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Geo final Review

Unit 1

Distinguish between human impact on the environment and environmental impact

on humans

Human impact on the environment is our direct influence on how the environment

changes, through population growth, resource consumption, and advances in

technology. IPAT best describes this Impact= Population x Affluence x Technology.

Environmental impact on humans is when humans are directly affect by the way the

environment has changed our lives. Humans must adapt to climate change,

environmental changes like temperature, seasons, resources development and

depletion. The major way the environment impacts humans is variation in the way the

earth moves and wobbles on its axis. Secondly change in the earths tilt. Thirdly change

in the travel path around the sun.

Explain the human-environment interaction model

Populationresourcesenvironmental impact

Resources can have positive feedback or negative feedback on population as well as

environmental impact

List several ways in which humans may be able to affect the components of the

model (e.g. population, resources, environment)

Population- size, distribution, density and growth rate effect the use of resources

Resources- supply, demand and use affect the change we have the environment

Environmental impact- is either affected by abiotic components or biotic components

Understand alternate definitions of a “resource” be aware of the challenges in

defining a resource (linked to personal scientific, technological, economic,

political and emotional knowledge and experiences)

Based on culture, and political and economic is based differently. “S.T.E.P” all affects

our view of the resources.

Bio centric- ecosystems and its organism is given more value then what we obtain

from the resources

Anthropathic view is based on the value and items we obtain from the resource

Techno centric- humans can suppress all environmental problems with technology

Eco centric- humans are part of the ecosystem and must follow their laws not our own

human laws

Identify characteristics of a functional resource

1) Resources are dynamic- means that use, stock and value will change over time and

in constant turnover

2) Resources may be depleted/degraded or obsolete- we can deplete or resource or

change to a new one making the resource obsolete

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3) The life of a resource can be extended- develop more efficient ways of resource

use can extend the life we have of them

4) Resources can be hazards

A thing or something that can be used as a function or used to create functional items,

based on needs and wants of person and people.

Distinguish between the three classes of resources (flow, stock, continuous)

Stock- is the pile of reservoir of a resource we have collected (non-renewable). Tend

to outlive human lives and take a long time to reform, some can be recycled and

reused like metals

Flow- those that can be depleted and sustained and increased based on our human use

and conservation. We must use them at a rate that they can be replenished (potentially

renewable)

Continuous- resources that are likely available forever and potentially renewable.

Understand the difficulties in defining “environmental impact” (linked to personal

scientific, technological, economic, political and emotional knowledge and

experiences)

Define environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability is defined as maintaining or restoring the quantity and

quality of the biophysical resources upon which human depend

List the rules guaranteed to lead to environmental sustainability

Rule 1: associated with the movement of natural resources from the environment to us.

Renewable resources- our consumption must be equal or less then their replacement.

Nonrenewable resources- depletion of these should be equal or less the advances in

alternative innovation for new renewable resources.

Rule 2: this rule is associated with the movement of “used” natural resources from us

back into the environment

All resources- emissions or waste should be within the limit the resource system can

handle and manage itself

List the types of human activities impairing environmental sustainability

1) We have acted to change the physical structure of the biosphere-converted areas

from wetlands to dry lands, fertile to no fertile etc.

2) We have acted to change the biodiversity of the environment

we can converted complex nature to fields of corn or sow, reduced biodiversity by

monocropping and introducing non-native species which out-compete the native

species

3) We have acted to change the chemical composition of the biophysical environment

dumping toxins and chemicals into rivers affected the ecosystem

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4) We have acted to change the supply or storage of natural resources

overfishing, logging all of which effect the supply or stock we have of abundant

supplies

Unit 2

Recognize the decreasing link over time between humans and their ecological

environment

Humans when we were hunter gathers depended on the environment for our needs,

preserved the ecosystem in order to survive, and followed migration of animals to there

new habitat. Our impact locally was little because we moved with our needs. As

agriculture grew and the industrial age came we development less need for ecosystems

and preserved less because we need more and more. Decreasing the link with them,

causing a separation between us and the animals resources we depend on.

