{"id":61,"date":"2019-07-15T09:53:51","date_gmt":"2019-07-15T14:53:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/?page_id=61"},"modified":"2026-01-12T08:51:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T13:51:57","slug":"humans-environments-and-the-anthropocene","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/schedule-content\/humans-environments-and-the-anthropocene\/","title":{"rendered":"Humans, Environments, and the Anthropocene"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote style=\"border: 0px solid #666;padding: 10px;background-color: #f2f2f2\"><p>Update 1\/12\/2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3058\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2024\/08\/bigbutt.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1190\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2024\/08\/bigbutt.jpeg 1190w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2024\/08\/bigbutt-252x300.jpeg 252w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2024\/08\/bigbutt-862x1024.jpeg 862w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2024\/08\/bigbutt-768x913.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1190px) 100vw, 1190px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\"><a href=\"https:\/\/boingboing.net\/2024\/08\/15\/see-bigfoots-buttocks-imprint-in-blue-ridge-georgia.html\">See Bigfoot&#8217;s &#8220;buttocks imprint&#8221; in Blue Ridge, Georgia<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Nature?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Nature is perhaps the most complex word in the English language.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">(i) the essential quality and character of something: &#8220;That&#8217;s just the nature of love&#8221; (essence, intrinsic)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">(ii) the inherent force which directs either the world or human beings or both: &#8220;gravity is a natural force&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">(iii) the material world itself, taken as including or not including human beings: &#8220;Humans are having a huge impact on nature&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>(Source: Raymond Williams, &#8220;Nature&#8221; from <em>Keywords,<\/em> 1983)<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Nature is complicated<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Nature or Environment?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Nature<\/strong> is often used to mean the <strong>non-human world<\/strong> (last definition)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Environment<\/strong> is often used when we mix in <strong>human relationships to the non-human world<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In theory, we can think about humans as <strong>separate<\/strong> from the non-human world:<\/p>\n<p>Humans throughout history have often\u00a0<strong>elevated<\/strong> themselves (ourselves) above non-human nature<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Religion, philosophy, and the sciences have played a significant role in this distinction\n<ul>\n<li>ex) Judeo-Christian Tradition \/ Bible<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <strong>sciences<\/strong> often look at humans and non-human nature in relative <strong>isolation<\/strong>: reinforcing the distinction<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the natural sciences typically remove social and cultural factors<\/li>\n<li>the social sciences typically remove natural factors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Understanding the <strong>big picture<\/strong> &#8211; particularly with environmental issues &#8211; requires <strong>joining<\/strong> the natural and the social<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nature + Humans: the\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Anthropocene<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Anthropocene<\/strong>: (an\u00b7thra\u00b7puh\u00b7seen)\u00a0&#8220;an informal term used to mark when human actions begin to have a global impact on Earth&#8217;s environment&#8221; (<em>Companion to Environmental Studies,<\/em> p. 144)<\/p>\n<p>International Geological Congress, Anthropocene Working Group: moving towards adoption of this period as part of the Geological Time Scale (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-019-01641-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Contested no vote earlier this year&#8230; but it will be reconsidered.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Geological-Time-Scale.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-174 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Geological-Time-Scale.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Geological-Time-Scale.jpg 650w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Geological-Time-Scale-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Above: Geological Time Scale with proposed Anthropocene (<a href=\"https:\/\/climateandcapitalism.com\/2016\/08\/29\/expert-panel-the-anthropocene-epoch-has-definitely-begun\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Blurs the boundary between <strong>humans<\/strong> and non-human nature: humans are a global, geological-scale force<\/p>\n<p><strong>One perspective<\/strong> on the Anthropocene: <strong>Environmental\u00a0Cornucopian\u00a0<\/strong>(&#8220;horn of plenty&#8221;): <strong>&#8220;So what?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Environmental problems caused by humans can be solved by <strong>technology<\/strong> and\u00a0<strong>free\u00a0market capitalism<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>dubious about regulations or constraints on human actions on the environment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The ideas of finite resources or &#8220;to many people&#8221; are false: <strong>innovation<\/strong> (via markets, Capitalism) can overcome both<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anthropocentric<\/strong> views: Humans are the most important part of existence\n<ul>\n<li>Thus: who cares if it does not affect us? &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.as.com\/en\/2022\/01\/17\/latest_news\/1642434631_293097.