Theme 5: Human-Environment Interaction
Human-Environment Interaction – How do people relate to the physical world?
- Humans are affected by their environment.
- Humans can adapt to their environment.
Technology has played a role in this process.
- Humans can have an impact on theirenvironment. That interaction can have both positiveand negativeconsequences.
Environmental Impact on Humans
Elements of the environment can have an impact on humans and their daily lives.
- Settlement patterns
- Houses and housing materials
- Agriculture/farmingactivities
- Recreation
- Transportation
1. Settlement patterns can be dictated by the environment. Climate and topography affect settlement.
- People cannot live where it is too cold.
Ex.The tundra
- People cannot live where it is too hot.
Ex.The jungle
- People cannot live where there is no water.
Ex.The desert
2.Housing and housing material are affected by the environment. People build homes for shelter and protection from the elements of climate.
- People must build homes from the materials that are available and affordable.
Ex.Mixed forests provide wood, rainforests provide thatch, and deserts provide clay and adobe
- People must build their homes to withstand and provide protection from the conditions of climate.
Ex.Chalets are used in Switzerland where there is heavy snow
3.Agricultural activities are greatly affected by the environment.
- Climate influences what crops can be grown in an area. This includes crops to be used for food (staple crop) and crops to be sold (cash crop).
Ex.Rice - in areas with a warm and rainy climate as a staple crop in areas like China
Coffee - in a warm climate, to be used a cash crop it has value in the world market
- Climate can impact how crops can be grown.
Ex.Some crops are better suited to a particular climate region – bananas,tropical fruit and need a hot, rainy weather
- Topography affects where crops can be grown.
Ex.Land in the higher elevation can make it difficult to grow certain crops
- Water supply can also have an impact on agriculture.
Ex.Crops need some water to grow
Only a small percentage of land on the earth’s surface is arable (farmable).
4.Recreation is affected by the environment.
-Some types of recreation depend on climate or terrain.
Ex.Some recreation activities are suited to snowy climates, like skiing
Some recreation activities require water bodies (water skiing) or mountains (snowboarding)
5.Transportation and transportation patterns are greatly affected by elements of the environment.
- Topography and climate play an important role in the development of transportation routes.
Ex.Mountains are barriers to trade because mountains make transportation routes difficult to create
Ex.Rivers are needed for the global transportation of goods – landlocked countries have no access and are dependent on neighboring countries; Africa with its many waterfalls and cataracts find rivers are not navigable
Ex. Extreme weather – like the tundra of Russia with its frozen rivers
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Human Adaptation to the Environment
Over time, humans have learned to adapt to environmental elements that they cannot change. This includes:
Can you think of some ways that humans have changed in order to withstand some elements of the environment?
Both technology and human innovation have played an important role in peoples’ ability to change due to the environment.
Look at the Graphic Organizer. Can you think of ways that technology has helped people adapt?
Technology has affected... / By...Agriculture
Energy Usage
Transportation
Automobiles
Airplanes
Technology has affected... / By...
Agriculture / Better crop production with the use of fertilizers, pesticides and mechanization (machinery)
Energy Usage / Advancements and change in energy supply:
Fossil fuels, Nuclear, Wind, Water, Solar
Transportation / Better transportation networks: Highways, Railways (subway, railroad) Shipping routes
Automobiles / Parking facilities (parking lots and parking garages), more mobile society, easier to move around, suburbs
Airplanes / Airport expansion, bigger jets, more noise
Ways humans have impacted the environment
Humans can have an enormous impact on the environment. Sometimes the changes to the environment are positive. However, sometimes these changes can also have negative effects. Humans must consider both the benefit and the cost of certain projects. Choices must be made. All choices have consequences.
Think of some ways that you think people have changed their environment. List them along with their positive and negative consequences. Do you think the benefits out weigh the costs? Explain your answers.
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