ecology
a biological science concerned with studying the complex relationships among living organisms and their physical environments
cultural ecology
the study of interactions between societies and their local environments
ecosystem
a territory bounded system consisting of the interaction between humans and the environment
natural hazard
a physical danger present in the environment
tsunami
A huge ocean wave produced by the displacement of a large volume of water, often caused by an earthquake
natural resources
materials or substances that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
non-renewable resources
natural resources that are available on earth in finite quantities and will eventually be used up
renewable resources
natural resources that earth will naturally replenish overtime
greenhouse gases
compounds on the atmosphere from fossil-fuel combustion trapped and absorbed heat energy close to Earth’s surface
greenhouse effect
the global warming trend caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide
environmental determinism
the belief that the physical environment is the dominant force shaping cultures, and that humanity is a passive product of its physical surroundings
possibillism
the belief that any physical environment offers a number of possible ways for a society to develop, and that humans can find ways to overcome environmental challenges