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth&#8217;s sixth mass extinction has begun according to scientists<\/a>&#8220;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Another perspective: Political Economy<\/strong>\u00a0(interrelationships among individuals, governments, and public policy)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Amitav Ghosh (<em>The Nutmeg\u2019s Curse,<\/em> 2021):<\/strong> paraphrased from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thethirdpole.net\/en\/culture\/review-the-nutmegs-curse-shines-a-light-on-exploitation\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>The Anthropocene likely began around 1500 with the impact of European Colonialism<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>Book title:<\/strong> 1621 massacre by Dutch invaders: establish a monopoly on <strong>nutmeg cultivation and trade<\/strong> in the Banda islands in what is now Indonesia. At the same time, systematically depopulating the islands through <strong>genocide<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">The <strong>impact<\/strong> of anthropocentrism, capitalism, and economic markets:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px\">\u2022 Decimation and exploitation of indigenous populations<br \/>\n\u2022 Decimation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thethirdpole.net\/en\/hub\/land-rights\/\">indigenous understanding <\/a>of the relationship between humans and Earth<br \/>\n\u2022 Decimation of non-human nature<br \/>\n\u2022 Decimation of environmental sustainability<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Political Ecology:<\/strong> A general approach to the environment that weds ecology to a broadly defined political economy perspective; in essence the approach taken by Ghosh and in the textbook.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Tough issues to solve, or even make sense out of<\/p>\n<p><strong>Even more challenging:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We <strong>love the benefits<\/strong> this approach to nature provides for us (particularly the privileged we).<\/li>\n<li>It&#8217;s easy to <strong>delude<\/strong> ourselves that solutions are easy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Alternatively,\u00a0<strong>despair<\/strong> and <strong>pessimism<\/strong> are <strong>bad.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>How can you &#8211; maybe &#8211; do something that does have a positive impact, even if on a limited scale?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The focus of this class: we will learn about the research process and use the resources available through the OWU Connection.<\/p>\n<p>We won&#8217;t solve global environmental crises. We will take a step in the right direction. Make the world a better place &#8211; at some scale.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Part of this effort involves concepts and ideas.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>RHM textbook, <em>Environment &amp; Society:<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Ecological novelty:<\/strong> Ecological systems that existed in the past are being swept away by rapidly changing environmental conditions &#8211; changes in climate, species interaction, the spread of micro- and macro-organisms. (p. 3)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>environmental change has always occurred, it&#8217;s the <strong>rate of change<\/strong> that is nearly unprecedented<\/li>\n<li>it&#8217;s also the <strong>uncertainty<\/strong> of human survival in this time of rapid change<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Can we <strong>reverse<\/strong> this process?<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Rewilding<\/strong>: A practice of conservation where ecological functions and evolutionary processes, which are thought to have existed in past ecosystems or before human influence, are deliberately restored or created; rewilding often requires the reintroduction or restoration of large predators to ecosystems (p. 3)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>But: which animals are reintroduced, or not?\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Wilds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Wilds (Ohio):<\/a> why <del>elephants<\/del>\u00a0(too expensive) rhinos and giraffes in Ohio?<\/li>\n<li>Wandering around reclaimed (coal) strip mines?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Is it fair to exclude people (with their long history far back into prehistory) in the wilderness area?\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.org\/downloads\/pag_004.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Indigenous and Traditional Peoples and Protected Areas<\/em><\/a> (PDF)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Is it a good idea to use Nazi-bred Heck Cattle (given that other older cattle species are extinct)?\n<ul>\n<li>WTF Nazi cows?<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2576\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/01\/Screen-Shot-2023-01-25-at-9.56.44-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/01\/Screen-Shot-2023-01-25-at-9.56.44-AM.png 1058w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/01\/Screen-Shot-2023-01-25-at-9.56.44-AM-300x261.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/01\/Screen-Shot-2023-01-25-at-9.56.44-AM-1024x892.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/01\/Screen-Shot-2023-01-25-at-9.56.44-AM-768x669.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Why were the Nazi&#8217;s breeding early (now extinct) breeds of cattle?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Is the cost worth it, given other (social) needs?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong>So is stuff Natural or Social?<\/strong> &#8220;Simultaneously <strong>neither and both,<\/strong> with animals, plants and waterways springing from human interventions, creating altogether new habitats and environments.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Decisions about\u00a0what to do (and what not to do) requires <strong>understanding natural sciences as well as social sciences (and humanities and arts)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Back to the Anthropocene:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Anthropocene<\/strong>: An era where humans exert tremendous influence on the environment but where control of these environments and their complex ecologies is elusive. Humans are a major force of nature yet the outcomes of our impacts are unknown.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>RHM textbook, <em>Environment &amp; Society:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>First half: <strong>perspectives<\/strong>: &#8220;dominant ways of thinking about environment-society relations&#8221;\n<ul>\n<li>there are many more&#8230; you will encounter in courses and elsewhere<\/li>\n<li>shape how people think about and impact the environment<\/li>\n<li>common core themes in environmental courses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Second half: perspectives &#8220;applied to familiar <strong>objects<\/strong> of the world around us.&#8221;\n<ul>\n<li><strong>don&#8217;t see only problems<\/strong> and <strong>crises<\/strong>: important<\/li>\n<li><strong>&#8220;An opportunity to break away from the environment as an undifferentiated generic problem, one universally characterized by a state of immediate and unique crisis.&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>the problem with <strong>apocalyptic catastrophism<\/strong> &amp; the environment\n<ul>\n<li>apocalyptic: &#8220;describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>catastrophism: &#8220;involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>A generalized process: book, class, class project<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Understand the <strong>natural<\/strong> and the <strong>social<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>together<\/strong> focused on varying \u00a0<strong>environmental perspectives<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Understand <strong>common objects<\/strong> embedded in natural and social contexts<\/li>\n<li>Understand how <strong>environmental problems<\/strong> (at a range of scales) arise from this complex context<\/li>\n<li>Define <strong>solutions<\/strong> to these problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Reconciliation Ecology:<\/strong> A hopeful approach that seeks ways for both humans and the non-human world to thrive and exist in a sustainable manner. Requires an imaginative integration of humans and the natural world that ultimately benefits both.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/grist.org\/science\/prescribed-burns-land-management-california-forests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Gardening Forests<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=sponge+cities+&amp;tbm=isch&amp;ved=2ahUKEwir7e2Q_-L8AhUJ5skDHVJNAicQ2-cCegQIABAA&amp;oq=sponge+cities+&amp;gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgQIABAeMgYIABAFEB4yBwgAEIAEEBgyBwgAEIAEEBgyBwgAEIAEEBgyBwgAEIAEEBgyBwgAEIAEEBgyBwgAEIAEEBg6BAgAEEM6CAgAEIAEELEDOgcIABCxAxBDULcHWP4WYNYhaABwAHgAgAFdiAGVB5IBAjE1mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&amp;sclient=img&amp;ei=70TRY-u5DonMp84P0pqJuAI&amp;bih=783&amp;biw=1356&amp;client=safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Sponge cities<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote style=\"border: 0px solid #666;padding: 10px;background-color: #f2f2f2\"><p>Next Time: The Project, Groups for Chapter Presentation, Project Ideas<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>To <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/projects\/\"><strong>Project Page<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2726 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-2023-08-06-at-7.34.14-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"298\" height=\"297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-2023-08-06-at-7.34.14-AM.png 1410w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-2023-08-06-at-7.34.14-AM-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-2023-08-06-at-7.34.14-AM-1024x1020.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-2023-08-06-at-7.34.14-AM-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-2023-08-06-at-7.34.14-AM-768x765.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-2023-08-06-at-7.34.14-AM-240x240.png 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"border: 0px solid #666;padding: 10px;background-color: #f2f2f2\"><p>Review Material: A bunch of stuff you can review if you want which you won&#8217;t<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Nature shapes humans (culture, society) and culture and society shape nature<\/p>\n<dl>\n<dd><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/krygier.owu.edu\/krygier_html\/geog_111\/geog_111_lo\/geog_111_lo03_gr\/humenv.jpg\" \/><b>Human Environmental Cycle<\/b><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p>How to make sense out of this relationship is at the core of understanding the environment &#8211; and nature &#8211; and humans<\/p>\n<p>Next up:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Basics about the natural environment (with humans left out, for the moment)<\/li>\n<li>Then some key ways to approach \u00a0Human &amp; Environmental Interactions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong> Natural Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>1a. <span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Environmental Spheres<\/span> and the <span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Earth System<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Classification based on differences in <strong>matter<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) things and conditions:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a style=\"font-size: 1rem\" href=\"https:\/\/krygier.owu.edu\/krygier_html\/geog_111\/geog_111_lo\/geog_111_lo16_gr\/spheres.