People And Their Needs

1. People And Their Needs Chapter 12

2. 12.1 A Portrait of Earth • Biomes – The interactions among organisms and non living factors that give rise to distinct ecosystems.

3. 12.1 A Portrait of EarthSystems and Connections • Climate is determined primarily by the interaction of air temperature and water. • Physical laws govern Earth’s systems through matter and energy. • Ocean circulation, plate tectonics, and global temperature changes all result in dramatic changes in ecosystems.

4. 12.1 A Portrait of Earth • Earth is a closed system when it comes to matter. Only a tiny bit enters in and leaves. • Earth is an open system with respects to energy • due to the exchange among the sun, Earth, and • space.

6. The sun’s energy powers almost everything on Earth for example: ocean currents cloud formations plant growth.

7. Plate Tectonics is one of the few systems on Earth not powered by energy from the Sun

8. 12.1 A Portrait of Earth Perceptions of Earth • Gaia hypothesis states that Earth functions like a single, living organism that regulates itself to maintain life. • Earth is thought of as a living organism. • Gaia hypothesis disagrees with the views of most modern industrial societies.

9. 12.2 Human Societies • Fully modern Homo sapiens first evolved from ancestral humans about 35000 years ago. • They were intelligent, artistic (painters), and handy (intricate tools).

10. 12.2 Human SocietiesHunter-Gatherer Societies • Small impact on the environment because of low population density which allows the environment to regenerate. • They don’t drain the resources! The environment has time to recover. • A society in which people gather natural food, hunt, and are nomadic.

11. 12.2 Human SocietiesAgricultural Societies • A society in which crops are grown and people have time to develop specialized roles. • The early, rapid population • growth rate was a result of an • increased food supply. The invention of the plow led to the expansion of the food supply.

12. 12.2 Human SocietiesAgricultural Societies • As farming became more productive, more people had the free time to start manufacturing products. • Societies that fell like the Babylonian Empire were a result of unwise land-use practices resulting in desertification.

13. 12.2 Human SocietiesIndustrial Societies • A society in which the production of food and other products is performed by machines, demanding large amounts of energy and resources. • Machines replaced craftspeople.

14. 12.2 Human SocietiesIndustrial Societies • The increase of industrialization was accompanied by increased use of fossil fuels. • Food Supply, Human Population and Manufactured Goods all increased during this time.

15. 12.3 Sustainable DevelopmentThe Sustainable Development Ethic • An ethic that meets current global human needs without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

16. 12.3 Sustainable Development • Resource – Water, Wind and Sunlight • Human populations are subject to natural controls. • Ex. Temperature, Precipitation, Crops, Oxygen

17. 12.3 Sustainable DevelopmentThe Frontier Ethic • Founded on the assumption that human society is separate from nature. • Not an Environmentally Friendly Ethic! • Examples of Frontier Ethic activities would include clear cutting forests, building dams, and draining wetlands.

18. Renewable Resources – A resource that regenerates quickly. (Ex. Water, Wood,Sun)

19. Nonrenewable Resources – A resource that cannot regenerate quickly. (Ex. Oil, Ores) • They are running out!!!