Earth's Resources and Human Impact

Earth and Human Impact Vocabulary

by Bernadette Russell

​population: all the organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time.

​carrying capacity: the largest number of individuals of one species that an ecosystem can support over time.

​ deforestation: the removal of large areas of forests for human purposes.

​urbanization: the development of towns and cities on previously natural areas.

ecological footprint: the area of Earth's productive land and water required to supply the resources than an individual demands as well as to absorb the wastes that the individual produces.

​phenomenon: a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, specially one whose cause or explanation is in question.

​biosphere: the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms

​biodegradable: capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms