Theme 5: Human-Environment Interaction

Human-Environment Interaction – How do people relate to the physical world?

o Humans are ______by their environment.

o Humans can ______to their environment.

______has played a role in this process.

o Humans can have an ______on their environment. That interaction can have both

______and ______consequences. Environmental Impact on Humans

Elements of the environment can have an impact on humans and their daily lives.

1. ______patterns

2. ______and housing materials

3. ______activities

4. ______

5. ______1. Settlement patterns can be dictated by the environment. Climate and topography affect settlement. - People cannot live where it is too cold. Ex.

- People cannot live where it is too hot. Ex.

- People cannot live where there is no water. Ex. 2. Housing and housing material are affected by the environment. People build homes for shelter and protection from the elements of climate. - People must build homes from the materials that are available and affordable. Ex.

- People must build their homes to withstand and provide protection from the conditions of climate. Ex.

3. Agricultural activities are greatly affected by the environment. - Climate influences what crops can be grown in an area. This includes crops to be used for food (staple crop) and crops to be sold (cash crop). Ex.

- Climate can impact how crops can be grown. Ex. - Topography affects where crops can be grown. Ex.

- Water supply can also have an impact on agriculture. Ex.

 Only a small percentage of land on the earth’s surface is ______(farmable).

3. Recreation is affected by the environment. - Some types of recreation depend on climate. Ex.

3. Transportation and transportation patterns are greatly affected by elements of the environment. - Topography and climate play an important role in the development of transportation routes. Ex.

Ways the Environment Impacts Humans Settlement Housing Patterns

Settl em en t P a ttern s

Ways the Environment Impacts Humans

Recreation Agriculture

Transportation Human Adaptation to the Environment

Over time, humans have learned to adapt to environmental elements that they cannot change. This includes:

Can you think of some ways that humans have changed in order to withstand some elements of the environment?

Both technology and human innovation have played an important role in peoples’ ability to change due to the environment.

Look at the Graphic Organizer. Can you think of ways that technology has helped people adapt? Technology By... has affected...

Agriculture

Energy Usage

Transportation Automobiles

Airplanes

Technology By... has affected...

Better crop production with the use Agriculture of fertilizers and mechanization (machinery)

Advancements and change in energy supply: Energy Usage Fossil fuels, Nuclear, Wind, Water, Solar Better transportation networks: Transportation Highways, Railways (subway, railroad) Shipping routes

Parking facilities (parking lots and parking garages), more Automobiles mobile society, easier to move around, suburbs

Airport expansion, bigger jets, Airplanes more noise

Ways humans have impacted the environment

Humans can have an enormous impact on the environment. Sometimes the changes to the environment are positive. However, sometimes these changes can also have negative effects. Humans must consider both the benefit and the cost of certain projects. Choices must be made. All choices have consequences. Think of some ways that you think people have changed their environment. List them along with their positive and negative consequences. Do you think the benefits out weigh the costs? Explain your answers.

How Do Humans Impact Their Environment?

1. Humans have invented several techniques for managing water supplies such as building ______and ______for ______crops and ensuring a constant supply of water. Ex. The ______Colorado ______Aswan ______

2. The Aral Sea is located in Central Asia between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Since the 1960s it has been ______due to over irrigation.

4. The shrinking of the Aral Sea has caused: A. B. C.

5. The Colorado River starts in Colorado and empties into the Gulf of California. On every stretch of the river farmers take water to ______. People have also built several ______on the river, the most famous is the ______.

6. The Aswan High Dam was built on the Nile River in ______. 7. The Aswan High Dam (Benefits) A. B. C.

8. Aswan High Dam (Negatives) A. B C. D.

9. Changing Landscapes Agricultural Terracing Polders Deforestation Desertification 10. People practice agricultural ______in mountainous areas in order to make flat land to ______.

11. A polder is an area of ______. Polders are found in countries with low elevations next to the sea such as the ______.

12. Deforestation is when humans cut down trees faster than they can grow back.

13. A few causes of deforestation are: A. B. C.

14. Desertification is an expansion of ______conditions into a non-arid environment. Basically, desertification is when a desert gets bigger due to ______.

15. Desertification occurs near deserts. The region directly south of the ______in Africa is called the ______. This area has suffered from rapid desertification due to ______, ______, and ______.

16. Humans cause air, water, soil, and nuclear pollution that harm the environment.

17. Air pollution is mostly caused by the burning of ______; oil, coal, and natural gas. Areas with many coal burning power plants, ______, and cars can experience acid rain.

18. A few areas that have acid rain are the ______United States and Canada, the ______Forest region in Germany, and China. Acid rain can kill vegetation and fish in streams and lakes over a period of time. 19. Water pollution is caused by: A. B. C. D.

20. A few areas that have severe water pollution are: A. B.

21. An example of nuclear pollution is when the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union exploded causing radioactive waste to contaminate the air and soil.