Present a brief history of early hunter-gatherers; movement, tools and

ecological knowledge

99% of our human life was spent as hunter gathers; we lived life as an ecosystem with

animals and plants to survive. We created tools and had a much more larger brain to

develop better tools and ways to gather what we need to survive making us the

dominant species.

We developed tools to allow the harvest of resources must easy like hoe‟s and spears.

We advanced in our capability to hunt and gather to increase survival and once again

become the dominant species.

Knowledge is based on how we understood our prey and land. We determined was was

good and bad and development ecological knowledge to adapt to environment and be

successful.

Describe the history of human impact based on our knowledge of lower

Paleolithic, upper Paleolithic and Neolithic ancestors and bronze age societies

In Notes

List specific human impacts associated with fire, hunting and gathering of early

hunter-gatherers

Fire- used to clear land, and drive animals need to survive into ambush. Land clearing

was done to produce much easy land to hunt and allow lower vegetation to grow and

attract much easy animals as prey.

Hunting- 200 genera became extinct we hunted large easy prey which in turn declined

threw natural predators in further. Our impact affected the natural balance of

ecosystem by removing a lower level species effect the higher species as well.

Gathering- produced a much smaller impact because it was localized and not at an

impact as now with agriculture. We did however over harvest was we needed most and

declined the species that way. But impact was local.

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Describe the origins of the agricultural revolution and the domestication of

plants and animals

The origin is believed to be in the Middle East in the once great land called the Fertile

Crescent, which spread through Europe and settlers made it to North and South

America and brought with them great tools and innovative ways to produce what was

needed.

Plants- found space and ability to grow funea and furnea (corn and wheat) and found it

to be easy and productive

Animals- Wolf and dog were first then sheep and goat, found it proactive and easy to

grow small herds on small space. Mostly open pasture and grazing

Distinguish between pastoral nomadism and shifting cultivation (swidden

agriculture) and list reasons why they are often no longer sustainable

Pastoral nomadism- rotational grazing of domesticated herbivores

Shifting cultivation- is where we clear land plot and use for few years and leave to

allow fallowing to replish soil nutrients

Pastoral nomadism impact was due to cultural impact, resource avaiblivilty and

population. All of these made it unsustainable

Shifting was bad due to soil erosion, burning and clearing all left the land dead and

sometimes regeneration would work leaving it gone forever or degraded to severe

Identify links between the industrial revolution and changes in agriculture

As population grew the demand did as well and agriculture could not keep up,

therefore the introduction of industrial agriculture lead to increase in production and

feeding capacity but also decrease in water, soil, and erosion build up

Present a brief history of the industrial revolution linked to increasing human

impact on the environment

1. There was a considerable migration of people from the countryside to towns and

cities. "Modern" tools/equipment and artificial fertilizer reduced the demand for

labor while considerably increasing agricultural output.

2. The development of larger towns and cities introduced the problems associated

with urban-industrial waste, sewage and domestic garbage. Rivers provided a

handy repository.

3. The "coal landscape" evolved: mining facilities, coal heaps, tramcars, coal dust... It

is estimated that over 60,000 ha of agricultural land was lost due to coal extraction

alone.

a. For a clear description of the impacts listed in 2) and 3) above, read any classic

1800s novel by Charles Dickens.

4. Industry as a health hazard became an issue. Air and water quality in cities were

degraded because of industry and the associated "unplanned" residential districts.

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List the characteristics of an industrial society

1. A constantly increasing production and consumption of goods often stimulated by

mass advertising which may act to create artificial needs/wants.

2. An increasing dependence on non-renewable resources (oil, gas, metals)

3. A shift from use of natural materials/processes to synthetic materials/technological

processes. We create chairs out of plastic rather than wood. We use synthetic fibers

rather than cotton and wool. If we require more fresh water than nature can deliver,

we "create" fresh water. The technological "creation" of fresh water comes from

our ability to build dams and diversion channels or to build desalinization plants.

4. An increase in the amount of energy used per unit output for transportation,

manufacturing, agriculture and heating. You might argue that vehicles are

becoming more fuel-efficient as time passes, and this is generally true. But fewer

and fewer people (human labor) are involved in building those cars. The human

labor is replaced by machines and computers.