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/krygier.owu.edu\/krygier_html\/geog_111\/geog_111_lo\/geog_111_lo16_gr\/spheres_tn.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Lithosphere:<\/b> Greek (litho) = stone<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>courses in Physical Geography<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Chart_A.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-122 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Chart_A-300x238.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Chart_A-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Chart_A-768x609.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Chart_A-1024x812.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Atmosphere:<\/b> Greek (atmo) = air<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>courses in weather and climate (Physical Geography)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/earth.nullschool.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-123 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/earth_atmospheric_circulation_thumbnail-300x289.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/earth_atmospheric_circulation_thumbnail-300x289.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/earth_atmospheric_circulation_thumbnail-768x739.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/earth_atmospheric_circulation_thumbnail-1024x985.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/earth_atmospheric_circulation_thumbnail.png 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Hydrosphere:<\/b> Greek (hydro) = water<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>course in hydrology (we are working on it&#8230;)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/special-topic\/water-science-school\/science\/where-earths-water?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-133\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/where-is-earths-water-300x236.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/where-is-earths-water-300x236.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/where-is-earths-water-768x604.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/where-is-earths-water-1024x805.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/where-is-earths-water.png 1488w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Biosphere:<\/b> Greek (bio) = life<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>courses in Botany and Zoology (Biology)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mol.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-125 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/mapoflife-300x249.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/mapoflife-300x249.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/mapoflife-768x637.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/mapoflife-1024x849.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/mapoflife.png 1674w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But: the four spheres are not discrete and separate but intermingled<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b>1b. Ecosystems and Biomes<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Courses in ecology (Botany and Zoology)<\/li>\n<li>Classification based on <strong>interactions<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Ecosystem:<\/b> a group of environmental characteristics that define a particular area; the totality of interactions among organisms and the environment in the area of consideration; elements from all the earthly spheres<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/enviroatlas.epa.gov\/enviroatlas\/interactivemap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-126 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/enviroatlas-300x239.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/enviroatlas-300x239.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/enviroatlas-768x611.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/enviroatlas-1024x815.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/enviroatlas.png 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Many ways to classify ecosystems<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>classify according to the amount of organic matter &#8211;\u00a0<strong>biomass &#8211;<\/strong>\u00a0produced per year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"http:\/\/lucid.wur.nl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-127 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/lucid-biomassmap-300x192.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/lucid-biomassmap-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/lucid-biomassmap-768x490.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/lucid-biomassmap-1024x654.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/lucid-biomassmap.png 1970w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>classify according to the relationship between <strong>climate<\/strong> (atmosphere) and the <b>biosphere<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Biomes:<\/b> large areas of the earth can be categorized as relatively distinctive, with particular climate, animals, plants: a large, recognizable assemblage of plants and animals in functional interaction with its environment<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biointeractive.org\/classroom-resources\/biomeviewer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-129 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/biome-interactive-map-300x219.