Download Name Date ______ Hour ______ Human Geography

Name ____________________________________________________ Date _______ Hour ______
Human Geography-Culture, Society & Space Ch. 34 Patterns and Processes of Environmental Change
1. Describe the environmental damage depicted on page 528
2. Describe an example of ecosystem destruction done by humans before t he modern era.
3. How does human impact on ecosystems differ in the modern era?
4. What key concerns result from ways in which humans have caused environmental stress?
5. Why is uneven worldwide precipitation distribution a major concern, given the hydrologic cycle?
6. How does industry and poor government planning contribute to disruption of fragile water
related issues as illustrated by the Aral Sea “ecological Chernobyl” situation? (See The Death of
the Aral Sea-Global Perspective article )
7. How has water become an issue as far as supporting large populations?
8. How has water become a key issue shaping Israel’s relations with its neighbors?
9. How does human activity impact the atmosphere differently than natural disasters like the
Krakatau volcanic explosion?
10. Describe how each of the following ecological issues have resulted in international concern and
how international cooperation can help to solve the problems they create.
a. Acid Rain
b. Desertification
c. Deforestation
11. Why is soil erosion an increasing concern, especially in poorer, developing countries?
12. How is waste generation associated with resources consumption?
13. Explain the hazards associated with waste disposal.
14. How does toxic waste differ from radioactive waste in terms of disposal issues?
15. Explain how human activity has impacted biodiversity.
16. How are future biodiversity concerns connected to humans’ abilities to deal with water related
issues, waste disposal and other environmental concerns?
DeBlij Ch.34 Key 27 Total points
1. (1pt) Desertification; overuse of land, failure of terrace system
2. (1pt) The Maori inflicted significant damage on local animal species; Polynesians destroyed
island forests in their pursuit of exotic birds and destroyed 80% of those species
3. (1pt) Human exploitation of the environment is capable of inflicting global damage in the
modern era
4. (2pts) The future of water supplies, state of the atmosphere; desertification, deforestation,
soil degradation and industrial waste disposal (any 4 )
5. (2pts) Many large populations are at risk for not having access to fresh water supplies
because large numbers of people have congregated in areas with insufficient water supplies
6. (2pts) The former Soviet government decided to re-route rivers and streams in Kazakhstan
and Uzbekistan that flowed into the Aral Sea, to irrigate an area that became the second
largest worldwide cotton producer. This led to chemical runoff that ruined the ground
water. The Aral Sea began to dry up and now has been reduced by 75%, putting all its animal
species at risk
7. (2pts) Traditionally strong water systems are becoming over used and precipitation patterns
make it necessary to bring water to over-populated areas in the Sunbelt from hundreds of
miles away. Water may eventually spark conflict in a similar way to oil.
8. (2pts) Israel consumes 3 times as much water as Jordan, the West Bank Palestinians, and
Gaza combined; since 1967, Israel has had control over the Jordan River and West Bank
aquifer; Israel is bound by the 1994 treaty to provide water to Jordan and the Palestinians
but this often doesn’t occur if it means less water for Israelis
9. (1pt) It creates longer lasting, even sometimes permanent, damage not just in the
atmosphere but the troposphere and the stratosphere
10. (2pts each section, 6 total) Acid Rain-pollution from some areas can cause acid rain in other
areas that don’t have industrialization; Desertification-in the 1970s drought in Ethiopia and
the Great Sahel focused attention on this issue which is now of concern in other parts of the
world; Deforestation-the relationship between deforestation and the production of
oxygen/absorption of carbon has focused attention on reforestation and the depletion of
the rainforests
11. (1pt) Agricultural land use intensifies and causes water and wind erosion; in developing
countries traditional farmers cannot leave land fallow for long enough periods
12. (1pt) The developed countries with high resource consumption generate the most waste
13. (1pt) Toxic and radioactive waste generates numerous long-term hazards; it is becoming
more and more difficult to find suitable sites for landfills
14. (1pt) Radio active waste is much more difficult to get rid of; there isn’t really any suitable
way to dispose of it
15. (1pt) Use of animal domestication, agriculture; contributed to extinctions both directly and
indirectly
16. (2pts) Biodiversity can only be preserved through close management with conservation in
mind; clean water is not only important for humans but for animal and plant species as
well.; waste must be contained, reduced and safely stored to prevent contamination of
fragile habitats