14 - Human-Environment Interaction Pt 1

Impact of Location, Types of Physical Features, Earth's Physical Systems, Natural Forces

civilizations, organization

Factors such as climate, natural resources, terrain, and proximity to water have historically determined where ___________ thrive, how they develop agriculture and ___________, and how they interacted with neighboring regions

environmental determinism

theory that the physical environmental conditions directly determine human behavior, culture, and societal development

environmental possibilism

theory that while the environment sets constraints, human agency, culture, and technology allow societies to adapt and modify their surroundings (opposes determinism)

Determinism

Ancient Egyptian civilizations developing along the Nile River because of predictable flooding providing fertile soil, making agriculture and settlement viable.
This can be used to evidence Environmental ___________

Possibilism

Netherlands, despite being a low-lying country prone to flooding, uses advanced engineering (dikes, polders, etc) to control water levels and create habitable land.
This can be used to evidence Environmental ___________

water

a common theme of human interaction with location is accessibility of _______
affects agriculture, trade, travel, and conflict

The Fertile Crescent

this region’s 3 major rivers and favorable climate allowed for the development of agriculture.
example of access to water influence

trade, commerce

The Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean made the New York colony a hub of ______ and _________ among the American colonies.
example of access to water influence

expansion

Roman Empire's control of the Mediterranean Sea allowed for military and economic superiority, providing a strong foothold for major _________.
example of access to water influence

Geographic accessibility

a common theme of human interaction with location that affects a society's cultural development, trade potential, and military strengths/requirements

cultural exchange

Ancient China was relatively isolated from other ancient civilizations by the Himalayan Mountains and Gobi Desert, creating conflict with other ancient worlds and limited _________ ________ and trade.
example of geographic accessibility influence

distance

US relatively avoided physical/economic destruction sustained by by the Europe during WWI-II due to its _________ from it/the greater Pacific Theater
example of geographic accessibility influence

natural resources

a common theme of human interaction with location is accessibility of _________ ___________
affects economic opportunities and the locations where populations choose/are able to to settle or explore

populations

Access to grains allowed societies in the Eastern Hemisphere to develop robust agriculture and support larger ___________.
example of natural resources influence

raw materials

The colonization of North America was driven by the need for more ___ ________ to drive mercantilist economies in Europe, which had depleted their resources.
example of natural resources influence

Weather

a common theme of human interaction with location which affect economic and cultural development
(aka climate)

agriculture, fishing

The Southern American colonies developed economies based on __________, while the Northern colonies focused on shipbuilding, ________ , and lumber industries.
example of  weather/climate influence

natural disasters

Many island nations are seeing significant population decline as people flee recurring _______ _________ as an effect of climate change.
example of  weather/climate influence

land, water

The Earth can be divided into two primary categories of physical features: _____ masses and bodies of _____. each can take on several different forms.

continents, islands

There are two major types of land masses: __________ and ________

Continents

one of two land mass types
there are seven major continuous land masses on earth

one of two land mass types
Small masses NOT connected to any continent and surrounded on all sides by water.

Hills, Mountains, Plateaus, Plains

The terrain of land masses are shaped by four major types of landforms: H____, M__________, P_________, P_______

basins, canyons, valleys

minor landforms: b______, c_______, and v_______
different types of areas all lying below the area surrounding them.

Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, Southern

the ocean, a continuous body of water covering most of the Earth, is usually subdivided into 5 oceans (AAIPS):
A______, A_______, I_____, P_____, S__________

Sea

part of the ocean surrounded partially by land

Stream

Any body of flowing water is considered a…

River

A large stream that flows over land, usually carrying a large amount of water

Delta

triangle-shaped area at the mouth of a river comprised of several small streams
often a site of frequent flooding that can create in fertile soil and allow for agricultural irrigation.

Lake

Any collection of fresh water surrounded by land

Pond

name for small lakes

lakes, bodies

Not all bodies of water are natural- humans have altered the direction, size, and speed of flowing water, used dams to create _____, and constructed other forms of their own/artificial/man-made ______ of water.

canals

most significant of manmade bodies of water are ______, artificial waterways designed to allow boats to get to areas via a shortcut or areas previously blocked by land.

Atmosphere

contains all of the gases that surround the planet extending from just below the planet's surface to about 10,000km above

Biosphere

(root Greek for “life”)
containing all living organisms on the planet, thus extends to anywhere in the world where they can exist

Lithosphere

(root Greek for “rock”)
contains all of the Earth’s crust + parts of the upper mantle; composed of tectonic plates
(everything from the ocean floor to mountaintops)

Hydrosphere

(root Greek for “water”)
contains all water on the planet in all its states (3- solid, liquid, gas)
extends from the ocean floor into the beginning of the atmosphere

Litho, Atmo, Bio, Hydro, 

the Earth’s 4 main spheres operate separately AND together to influence planet life
ex: a volcano erupting …
Magma released - part of the L____sphere
gases like CO2 released into the A____sphere.
Lava flow damages but also deposits fresh rock (creating new habitat space) in the B___sphere.
CO2 causes warming, melting glaciers/adding liquid to the H____sphere.

Tidal Forces

Natural Force exerted on Earth by the moon's gravitation pull on the large bodies of water (ALSO affects the land).
force determined by water’s proximity to moon

terrestrial tide

tide force that can affect land and move the Earth's surface up to 22 inches daily

internal

TYPE OF Natural Forces exerted by the constant movements of plates BELOW Earth’s surface

plate techtonics

INTERNAL Natural Force that over time causes valleys + mountains, more suddenly causes earthquakes + eruptions (volcanic) — all usually along plate boundaries

External Forces

Natural Force exerted on Earth ABOVE the Earth’s crust such as the impact of the wind, water, and the sun on the climate, land shape, and ecosystems

erosion

term for the wearing away of land as caused by several different external forces

wind

movement caused by differences in air pressure (from uneven sun heating of Earth's surface/atmosphere) slowly wears away the surface of the land as it encounter the force of ______ erosion
ex: Grand Canyon

deposition

As water flows, it picks up small pieces of sediment and then deposits them in new locations, typically near the outlets where they widen, slow, and flow into the ocean.
(secondary effect of the external force erosion)

rapid

Major weather events with wind and rain (like hurricanes, tropic storms, and tornadoes) cause dramatic _____ erosion.

Droughts

_______ can also cause erosion as the soil becomes dry and can be carried by the wind.

Chemical

_________ weathering from natural corrosive materials like acids/pollution resulting from human activity.

Normal

outside of El Niño or La Niña, Trade winds (east → west across Pacific) push warm surface water toward Asia under _________ Conditions

[Western Pacific] (Indonesia, Australia) climate: hot, rainy, stormy (from high evaporation).
[Eastern Pacific] (South America) climate: cooler, dry, nutrient-rich upwelling (great fishing)

El Nino

Trade winds WEAKEN or REVERSE (west → east across Pacific) push warm surface water to South America under _________ Conditions

[Western Pacific] (Indonesia, Australia) climate: hot, droughts, wildfires
[Eastern Pacific] (South America) climate: warmer, stormier, flooding
(Northern US/Canada) climate: wet/stormy winters

La Nina

Trade winds GROW/STRENGTHEN (east→ west across Pacific) push cool upwelling water (warm from Australia pushes/swoops up cold water from below [Antarctica] into the curve of North-South America’s joint) to An under _________ Conditions

[Western Pacific] (Indonesia, Australia) climate: hot, droughts, wildfires
[Eastern Pacific] (South America) climate: warmer, stormier, flooding
(Northern US/Canada) climate: wet/stormy winters