosystems are more resilient to perturbations, including pollution, because of the capacity of replacement and repair within the ecosystem’s own dynamic mechanisms.