World Geography – Human Environment Interaction SOL WG 2b– Cloze Notes

Physical and Ecological Processes
A. Earthquakes – More common near plate boundaries and Ring of Fire
B. Floods
C. Volcanic eruptions – volcanic soil is fertile and good for farming / D. Erosion
E. Deposition – When winds deposit or move dirt
Water Diversion
A. Aral Sea
B. Colorado River
C. Aswan High Dam / D. Canals – man-made channels for water or ship navigation (Panama and Suez Canals)
E. Reservoirs – Human made lakes for storing water
F. Irrigation – Putting water on fields
Aral Sea
A. The Aral Sea is located in Central Asia
B. The Aral Sea is shrinking because of over irrigation of the rivers that flow into it.
C. The Soviet Union diverted the rivers to grow cotton in the arid climate.
Colorado River
A. The Colorado River flows from Colorado to the Gulf of California
B. Many states use the river for irrigation in the dry climate.
C. The Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon are on the river.
Aswan Dam
A. The Aswan Dam was built on the Nile River to stop the seasonal flooding and provide hydroelectric power.
B. Farmers now have to buy fertilizers because the river no longer overflows its bank.
Landscape Changes
A. Agricultural Terracing – flat areas cut in the side of mountains to farm (Andes Mountains and in parts of Asia such as China)
B. Polders – Areas of reclaimed land from the sea. Mainly located in Belgium and the Netherlands (the Low Countries) / C. Deforestation – Cutting down trees faster than they can grow back. Problem in countries with large rainforests such as Brazil and Congo. Also problem in Nepal.
D. Desertification –Expansion of arid conditions into previously non-arid countries. Problem in northern Africa near Sahara Desert and Sahel region.
Environmental Changes
A. Acid Rain – Caused by heavy industry and burning of fossil fuels. Problem in eastern North America, China, Scandinavia, and Germany. / B. Pollution
A. Air pollution in Mexico City
B. Oil Spills – Exxon Valdez in Alaska
C. Radiation from Chernobyl (nuclear power plant that exploded in 1986)
Influence of Technology
A. Agriculture – better fertilizer, pesticides, machines
B. Energy Usage – Wood, Coal, Fossil Fuels, Nuclear, Renewable
C. Transportation / D. Automobiles – expansion of road systems, parking lots, pollution, noise
E. Airplanes – expansion of airports, noise pollution
Environmental Impact on Humans
A. Settlement Patterns – People settle on flat ground near rivers or the coast
B. Housing Materials – Adobe in dry climates, log cabins in Siberia
C. Agricultural Activity / D. Types of recreation
E. Transportation