Environmental Science Ch.8- The Human Population

Demography/ Demographers

The study of population trends (growth, movement, development, etc.). People who preform such studies and make projections from them.

Neolithic Revolution

The development of agriculture begun by human societies around 12,000 years ago, leading to more permanent settlement and population increases.

Industrial Revolution

During the 19th century, the development of manufacturing processes using fossil fuels and based on applications of scientific knowledge.

Pesticide Reliance

The overuse of pesticides results in the ineffectiveness of a pesticide when the target organisms are no longer affected by it.

Environmental Revolution

In the view of some, a coming change in the adaption of humans to the risings deterioration of the environment. The Environmental Revolution should bring about sustainable interaction with the environment.

Developing Countries

The high-income industrialized countries-the US, Canada, western Europe, Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Developing Countries

More low income countries that have a gross domestic product less than $936 per capita. Countries include Africa, India, southern Asia, etc.

Total Fertility Rate

The average number of children that will be born alive to each woman during her total reproductive years if her fertility is average at each age.

Replacement Fertility Rate/Level

The fertility rate (level) that will just sustain a stable population. It is 2.1 for developed countries.

Demographic Transition

The transition of a human population from a condition of a high birthrate and a high death rate to a condition of a low birthrate and a low death rate. A demographic transition may result from economic or social development.

IPAT Formula

A conceptual formula relating environmental impact (I) to population (P), affluence (A), and technology (T).

ImPACT

A refinement of the IPAT formula that separates the effects of Technology (T in the equation) into two components that incorporate the different effects of consumption of resources.

Environmental Footprint

The area of land or sea required to produce resources for an activity or population; a way of measuring resources use intensity.

Inequality

In economics, how unevenly wealth is spread.

Gini Index

A way of expressing the inequality of income in a country.

Urbanization

The global movement of people into cities; a megatrend.

longevity

The maximum life span of individuals of a given species. The known record for humans in 122 years.

Population Profit

A bar graph that shows the number of individuals at each age or in each five-year age group, starting with the youngest ages at the bottom of the profile.

Age Structure

Within a population, the different proportions of people who are old, middle aged, young adults, and children.

Graying

The increasing average age in population in developed countries and in many developing countries that is occurring because of decreasing birthrates and increasing longevity.

Population Momentum

A property whereby a rapidly growing human population may be expected to grow for 50-60 years after replacement fertility (2.1 live births per female) is reached. Momentum is sustained because of increasing numbers entering reproducing age.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

The number of births per 1,000 individuals per year.

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

The number of deaths per 1,000 individuals per year.