1.5 Human Environment Interaction

Anthropocene

• the central role humans play in shaping earth's environment
• disposal sites for non-hazardous solid waste that is compacted to the smallest volume and sites are designed with sealed floors to keep waste in
• the current interglaciation period from 10,000 year ago to now
• hazardous waste emitting radiation from nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons factories and nuclear equipment

Pangea

• resources that can regenerate as they are exploited
• Non-liquid, non-soluble materials ranging from municipal garbage to sewage sludge, agricultural refuge and mining residues
• warm periods during the ice age
• primeval supercontinent that broke apart into modern continents and oceans

tectonic plates

• the threat to environmental security by human activity
• Ocean-girdling zone of crustal instability, volcanism, and earthquakes resulting from tectonic activity
• acidified rainwater that severely damages plants and animals, caused by greenhouse gases
• large pieces of rock that form portions of the Earth's crust and mantle, which are in motion

photosynthesis

• the central role humans play in shaping earth's environment
• large pieces of rock that form portions of the Earth's crust and mantle, which are in motion
• the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen through the absorption of sunlight
• dangerous waste from chemicals and infectious materials

Pacific Ring of fire

• Ocean-girdling zone of crustal instability, volcanism, and earthquakes resulting from tectonic activity
• resources that can regenerate as they are exploited
• warm periods during the ice age
• the central role humans play in shaping earth's environment

Pleistocene

• most recent period of the Late Cenozoic Ice age
• the system of exchange involving water in its various forms as it circulates with the atmosphere, oceans and above and below land
• primeval supercontinent that broke apart into modern continents and oceans
• a period of global cooling during which continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers expand

Glaciation

• a period of global cooling during which continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers expand
• total variety of plant and animal species in a particular place
• cycle whereby natural processes and human activity use atmospheric oxygen and produce carbon dioxide
• Ocean-girdling zone of crustal instability, volcanism, and earthquakes resulting from tectonic activity

interglacials

• primeval supercontinent that broke apart into modern continents and oceans
• the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen through the absorption of sunlight
• warm periods during the ice age
• resources that are present in finite quantities

Holocene

• the current interglaciation period from 10,000 year ago to now
• Ocean-girdling zone of crustal instability, volcanism, and earthquakes resulting from tectonic activity
• first international cooperation on climate change
• the threat to environmental security by human activity

Little Ice age

• cooling period between 1400-1900 with temperature fluctuations, droughts, storms and famine
• Ocean-girdling zone of crustal instability, volcanism, and earthquakes resulting from tectonic activity
• the central role humans play in shaping earth's environment
• disposal sites for non-hazardous solid waste that is compacted to the smallest volume and sites are designed with sealed floors to keep waste in