5. An interdependence of national economies and global production systems.

Link the transitions described in this unit to the human-environment interaction

model presented in Unit 1

Review the online section in unit 2

Unit 3

Recognize the interconnectivity of the Earth‟s systems

Every system in the world functions together in one way or another, therefore

impacting the hydrosphere can result in issues with the lithosphere and contribute to

the atmosphere.

Identify the types of energy playing a role at the earth‟s surface

Solar energy is the biggest contributor and a small portion of energy comes from

within the earth in the form of geothermal energy. Solar energy drive photosynthesis,

used to convert into heat and heat the planet, provide ways of evaporation of water on

the planet.

Explain the basic processes responsible for the circulation of the atmosphere

Atmosphere controls how much solar energy rays enter our world; it also regulates

temperature by keeping the heat within our planet and not allowing it all to escape. It

also filters the sunrays and allows the penetration of only ¾ of it in. Atmosphere also

controls wind movement and heat movement. North winds and south winds as well as

costal all contribute to climate and temperature of locations and effect the distribution

of heat, cool, and precipitation.

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Identify the basic relationships between the atmosphere and radiant energy

The atmosphere is what allows a certain amount of radiant energy into the world, and

filters out most harmful rays (UV). It keeps the planet at a temperature because it holds

the sun radiant energy within it and allows for it to maintain for our use and plants use.

Explain the formation of global and local scale pressure systems

Created by cells like Ferrel cells and Polar cells which control how the circulation of

wind and heat move on the equator and as well as the way warm air is rising and cool

air lowers.

Describe how humans have affected the chemical make-up of the atmosphere

Our day to day lives have increases the pollutants in the air greatly. Motorized vehicles

increase CO2 emission, agriculture increases the anomia, and methane gas, and we

have introduced to many pollutants into the air and haven‟t reduced or solved this

issue.

Describe how humans have affected the circulation of the atmosphere

In cities the vegetation is little and incoming radiant energy is converted almost to heat

which is trapped inn clouds and smog from cars and homes, the city temperature is

higher then the countryside

Explain the basic processes responsible for the circulation of the hydrosphere

The hydrological cycle is driven by circulation of the atmosphere. There are six key

processes responsible for the cycle. They include four drivers: 1) convection, 2)

advection, 3) precipitation, 4) runoff, and two converters: 1) evaporation and 2)

condensation. Convection generally reflects the movement aloft of moisture in ways

similar to that of water boiling in a pot and so may account for much of the movement of

water and water vapor aloft. Advection is the transfer of moisture within air or water

currents and thus may account for the movement of water or water vapor as seen, for

example in the movement of clouds (note that this important process is not included in

the diagram above). Precipitation is the transfer of water from the atmosphere to the earth

and runoff reflects the transfer of water from the land to sea (if it occurs below the

surface, it is considered groundwater flow). Evaporation is generally a necessary

precursor for the movement of moisture aloft by convection. Condensation is a necessary

precursor for precipitation as this process converts water vapor to liquid water.

List processes affecting circulation of the hydrosphere at local and global scales

Human movement to build arid and semi arid areas all result in the increase of

evaporation, our dams which hold water still effect the movement of nutrients etc.

through the hydrosphere resistricing what is circulated.

Describe how humans have affected the circulation of the hydrosphere

Humans can increase or decrease the affect of the hydrosphere by building dams ad

reservoirs of water, increases or decrease runoff and increase salt composition on

coasts. Acid builds up in water that evaporates and rains in a new location. Humans

affect all 6 processes. Arid and semi arid areas increase evaporation

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Identify and explain the basic processes responsible for the circulation of the

lithosphere

The “circulation” of the lithosphere results in both constructive processes (i.e. those

which build up the landscape such as volcanic activity, folding and faulting, deposition)

and destructive processes (i.e. those which break down the landscape such as weathering

and erosion).

