Human Impact

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sustainability

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a balance between Earth's resources, human needs and the needs of other species

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ecological (carbon) footprint

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the amount of carbon emitted and its environmental impact

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renewable resources

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resources that are produced or replenished more quickly than they are consumed. (ex. oxygen, wood, water, sunlight, wind)

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non-renewable resources

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resources that are consumed more quickly than they are created (ex. fossil fuels, metal, plastic)

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agricultural technology

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goal: to increase food productivity

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alternative energy technology

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goal: provide "clean" energy to power society without negatively influencing the atmosphere

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industrial technology

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goal: increase manufacturing efficiency, transportation and communication

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greenhouse effect

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the normal warming effect when gases trap heat in the atmosphere

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global warming

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CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) deplete the ozone layer, allowing more of the sun's UV rays get in

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biodiversity

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the total amount of variation of life on Earth