Physical and Physical and Ecological Ecological ProcessProcess

What factors contribute to how the Earth’s surface is shaped?

Earthquakes: a sharp release of energy that sends waves traveling through the Earth’s crust; can be a result of fault lines or volcanoes

Floods: a high water level that overflows the natural riverbank along any portion of a stream/river

Volcanoes: a mountainous landform at the end of a magma conduit, magma rises causing an eruption

Erosion: wind, water, or ice that dislodges, dissolves, or removes surface material

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Water diversion management: Aral Sea- saltwater lake that was once the

fourth largest lake in the world, but due to irrigation the two rivers that feed into the Aral Sea the sea is shrinking. Consequences: fishing destroyed, harsher climate now, loss of drinking water

Colorado River- river diverted for drinking water and irrigation, problem: the river flows to Mexico but the US was consuming so much that not much was going in to Mexico, a treaty went into effect requiring the US to a specific amount of water into Mexico

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Water diversion management: Aswan High Dam- dam across the Nile in

Egypt, 365ft high and 11,800ft wide, water is used for irrigation, problem: farmlands are not receiving silt from the Nile river’s floods

Silt: earthy matter, fine sand or the like carried by moving or running water and deposited as a sediment

Canals- an artificial water way used for navigation and irrigation

Irrigation- the artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Changing landscapes: Agricultural terracing (e.g., China, Southeast

Asia)- a series of flat areas made on a slope for cultivation

Polders (e.g., Netherlands) a piece of low-lying land reclaimed from the sea or a river by dykes

Deforestation (e.g., Nepal, Brazil, Malaysia)- clear an area of trees or forests

Desertification (e.g., Africa, Asia) the expansion of deserts worldwide related to poor agriculture practices, improper soil-moisture management, erosion, and deforestation

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Environmental changes Acid rain (e.g., forests in Germany,

Scandinavia, China and Eastern North America)- rainfall made acidic by pollution, causing damage to vegetation, lakes and buildings

Pollution (e.g., Mexico City, Chernobyl, oil spills)- the introduction of harmful substances of products into the atmosphere

Smog- smoke or other atmospheric pollutants combined with fog in an unhealthy or irritating mixture

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Environmental changes Global warming- an increase in the earth’s

average temperature, causing changes in climate and may result from the greenhouse effect

Greenhouse effect: trapping of solar radiation in the atmosphere due to high concentrations of gases that absorb heat like carbon dioxide

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Influence of technology Agriculture (e.g., fertilizers, mechanization)

Pro’s- use of fertilizers has helped to grow better and stronger plants and keep farm land fertile; mechanization can quicken harvesting and production

Con’s- erosion can cause fertilizers to runoff, causing water pollution; mechanization can cause pollution (machines) and raise costs making it hard for small farmers to compete

Energy usage (e.g., fossil fuels, nuclear)

Pro’s: fossil fuels and nuclear power run our cars, heat our homes, gives us power

Con’s: Oil spills, pollution, global warming and acid rain

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Influence of technology Energy usage (e.g., fossil fuels, nuclear)

Pro’s: fossil fuels and nuclear power run our cars, heat our homes, gives us power

Con’s: Oil spills, pollution, global warming and acid rain, Chernobyl

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Influence of technology Transportation (e.g., road building, railways)

Automobiles (e.g., parking lots, suburbs)

Airplanes (e.g., airport expansion, noise)

Pro’s: helps to move people and goods from one place to another quickly, lets people travel outside of their neighborhoods, allows people to work and live in different areas

Con’s: Pollution from cars, busses, airplanes could lead to global warming, vegetation cleared for buildings and parking lots, noise pollution

How do humans impact the earth’s surface?

Environmental impact on humans Settlement patterns

Housing materials

Agricultural activity

Types of recreation

Transportation patterns

These are all dependant on where resources are located and the availability to the resources.

These are all defined by climate and regions where people live.