Identify ways in which humans have affected the circulation of the lithosphere

We have increased erosion, weathering, and also deposition, by agricultural process

and industrial process. The mining industry is a huger contributor to the increase of

lithosphere processes and this effect the other systems as well

List the sources and classes of contaminants measured in the Arctic

Persistent organic pollutants (industrial by products from DDT and chemicals), heavy

metals (power generations, smelting, burning of waste and internal combustion in

machines), and radio nucleotides (humans can increase the radioactivity of radioactive

elements because of making fuel rods and release radio nucleotides)

Explain links between Arctic contamination and circulation of the atmosphere

and hydrosphere

The hydrosphere can contribute to the movement of POP and heavy metals. The

atmosphere can increase the movement of heavy metals and radio nucleotides. The

grasshopper effect is when POP travels in air currents and mixes with water vapor and

return to the earth. Warm air travels to the artic and sits their and mobility is reduced

because lees evaporation and movement of its cool air

Explain the affects of legacy and recently introduced contaminants on life in the

Arctic

Unit 4

Distinguish between matter and energy and identify the roles they play in the

environment

Matter is the flow of matter or particles in a system, for example the movement of water,

carbon, or nitrogen in a system used to transport nutrients to biological systems from

biochemical. Energy is the movement of potential work/power the movement of solar

energy and how it‟s converted into nutrients in a plant.

Describe the natural (and human modified aspects) of the carbon, nitrogen and

phosphorous nutrient cycles

The carbon cycle is essential for the photosynthesis and creating of glucose for plants and

primary and secondary consumers. The ocean also holds carbon, which after mixing with

calcium create the exoskeleton of fish. Human however can switch this process by

allowing more CO2 into the atmosphere by mining out sedimentary rock and emission of

machines.

Nitrogen cycle is important for plants to grow and for proteins in mammals diet, however

this is a limiting factor because I takes lighting or special bacteria to „fixate‟ nitrogen into

NH2. Humans however are increasing the nitrogen in rivers from fertilizers and leading

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to increase phytoplankton population and decomposers as well who consume all oxygen

in the water and suffocate the fish and shrimp in the river, lakes.

Phosphorus cycle is important in plant growth however hard to get to because most is

stuck in the rock of the geosphere and cannot be accessed unless water is mixed and it

becomes soluble. Humans mining and increase the phosphors composition of waterways

and lead to eutrophication.

Recognize the links between our increasing knowledge of the carbon cycle and

human history

We now understand where most of our carbon is held and how it is converted in the

world, however 1 billion to 2 billion carbon is missing and believed o be held in northern

forests, scientists are trying to determine this so we don‟t increase the carbon composition

by deforesting the major carbon sink.

Describe flows of energy through an ecosystem (food chain, food web, trophic

levels)

Radiant energy from the sun is converted by plants through photosynthesis into glucose

and carbohydrate, which then primary consumers obtain (herbivores) from consuming

plants. Secondary consumers consume the primary and dietary consumes the secondary

and glucose used for energy is converted to each tropic level.

Define limiting factors and identify how they may lead to local and regional

patterns in the environment

Limiting factors are matter or nutrients that limit the growth of organism, heat, energy,

water, phosphorus etc. all needed to convert into glucose and nutrients for consumers.

Define carrying capacity and explain factors that control it

Carrying capacity is the measure of how much a system can support life. Actors, which

affect it, are food, space, population, density and excess to viable nutrients.

List and explain the primary means by which humans impact ecosystems

(reduction, fragmentation, and so on)

Reduction is how we have reduced the biodiversity and space of ecosystem for our own

purpose.

Fragmentation is how we clear forest for wood and space resulting in reduced amount of

natural forest and primary forest

Substitution is how we change the species we wish to grow for better production and

yield for example maple trees

Extinction is due to hunting and logging causes species to die off or not survive due to

habitat loss

Contamination is how we dump chemicals and harmful substances into the environment

and cause chemical imbalances in the ecosystems

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Unit 5

Identify the issues affecting the global supply of food

The major issue is global food distribution because many people cannot afford to buy

food produced in major countries. Agriculture effects the ecosystem is by consuming

water, monocrop culture, and use of fertilizers and pesticide.

