1. HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION: PATTERNS & PROCESSES of CHANGE

2. The Human Impact Alteration of ecosystems –Environmental destruction began early –Increase in human modification over the last 500 years

7. Ecosystem Self-sustaining units consisting of all organisms (biota) and physical features existing together in a particular area Everything interconnected –Even slight changes can bring dire consequences Each organism has a niche and plays a specific role in the Theatre of Energy

8. Ecosystems Environment: the totality of things that in any way can affect an organism –A mosaic of terrestrial features, weather & climate, landforms, and biota

9. A Mosaic

10. Ecosystems Ecology: study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment Where does the interaction happen? –The Biosphere

11. The Human Impact Environmental stress –Obvious actions Cutting of trees Atmospheric & oceanic pollutants Other examples??? –Less obvious actions Toxic waste burial Ocean garbage dumps Agricultural pesticides Other examples???

12. Water A renewable resource –Not distributed evenly across the globe –Distribution is sustained through the hydrologic cycle –Where precipitation goes Much is lost through runoff and evaporation Some seeps downward into porous water-holding rocks called aquifers Aquifers hold about 50 times as much water as falls on the United States each year

15. Ocean and Freshwater Distribution

16. Water Withdrawal by Sector

17. Global Water Scarcity

18. Diversion of water from streams feeding the Aral Sea for irrigation Chemical pesticide use caused pollution of groundwater Aral Sea is drying up: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

19. The Atmosphere What it does –Oxygen and temperate climates –“Natural” UV-protectant –Helps with hydrologic cycle –Self-cleaning Human influences?

20. The Atmosphere Global warming –Estimates of global warming have been lessened Earth might warm 3.5ºF to 5.5ºF over the next 50 years –Little consensus on the extent of greenhouse warming –Key greenhouse gases have been increasing about 2 percent per decade –Past evidence?

24. The Atmosphere Acid rain –Does great harm over time to some ecosystems –Mostly in industrial regions with good wind flow

26. Acid Rain Destroys Quickly

27. The Land Desertification –Natural, but anthropogenic factors enhancing process E.g., the Sahara

29. Deforestation Increasing human population taxing forests –Taiga forests play key role (NOT just the Amazon) –Tropical Rainforests still important...

30. Soil Erosion The “quiet crisis” –Anthropogenic factors can lead to increased soil erosion –Possibly > 25 billion TONS per year –Better education needed –Renewable and recoverable

31. CONFRONTING ANTHROPOGENIC ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

32. Greeks and Romans to Spanish invaders E.g., Florida Everglades Anthropogenic factors are increasing! Geography’s role –“Man's Role in Changing the Face of the Earth”, 1955 –“The Earth as Transformed by Human Action” –Myriad temporal & spatial scale connections Natural & Anthropogenic Changes

33. Understanding Environmental Change Global changes Population

34. Understanding Environmental Change Patterns of consumption –Exceptional resource usage –Urban areas have global access –Periphery countries greatly affect environment –Water demand –Consumption tied to technology

35. Understanding Environmental Change Technology –Resource extraction –Fossil fuels pollution –Hazardous and toxic byproducts –Open pit mines

36. Understanding Environmental Change Transportation –Internal combustion engine –Near-open access to remote areas –Oil spills & species distribution –Facilitates global transport of goods and foods

38. Understanding Environmental Change Energy –Tertiary, quaternary, and quinary economic activities –Many LDCs increasing fossil-fuel development –1999’s energy consumption vs. 1971’s

40. Resource Video: David Fronander, biogeographer –Discusses Humans in Nature

41. Discussion Questions While global temperatures are increasing, this is nothing new, according to past climate records. So why should we be worried if it’s all part of a cycle? Are the Earth’s processes interconnected?