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/biome-interactive-map-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/biome-interactive-map-768x561.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/biome-interactive-map-1024x748.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/biome-interactive-map.png 1218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Major World Biomes<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Allee (1949) biome-types<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tundra<\/li>\n<li>Taiga (coniferous forest)<\/li>\n<li>Deciduous forest<\/li>\n<li>Grasslands<\/li>\n<li>Desert<\/li>\n<li>High plateaus<\/li>\n<li>Tropical forest<\/li>\n<li>Minor terrestrial biomes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But&#8230; many different ways to classify biomes&#8230;\u00a0Kendeigh (1961),\u00a0Whittaker (1962, 1970, 1975) &#8230; and so on: <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Biome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Wikipedia Biomes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b>2. Natural Cycles<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0physical changes (through time and over geographic space) in\u00a0<strong>matter<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Natural cycles<\/strong> are cycles of matter in the natural world: where molecules are formed and re-formed by chemical and biological reactions, manifested as physical changes in the matter<\/p>\n<p><b>2a. The Hydrologic Cycle<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Water_cycle#\/media\/File:Watercyclesummary.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-124 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/watercycle-300x206.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/watercycle-300x206.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/watercycle-768x526.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/watercycle-1024x702.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/watercycle.png 1448w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>2b. The Carbon Cycle<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carbon_cycle#\/media\/File:Carbon_cycle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-132 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/carboncycle-300x240.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/carboncycle-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/carboncycle-768x615.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/carboncycle-1024x821.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/carboncycle.png 1520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>respiration of animals: carbon moves from litho\/biosphere to atmosphere<\/li>\n<li>photosynthesis: green plants convert atmospheric carbon to complex sugar compounds<\/li>\n<li>amount of time carbon remains at a particular place in the cycle varies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lots of other environmental cycles: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;biw=1188&amp;bih=726&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=1&amp;ei=ygw_XZ3hIMWKtAbEgL_ACQ&amp;q=environmental+cycles&amp;oq=environmental+cycles&amp;gs_l=img.3..0j0i8i30l7j0i24l2.42553.45039..45523...0.0..2.777.3760.13j1j1j0j1j2j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i67j0i30.xnJnWHH1sJ4&amp;ved=0ahUKEwid7rWHtdrjAhVFBc0KHUTAD5gQ4dUDCAY&amp;uact=5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Google<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Important:<\/b> can&#8217;t change one part of a system without having some effect on another part of the same system, and other cycles and systems<\/p>\n<p>One of the reasons we don&#8217;t have a sense of the effects of our modification of these natural systems is that they are often out of sync with our particular time and location<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b>3. Time and Space and Environmental Change<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>3a. Time and Environmental Change<\/b><\/p>\n<p><strong>Geologic Time<\/strong> and Important Events<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/time.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-136\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/time-300x190.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/time-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/time-768x486.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/time-1024x648.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\u00a0<\/a>(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.edumedia-sciences.com\/en\/media\/910-geological-clock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Time scale chosen to study natural systems affects understanding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Dynamic equilibrium:<\/b> input and output of matter in natural systems is balanced, but there are shorter-term fluctuations<\/p>\n<dl>\n<dd><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/krygier.owu.edu\/krygier_html\/geog_111\/geog_111_lo\/geog_111_lo02_gr\/midoxford.jpg\" \/><\/dd>\n<dd>Source: Middleton, <em>The Global Casino<\/em> (2003), Fig. 1.9: Time scale and Oxford England Temperatures<\/dd>\n<dd><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1651\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/02\/CET-annual-1024x628.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/02\/CET-annual-1024x628.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/02\/CET-annual-1024x628-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/02\/CET-annual-1024x628-768x471.