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Human Sustainability
English
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Natural Resources | Materials and substances like water, soil, minerals, and fossil fuels found in nature that humans rely on for survival, economic activity, and development. |
| Natural Hazards | Potentially dangerous natural events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, and floods, that can impact human activity and settlement patterns. |
| Climate | The long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation in a region, which influence the types of crops grown, water availability, and human settlement. |
| Human Activity | Actions carried out by humans, including agriculture, industrial production, urban development, and migration, which are influenced by the availability of resources, climate, and natural hazards. |
| Fresh Water | A critical natural resource, including rivers, lakes, and groundwater, essential for drinking, agriculture, and industry, and often a determinant of where populations settle. |
| Fertile Soils | Soils rich in nutrients and organic matter, often found in river deltas and plains, that support agriculture and influence human settlement and food production. |
| Minerals | Naturally occurring substances extracted from the Earth, such as metals and ores, which are used in manufacturing, technology, and construction. |
| Fossil Fuels | Energy resources like coal, oil, and natural gas formed from the remains of ancient organisms, which have driven industrialization and economic development. |
| Volcanic Eruptions | Natural hazards where molten rock, ash, and gases are expelled from a volcano, potentially impacting air travel, climate, and human settlements. |
| Earthquakes | Sudden shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the movement of tectonic plates, which can lead to building collapses, tsunamis, and other secondary hazards. |
| Tsunamis | Large ocean waves usually triggered by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, causing widespread flooding and damage to coastal areas. |
| Mass Wasting | The downhill movement of rock and soil due to gravity, such as landslides, which can destroy infrastructure and alter landscapes. |
| Soil Erosion | The removal of topsoil by wind, water, or human activity, which can reduce soil fertility, affect agriculture, and lead to desertification. |
| Severe Weather | Extreme weather events, including hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes, and droughts, that can disrupt human activity and cause significant damage. |
| Sea Level Changes | Shifts in the height of the ocean’s surface due to climate change, which can lead to coastal flooding, loss of land, and forced migrations. |
| Regional Patterns of Temperature and Precipitation | Long-term changes in local climate conditions that affect agriculture, water supply, and living conditions. |
| Crops and Livestock | Plants and animals raised for food, fiber, and other products, which are sensitive to changes in climate and can influence agricultural practices and economies. |
| Mass Migration | Large-scale movements of populations driven by factors like natural resource availability, natural hazards, and climate changes, often leading to social and economic challenges. |
| Design Solutions | Proposed methods or strategies to solve a problem, such as how to develop, manage, and use energy and mineral resources efficiently and sustainably. |
| Energy Resources | Natural sources used to produce energy, including fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro), and nuclear energy. |
| Mineral Resources | Naturally occurring substances, such as metals and minerals, that are extracted and used for various industrial and technological applications. |
| Cost Benefit Ratios | A comparison of the costs of a particular action or resource use against the benefits gained, used to evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of different design solutions. |
| Conservation | The careful management and use of resources to prevent waste, maintain ecological balance, and ensure long-term sustainability. |
| Recycling | The process of converting waste materials into reusable materials, reducing the need for new resource extraction and minimizing environmental impact. |
| Reuse | The practice of using items multiple times or repurposing them, which conserves resources and reduces waste. |
| Agricultural Soil Use | The management of soil for farming, focusing on practices that maintain soil health, prevent erosion, and support sustainable crop production. |
| Mining | The extraction of minerals, metals, and fossil fuels from the Earth, which can have significant environmental impacts if not |
| Tar Sands | A mixture of sand, clay, water, and bitumen (a heavy oil), which is mined and processed to extract petroleum, often with high environmental and energy costs. |
| Oil Shales | Sedimentary rocks containing kerogen, a precursor to oil, which can be mined and processed to produce synthetic oil, often requiring significant energy and water use. |
| Petroleum | A fossil fuel extracted from the Earth and refined into products like gasoline, diesel, and plastics, with various environmental and economic considerations. |
| Natural Gas | A fossil fuel primarily composed of methane, used for heating, electricity generation, and as an industrial feedstock, with considerations for extraction impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Science Knowledge | Understanding based on scientific evidence and principles, used to inform decisions about natural systems and resource management. |
| Computational Simulation | A computer-based model that mimics real-world processes, allowing users to explore and visualize complex interactions, such as the relationships between resource management, sustainability, and biodiversity. |
| Natural Resources | Materials and substances such as water, minerals, forests, and fossil fuels that are extracted from the Earth and used by humans for various purposes. |