Distinguish between the agricultural and environmental perspective regarding

our ability to feed the people of the world

Agriculture believe it is possible to feed the people of today and tomorrow because we

can produce so much and in little amounts of land and we can increase production with

bigger and stronger machines.

Environmental perspective believes agriculture cannot support the world because of

supply of natural resources. Soils are becoming depleted and water is over used, the

environment will be greatly effect by the machines, biodiversity loss and other

environmental factors.

List the requirements of industrialized agriculture

1) High levels of fossil fuel inputs, 2) high levels of technological inputs (such as

fertilizer, pesticides, hybridization…), 3) large capital expenditures (for land,

equipment…), 4) high production per farmer, 5) economic controls and incentives (milk

quotas…) and, 6) sophisticated trade networks

Describe the Green Revolution and identify advantages and disadvantages of

this transformation

The green revolution was when agriculture increased its inputs and increased the

outputs and produced plants and food at a high rate. Inputs of fertilizers, pesticides,

and water use lead to massive increase to food production.

Link agricultural practices to natural circulation of the atmosphere,

hydrosphere and lithosphere

Methane and emissions affect the atmosphere; groundwater use effects the water levels

of hydrosphere, and erosion accelerate the breakdown of soil and rock.

Explain environmentally sustainable agriculture

To produce agriculture with inputs and outputs the environment can handle. Example

is waste, fuel use, water use etc.

List the three challenges of modern agriculture

1. To maintain the rate of agricultural production equal to or above the rate of

population growth

2. To increase productivity per unit resource base (the recent trend is that of a

declining resource base - e.g. decrease in arable land per capita, available ground

water and so on)

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3. To maintain the environmental sustainability of both agriculture and all other

resources and environments impacted by agriculture (e.g. salinization of the

Colorado River)

Unit 6

Understand the dynamics of global population and the demographic transition

As population grew exponentially the food production also increased. Population and

food production correlate.

The role of carrying capacity and ecological limits and “overpopulation

In the future the growth and death rate of population will be low and remain steady

because we will reach a capacity of people. Our food supply and resources are infinite

and neither is our population growth.

Know the fundamental tenets of common property resources and how they

affect resource management

Common property is something that isn‟t owned by anyone is particular and therefore

people draw benefits from it without regards to the drawbacks. In order to control it

government must act, or private ownership, and or promoting conservation and

efficient use.

These two terms is what defines a common property

Excludability (or control of access): The physical nature of the resource is such that

controlling access by potential users may be costly or impossible (e.g. emitting

pollution into the air; fishing in the high seas)

Subtractability: Each user is capable of subtracting from the welfare of other users.

Apply the notion of common property resources to the global fisheries

Because the ocean isn‟t owned by anyone people tend to over fish and exhaust the supply

because there is no rules or management of it. People use it as if it was their own and gain

all the benefits of it but none of the drawbacks.

Unit 7

Understand the variations in global water supply and demand

Water is natural divided evenly around the world, only 2.5 percent is fresh and 1

percent is actually accessible. Water that is accessible is mostly in North America and

regions with lakes. Middle east clearly doesn‟t have this type of fresh water in its arid

conditions.

Become familiar with the basic components of water management

There are two components for water management.

1. Input approaches (increase the amount we have and con find)

2. Output approaches (water treatment, efficiency, and management of water supply

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Understand the challenges to managing water quality, particularly with respect

to toxic chemicals and the application of the precautionary principle

Three general categories are:

1. Physical (suspended matter and thermal)

2. Chemical (toxic chemicals)

3. Biological (nutrient pollution and pathogens and waterborne diseases)

The precautionary principle is that one should not undertake a new action until the

ramifications of that action are well under-stood. Unless you have the full scientific

understanding the risk should not be taken.

Understand the notion of problem displacement as a major challenge to

managing environmental problems

Displacement of problems can be classified into three categories:

1. Spatial Displacement: The “solution” to a local environmental issue is

undertaken but in the process the effects are removed to some other

geographical location such as transporting municipal waste to another location

for disposal.

2. Displacement to another medium: The nature of the polluting substance is

altered, such as burning municipal garbage will result in air pollution.

