I n v i s i b l e B o r d e r s : T r a n s b o u n d a r y P o l l u t i o n i n E u r o p e 1© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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Invisible Borders: Transboundary Pollution in Europe

How can one country’s pollution become another country’s problem?

E U R O P E A N D R U S S I A

Preview

After completing the activity, discuss and answer the following questions with a partner:

1. What did you see happen in this experience?

2. What problems were created by the confetti tossers?

3. What could have been done to prevent those problems?

2 I n v i s i b l e B o r d e r s : T r a n s b o u n d a r y P o l l u t i o n i n E u r o p e © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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Read the Introduction and Section 1. Then, create an illustrated dictionary of the Geoterms by completing these tasks:• Create a symbol or an illustration to represent each term.• Write a definition of each term in your own words. • Write a sentence that includes the term and the word Europe.

Geoterm and Symbol Definition Sentence

acid rain

nuclear radiation

river system

transboundarypollution

Section 1 - The Geographic Setting

I n v i s i b l e B o r d e r s : T r a n s b o u n d a r y P o l l u t i o n i n E u r o p e 3© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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As you read Section 2, complete the map below.

Section 2 - The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

NORWAYNORWAYSWEDENSWEDEN

SWITZ.SWITZ.AUSTRIAAUSTRIA

LATVIALATVIA

HUNGARYHUNGARY

MAC.MAC.ALB.ALB.

GREECEGREECE

MOLDOVAMOLDOVA

BOS. &HERZ.BOS. &HERZ.

CROATIACROATIA

SLOVAKIASLOVAKIA

IRELANDIRELAND

SERB. &MONT.

SERB. &MONT.

BULGARIA

SPAIN

ANDORRA

LUX.

FRANCE

UNITEDKINGDOM

NORWAYSWEDEN

FINLAND

GERMANY

SWITZ.

ITALY

AUSTRIA

CZECHREP.

POLAND

LITH.

LATVIA

HUNGARY

ROMANIA

MAC.ALB.

GREECE

TURKEY

CYPRUSMALTA

MOLDOVA

UKRAINE

BELARUS

SERB. &MONT.

BOS. &HERZ.

CROATIASLOVENIA

ESTONIA

SLOVAKIA

NETH.

BELGIUM

IRELAND

Black Sea

RUSSIA(former Soviet Union)

BULGARIA

TCI5 335 GA_ISN_16_RN-3a.epsSecond Proof

Transboundary Pollution in Europe

Human Error Creates a Deadly Radiation LeakOn the map, color the source of the radioactive pollution. Underline the name of the country where it is located. Then, complete this sentence:

Chernobyl became a source of radioactive pollution when…

The Radioactive Cloud Spreads Across EuropeLook at the maps your teacher is projecting. Shade your map to show the spread of radioactive pollution. Circle the names of two countries that were affected by the pollution. Then, complete this sentence:

One effect of the spread of radio active pollution across borders was…

Efforts to Reduce Radioactive PollutionOn the map, draw one effort to reduce radioactive pollution. Then, complete this sentence:

____________________ help to reduce radioactive pollution by…

4 I n v i s i b l e B o r d e r s : T r a n s b o u n d a r y P o l l u t i o n i n E u r o p e © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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Section 3 - The “Black Triangle” and Acid Rain

As you read Section 3, complete the map below.

Soot from Factories Creates Acid RainOn the map, color the source of the acid rain. Underline the names of the countries where it is located. Then, complete this sentence:

The Black Triangle became a source of acid rain when…

Air Pollution Brings Acid Rain to Other CountriesLook at the map your teacher is projecting. Shade your map to show the pattern of acid rain. Circle the names of two countries affected by acid rain. Then, complete this sentence:

One consequence of the spread of acid rain across borders is…

Efforts to Reduce Acid RainOn the map, draw one effort to reduce acid rain. Then, complete this sentence:

_______________________ help to reduce acid rain by…

NORWAYNORWAYSWEDENSWEDEN

SWITZ.SWITZ.AUSTRIAAUSTRIA

LATVIALATVIA

HUNGARYHUNGARY

MAC.MAC.ALB.ALB.

GREECEGREECE

MOLDOVAMOLDOVA

BOS. &HERZ.BOS. &HERZ.

CROATIACROATIA

SLOVAKIASLOVAKIA

IRELANDIRELAND

BULGARIASERBIA

SPAIN

ANDORRA

LUX.

FRANCE

UNITEDKINGDOM

NORWAYSWEDEN

FINLAND

GERMANY

SWITZ.

ITALY

AUSTRIA

CZECHREP.

POLAND

LITH.

LATVIA

HUNGARYROMANIA

MAC.ALB.