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/dd>\n<dd>Source: <a href=\"http:\/\/clivebest.com\/blog\/?p=7603\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Central England Temperatures<\/a><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<ul>\n<li>different time-scales of analysis: different conclusions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Feedback<\/b> in a natural system<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>negative feedback<\/strong>: maintains dynamic equilibrium<\/li>\n<li>ex) circulation of oceans and atmosphere redistributes energy (heat)<\/li>\n<li><strong>positive feedback:<\/strong> drives changes away from the original equilibrium state<\/li>\n<li>ex) increases in greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere drives up average temperatures over time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1652\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/02\/CET-annual-CO2-1024x628.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/02\/CET-annual-CO2-1024x628.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/02\/CET-annual-CO2-1024x628-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/02\/CET-annual-CO2-1024x628-768x471.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<dl>\n<dd>Source: <a href=\"http:\/\/clivebest.com\/blog\/?p=7603\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Central England Temperatures<\/a><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p><b>Thresholds:<\/b> a change in a system may not occur until a threshold is reached: a breaking or tipping point after which the system shifts to a different state<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/criticalthresholds.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-138\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/criticalthresholds-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/criticalthresholds-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/criticalthresholds-768x594.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/criticalthresholds.jpg 942w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/Patricktenbrink\/srd-tools-critical-thresholds-patrick-ten-brink-of-ieep-presentation-13-feb-2007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>certain places (ecosystems, biomes) more sensitive to thresholds and feedback: where (geography) matters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b>3b. Space \/ Geography and Environmental Change<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Spatial location and scale also affect our understanding of environmental change:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Areas of the US crossed by more than one nuclear cloud from aboveground detonations: (<a href=\"https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=adI-6jRDipgC&amp;lpg=PA444&amp;ots=lJOkvVTD8q&amp;dq=Areas%20of%20the%20US%20crossed%20by%20more%20than%20one%20nuclear%20cloud%20from%20aboveground%20detonations&amp;pg=PP1#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<dl>\n<dt><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/nuclearsplat.jpg\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/nuclearsplat.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/nuclearsplat-300x197.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" \/><\/a><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<ul>\n<li>Costs and benefits, impact of climate change (US):\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/GAO-17-720\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeus.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-140 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeus-300x181.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeus-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeus.png 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Projected impact of climate change on agricultural yields by the 2080s, compared to 2003 levels (<a href=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/a\/a9\/Projected_impact_of_climate_change_on_agricultural_yields_by_the_2080s,_compared_to_2003_levels_(Cline,_2007).png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeworldag.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-143 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeworldag-300x201.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeworldag-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeworldag-768x515.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeworldag-1024x686.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeworldag-480x320.png 480w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/impactclimatechangeworldag.png 2008w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Important <strong>&#8220;tipping points&#8221;<\/strong> in the Earth&#8217;s Climate System: (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.canarymedia.com\/articles\/economists-must-grapple-with-climate-tipping-points-before-its-too-late\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1941\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/08\/https___bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com_public_images_1dc2a24a-7aea-4ead-be9a-1ed5c0a34cda_1280x648.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/08\/https___bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com_public_images_1dc2a24a-7aea-4ead-be9a-1ed5c0a34cda_1280x648.png 1280w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/08\/https___bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com_public_images_1dc2a24a-7aea-4ead-be9a-1ed5c0a34cda_1280x648-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/08\/https___bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com_public_images_1dc2a24a-7aea-4ead-be9a-1ed5c0a34cda_1280x648-768x389.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2021\/08\/https___bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com_public_images_1dc2a24a-7aea-4ead-be9a-1ed5c0a34cda_1280x648-1024x518.