3. Temporal Displacement: Environmental problems can be exported across time

as well as space. For example, toxic chemical buried in a landfill can leak out

and contaminate groundwater and eventually reach the surface many years

later.

Unit 8

To understand the natural and economic functions of forests

Economic functions are timber, pulp, paper, and job creation

Ecosystem functions are the carbon sinks, nutrient creation, and climate

Social functions recreation, natural beauty, and aesthics

To be able to describe the impacts and extent of human activity on forests

around the world

Humans have always harvested timber for its many purposes, heating, paper, etc.

however in the last 30 years deforestation has increased greatly in south America and

Africa where tropical forests are abundant. Humans gain economically from

deforestation but lose realty ecologically.

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To study the linkages between forestry management and biological diversity

To manage the forest there is many ways like the way we cut and how we deduce what

tree we will cut. Planting trees reduce the biodiversity and allow trees to grow certain

ones results in biodiversity loss

To describe several strategies for sustainable forestry management, including a

case study of a community reforestation project in Costa Rica

Cutting methods, which reduce the biodiversity loss, planting projects like bird, increase

efficiency and use of tree products.

Eco-based management- harvest while trying to minimize the impact on the ecosystem,

used in Canada to preserve forest health and diversity

Adaptive management- systematically uses methods and reworking them as time goes on.

This is the guideline in Canada

Unit 9

Understand the basics of soil formation

Soil formation is best-described page 107 to 113; basics are that soil is formed when

parent material is weathered by chemical, biological, or physical weathering. Slow

formation is slow and complex, based on composition of the size or particles soil can

be sand, dirt, or clay and affect the O and A horizon.

Study the basic processes of soil erosion and the causes of land degradation

The three main causes are crop land agriculture, overgrazing, and deforestation. Water

and wind are the major driving factors in erosion because it increases the weathering

and movement of particles. Water erosion occurs due to sheet, gully, splash, and rill

erosion. Erosion occurs when the top layer of vegetation is removed and the O and A

horizon are exposed to the elements. Mostly water and wind

Become familiar with the use of environmental indicators

Indicators are a species or property which when present, is indicative of a particular

environmental condition or set of conditions. There is physical, biological, and

social/economical indicators. Desertification is a part we monitor with indicators to

assess the change.

Apply these concepts to a case study.

Unit 10

Gain a general understanding of the fundamentals of energy development and

use at a global scale

Energy use around the world is growing with the oil industry running most major

corporations. Energy can be developed numerous ways, burning fossil fuels, wind

energy, solar energy, water energy, etc. there are endless way of developing energy.

Biofuels is a growing type of energy.

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Appreciate the complexity of competing goals for meeting global energy need

The issue is that oil is relatively easy to process and make many useful items. The

economy strives off oil, which drives many producers to ship, transport, and create

their good. To create an alternate fuel or energy source with the same amount of power

and versatility is difficult. The change comes at a people scale our demand effects the

companies‟ decisions.

Understand the environmental consequences associated with the development

and use of major and emerging energy sources

Look through textbook for advantages and disadvantages on each energy source

Appreciate the barriers and constraints to changing national and international

energy development and use patterns

It takes the consumer to change to alter the producer, and government must implement a

management and provide benefit for those who do change and use clean energy sources

Unit 11

Understand the nature of environmental ethics and their role in mediating

human-environment relationships

Environmental ethics determine the value of nature to be sacred and believe it must be

treated like a living person and respected because it provides so much for us. It

understands the relationship of human and non-human objects and how they interact

and relate.

Develop a critical understanding of the fundamental and often dominant role of

economics in human-environment relations

Economics is based on what value or benefit people can from resources and their

goods, and how much strength economically the person and population can gain.

Main ideas being the economic view of resources

1. Resources are infinite and substitutable

2. Long-term effects should be discounted

3. Costs and benefits are internal

4. Growth is good

Understand the nature of externalities

Externalities are the drawback that neither the producer nor consumer fell from the use of

resource or energy. An example it over fishing one who does not eat fish will see that the

ocean is less diverse. The government tries to control the drawbacks of the externalities