| Sustainability | The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, balancing resource use with environmental preservation. |
| Human Populations | The total number of people living in a given area, whose growth and consumption patterns impact resource use and environmental health. |
| Biodiversity | The variety and variability of life on Earth, including the number of species, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity, which is essential for ecosystem resilience and human well-being. |
| Resource Management | The responsible use and protection of natural resources through strategies that balance economic needs with environmental sustainability. |
| Costs of Resource Extraction | The economic, environmental, and social expenses associated with obtaining natural resources, including energy use, pollution, and habitat disruption. |
| Waste Management | The processes involved in handling waste, including collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal, which are crucial for minimizing environmental impact. |
| Per-Capita Consumption | The average amount of resources used by each person, which affects overall resource demand and environmental sustainability. |
| New Technologies | Innovations that can improve resource extraction, reduce waste, and enhance efficiency, contributing to more sustainable practices. |
| Agricultural Efficiency | The effectiveness with which agricultural practices produce food, measured by yield, resource use, and environmental impact. |
| Conservation | The protection and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems to maintain biodiversity and sustain human populations. |
| Urban Planning | The process of designing and organizing urban spaces to ensure sustainable development, efficient resource use, and the well-being of inhabitants. |
| Technological Solution | A tool or method developed using technology to address a specific problem, such as reducing the environmental impacts of human activities on natural systems. |
| Human Activities | Actions carried out by humans that affect the environment, including pollution, deforestation, urbanization, agriculture, and industrial processes. |
| Natural Systems | Interconnected ecosystems and processes in the environment, including air, water, land, and living organisms, that sustain life on Earth. |
| Pollutants | Harmful substances released into the environment due to human activities, such as chemicals, plastics, and greenhouse gases, which can degrade natural systems. |
| Biomass | The total mass of living organisms in a given area, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, which can be impacted by changes in the environment. |
| Species Diversity | The variety of different species within an ecosystem, which is essential for ecosystem health and can be reduced by habitat destruction and pollution. |
| Areal Changes | Alterations in the physical area of land, often due to human activities like urban development, agriculture, and mining, which impact natural habitats. |
| Urban Development | The expansion and building of cities and infrastructure, which can lead to habitat loss, increased pollution, and changes in land use. |
| Agriculture | The practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock, which can lead to deforestation, soil degradation, and water pollution. |
| Surface Mining | The extraction of minerals or other geological materials from the Earth's surface, which can result in habitat destruction and pollution. |
| Geoengineering | Large-scale technological interventions designed to alter natural processes, such as controlling global temperatures by modifying the atmosphere or oceans to mitigate climate change. |
| Reducing, Reusing, Recycling | Sustainable practices aimed at minimizing waste and conserving resources by reducing consumption, reusing materials, and recycling waste products. |
| Computational Representation | A digital model or simulation used to represent and analyze complex systems, illustrating how different components interact and change over time. |
| Earth Systems | The interrelated components of Earth, including the hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), cryosphere (ice), geosphere (land), and biosphere (living organisms). |
| Human Activities | Actions by humans that influence Earth systems, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, leading to environmental changes. |
| Hydrosphere | The total amount of water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater, which interacts with other Earth systems. |
| Atmosphere | The layer of gases surrounding Earth, essential for life, and influenced by human activities such as pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Cryosphere | The frozen water part of Earth, including glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice, which is sensitive to temperature changes and human-induced climate change. |
| Geosphere | The solid part of Earth, including rocks, minerals, and landforms, interacting with other Earth systems through processes like erosion and plate tectonics. |
| Biosphere | The global sum of all ecosystems, including all living organisms and their interactions with the environment, influenced by factors such as climate change and habitat destruction. |
| Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide | A greenhouse gas produced by human activities like burning fossil fuels, contributing to global warming and climate change. |
| Photosynthetic Biomass | The total mass of living plants and algae that use photosynthesis, which can increase with higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. |
| Ocean Acidification | The process by which oceans become more acidic due to increased absorption of carbon dioxide, affecting marine life and ecosystems. |
| Marine Populations | The communities of organisms living in the ocean, including fish, corals, and plankton, which are impacted by changes in ocean conditions such as acidification. |
Created by:
Ms. Torres
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