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Environmental issues we will discuss this semester have arisen as a consequence of human activity interacting with environmental systems<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>have a basic understanding of how natural systems work<\/li>\n<li>where (descriptive: classification) and why (analysis, explanation)<\/li>\n<li>vital to consider effects on other time and spatial scales<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Back to the Anthropocene<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The concept has certainly had an impact beyond Geology:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The Anthropocene is about the consequences of the production and reproduction of the means of existence of social life on a planetary scale.<\/p>\n<p>It seems likely that the Anthropocene as a kind of periodization more or less corresponds to the rise of capitalism.<\/p>\n<p>Means for enduring the Anthropocene are not going to be exclusively cultural or political, let alone theological. They will also have to be scientific and technical.<\/p>\n<p>And in the present, it is time to work transversally, in mixed teams, with the objective of producing forms of knowledge and action that are problem-centered rather than tradition and discipline centered.<\/p>\n<p>Source:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.publicseminar.org\/2014\/08\/critical-theory-after-the-anthropocene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Critical Theory After the Anthropocene, McKenzie Wark ( August 9, 2014)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Next: Is this class about <strong>everything?<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Nature &gt;&gt; Environment &gt;&gt;\u00a0The Anthropocene &gt;&gt; Human\/Environment Interaction &gt;&gt; Everything?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Environmental Geography:<\/strong> historically, Geographers were among the first scholars to explicitly note and study human\/environmental relationships. <strong>Human stuff, natural stuff, all together in space and over time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Political Ecology:<\/strong> &#8220;the study of the relationships between political, economic and social factors with environmental issues and changes. Political ecology differs from apolitical ecological studies by politicizing environmental issues and phenomena.&#8221; (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Political_ecology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Environment and Society:<\/strong> A more generic term than political ecology, broader maybe, but following the tradition of environmental geography and political ecology.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ways of thinking: Approaches and Perspectives to Environment &amp; Society<\/li>\n<li>Problem or object-based (&#8220;follow the thing&#8221;) approach<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><b>Few More Concepts and Definitions<\/b><\/h3>\n<dl>\n<dt><\/dt>\n<dd><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/krygier.owu.edu\/krygier_html\/geog_111\/geog_111_lo\/geog_111_lo03_gr\/humenv.jpg\" \/><b>Human Environmental Cycle<\/b><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Resources:<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>anything in the natural world that is useful to humans; a cultural appraisal of the natural world, as different cultures (and the same cultures at different times) assume certain things to be resources and others not<\/p>\n<p>Resources in the <b>Natural Environment<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>renewable<\/strong> resources:\u00a0solar, wind, forests<\/li>\n<li><strong>non-renewable<\/strong> resources: coal, oil, gas, nuclear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Resources in the <b>Human Environment<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>extrinsic resources<\/strong>: &#8220;human&#8221; resources or activity; &#8220;A natural <b>resource<\/b> that has been adapted or modified by people in order to provide additional values, particularly for recreation. Examples include historic sites and archaeological sites.&#8221; (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjetPiqweTuAhUbZc0KHWQvDT4QFjABegQICBAC&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oxfordreference.com%2Fview%2F10.1093%2Foi%2Fauthority.20110810104855458&amp;usg=AOvVaw2mrUNk7yHQHsLOHbRrj3iT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Environmental problems can be seen as the result of a <strong>mismatch<\/strong> between extrinsic resources and natural resources; they stem from people deliberately or inadvertently misusing or abusing the natural environment.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><b>Driving and Mitigating Forces<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<dl>\n<dt><\/dt>\n<dd><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/krygier.owu.edu\/krygier_html\/geog_111\/geog_111_lo\/geog_111_lo03_gr\/midfig2_1.jpg\" \/><\/dd>\n<dd>Above:\u00a0Middleton <em>Global Casino,<\/em> fig 2.1: Human Forces of Environmental Change<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p>Example: <strong>Population<\/strong> (we will come back to population in more detail)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Driving force: more people, more natural resources required<\/li>\n<li>Mitigating force: limit the number of people to limit required natural resources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Example: <strong>Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Driving force: the desire for mobility and the development of the internal combustion (carbon-based fuel) engine<\/li>\n<li>Mitigating force: electric vehicles, public transportation, stay at home<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><b>Human-Induced Imbalances<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Imbalances<\/strong> created and maintained by economics, culture, and society<\/li>\n<li><strong>Imbalances<\/strong> &#8211; economic and political &#8211; are important driving forces behind environmental change<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Example: unequal distribution of wealth produces more CO2: \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oxfam.org\/en\/research\/extreme-carbon-inequality\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>2016 Oxfam Study:<\/strong><\/a> the greatest polluters of all were the most affluent 10% of US households: each emitted, on average, 50 tonnes of CO2 per household member per year. Canada\u2019s top 10% were the next most polluting, followed by the British, Russian and South African elites.