GREECE

TURKEY

CYPRUSMALTA

MOLDOVA

UKRAINE

BELARUS

SERBIA

MONT.KOS.

BOS. &HERZ.

CROATIASLOVENIA

ESTONIA

SLOVAKIA

NETH.

BELGIUM

IRELAND

Black Sea

RUSSIA(former Soviet Union)

BULGARIA

TCI17 76 GA_ISN_16_RN-3a.epsFirst Proof

Transboundary Pollution in Europe

I n v i s i b l e B o r d e r s : T r a n s b o u n d a r y P o l l u t i o n i n E u r o p e 5© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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Section 4 - The Tisza-Danube Cyanide Spill

As you read Section 4, complete the map below.

A Burst Dam Releases Deadly ChemicalsOn the map, color the source of the water pollution. Underline the name of the country where it is located. Then, complete this sentence:

Accidental water pollution occurred when…

Cyanide Flows into the Danube River SystemLook at the map your teacher is projecting. Shade your map to show the spread of the water pollution. Circle the names of two countries most affected by the pollution. Then, complete this sentence:

One consequence of the spread of water pollution across borders was…

Efforts to Reduce Water PollutionOn the map, draw one effort to reduce water pollution. Then, complete this sentence:

_______________________ help to reduce water pollution by…

NORWAYNORWAYSWEDENSWEDEN

SWITZ.SWITZ.AUSTRIAAUSTRIA

LATVIALATVIA

HUNGARYHUNGARY

MAC.MAC.ALB.ALB.

GREECEGREECE

MOLDOVAMOLDOVA

BOS. &HERZ.BOS. &HERZ.

CROATIACROATIA

SLOVAKIASLOVAKIA

IRELANDIRELAND

SERB. &MONT.

SERB. &MONT.

BULGARIA

SPAIN

ANDORRA

LUX.

FRANCE

UNITEDKINGDOM

NORWAYSWEDEN

FINLAND

GERMANY

SWITZ.

ITALY

AUSTRIA

CZECHREP.

POLAND

LITH.

LATVIA

HUNGARY

ROMANIA

MAC.ALB.

GREECE

TURKEY

CYPRUSMALTA

MOLDOVA

UKRAINE

BELARUS

SERB. &MONT.

BOS. &HERZ.

CROATIASLOVENIA

ESTONIA

SLOVAKIA

NETH.

BELGIUM

IRELAND

Black Sea

RUSSIA(former Soviet Union)

BULGARIA

TCI5 335 GA_ISN_16_RN-3a.epsSecond Proof

Transboundary Pollution in Europe

6 I n v i s i b l e B o r d e r s : T r a n s b o u n d a r y P o l l u t i o n i n E u r o p e © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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Read about another example of transboundary pollution below. Then, follow the directions to complete the map.

Invisible Borders in North AmericaThe map shows how smog spreads across eastern North America. Smog is caused by the burning of fossil fuels in cars, trucks, power plants, and factories. The chemicals pro duced combine with sunlight to create smog. Smog lowers air quality. It also leads to breathing problems for some people. In Canada, smog season lasts from May to September. As the map shows, much of the smog in Canada comes from the United States.

Processing

1. Draw a box around the area that is the largest source of the smog. Underline the names of six main states where it is located. Then, complete this sentence:

Smog is caused by…

2. Look at the wind arrows on the map. Shade where you think most of the pollution will spread. Circle the names of four Canadian provinces that will be most affected. Then, complete this sentence:

One consequence of smog spreading across borders is…

3. On the map, draw one possible solution to smog. Then, complete this sentence:

__________________ could help reduce smog by…

N

S

EW

150,000 tons

75,000 tons

15,000 tons

Prevailing winds duringsmog season (May–September)

Annual emissions of nitrogen oxidesfrom electrical generating stations

0 500 kilometers

0 500 miles

Albers Conic Equal-Area projection250

250

Kansas

Michigan

Oklahoma

NewYork

Texas

NE

SD

ND

Minnesota

Ontario Quebec

NewBrunswick

NovaScotia

PrinceEdwardIsland

Newfoundland& Labrador

Manitoba

Wisconsin

Iowa

Missouri

Arakansas

Louisiana

Mississippi

Alabama

Tennessee

Kentucky

Illinois IndianaOhio

Pennsylvania

WestVirginia Virginia

NorthCarolina

SouthCarolina

Georgia

Florida

MaineVermont

New HampshireMassachusetts

Rhode Island

Connecticut

New Jersey

Maryland

Delaware

U N I T E D S T A T E S

C A N A D A

TCI5 339 GA_ISN_16_PRO-1.epsSecond Proof

Smog in Eastern North America

Source: Canadian Geographic Magazine.