1. Physical and Ecological Process

2. 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

14. 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

19. 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

30. 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

39. 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

46. 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

48. 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

49. 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

55. 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

56. 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.