<\/p>\n<p>In more equitable affluent countries such as South Korea, Japan, France, Italy and Germany, the rich don\u2019t just pollute less; the average pollution is lower too, because the bottom half of these populations pollute less than the bottom half in the US, Canada or Britain, despite being better off.<\/p>\n<p>In short, <strong>people in more equal rich countries consume less, produce less waste and emit less carbon, on average.<\/strong> Indeed, almost everything associated with the environment improves when economic equality is greater. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/inequality\/2017\/jul\/04\/is-inequality-bad-for-the-environment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Example: Unequal distribution of wealth produces more waste<\/strong> (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.dannydorling.org\/books\/equalityeffect\/material\/tables-and-figures\/figure-4-4.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-31-at-4.21.36-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-179\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-31-at-4.21.36-PM-1024x754.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"829\" height=\"610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-31-at-4.21.36-PM-1024x754.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-31-at-4.21.36-PM-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-31-at-4.21.36-PM-768x566.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/153\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-31-at-4.21.36-PM.png 1328w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 829px) 100vw, 829px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><strong>Sustainability<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sustainability\/learn-about-sustainability#what\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: US EPA<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Closely tied to economic development:<\/p>\n<dl>\n<dt><\/dt>\n<dd><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/krygier.owu.edu\/krygier_html\/geog_111\/geog_111_lo\/geog_111_lo03_gr\/midfig3_3.jpg\" \/><\/dd>\n<dd>Above:\u00a0Middleton, <em>Global Casino,<\/em> fig 3.3: Development and Environment<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<ul>\n<li><b>cycle A:<\/b> typical of global economy in historical times<\/li>\n<li><b>cycle B:<\/b> when cycle A crosses an environmental threshold<\/li>\n<li><b>cycle C:<\/b> sustainable development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><b>Sustainable Development<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p>A compromise between economic development, the creation of wealth, and the exploitation of natural resources on one hand, and stewardship and conservation of natural resources and the natural environment on the other<\/p>\n<p>Origins in a Report: <b>World Conservation Strategy<\/b> (1980): All economic development programs should<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>maintain ecological processes<\/li>\n<li>promote sustainable use of resources<\/li>\n<li>maintain genetic diversity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Developed further by the <b>Brundtland Commission:<\/b> United Nations, 1983<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Sustainable development:<\/b> &#8220;development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs&#8221; (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Sustainable development draws together environmental, social, and economic concerns: basic guiding principles:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>continued support of human life<\/li>\n<li>maintenance of environmental quality and long-term stock of biological resources<\/li>\n<li>right of future generations to resources of equal worth to those used today<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Key issue in sustainable development: relative roles of<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>economic growth: quantitative expansion of economies<\/li>\n<li>development: qualitative improvement of society<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem\">We can improve human lives and society (development) with very slow or no economic growth by being more efficient and careful with our use of resources<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Update 1\/12\/2026 See Bigfoot&#8217;s &#8220;buttocks imprint&#8221; in Blue Ridge, Georgia Nature? Nature is perhaps the most complex word in the English language. (i) the essential quality and character of something: &#8220;That&#8217;s just the nature of love&#8221; (essence, intrinsic) (ii) the <span class=\"readmore\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/schedule-content\/humans-environments-and-the-anthropocene\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":138,"featured_media":0,"parent":43,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-61","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/138"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3788,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61\/revisions\/3788"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/envs110-198-498\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}