What does environment mean in geography

It has two types -. The Inner Environment. The inner environment is the social environment that endures as long as society cherishes. The inner environment has a profound impact on human lives. The inner environment is often called the 'social heritage' as it is an important factor for humankind to exist, live and arise. It is entirely dependent on human social influence. The Outer Environment. The outer environment is the physical environment that man has created on his own with the evolving technology and science.

This is not to say that the study of environmental issues at other scales is unimportant; indeed, the management of localised environmental issues - such as the pollution of rivers - is critically important for human communities, livelihoods and well-being, as well as for the health and integrity of ecosystems.

Nevertheless, the study and management of local and regional environmental issues belongs - rightly - within a holistic, integrated, global context. And whilst the study of the earth system may be subdivided, for convenience, into categories such as 'geosphere', 'atmosphere', 'hydrosphere' and 'biosphere' - as well as into smaller categories - it is important to emphasise that such categories interact and overlap at all spatial and temporal scales.

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Unit 1 The Earth System and its Components. Define the term 'environment'. Living organisms have adapted to living in a particular environment with its specific conditions, such as humidity, temperature, light, and so on.

All these factors affect the species in the environment. Therefore, living organisms have to adapt and modify through time to survive and tolerate different environmental conditions.

Oxygen, eventually, became indispensable to the thriving of aerobic organisms, such as animals, including humans. The external environment includes all biotic living and abiotic non-living things. They are as follows:. The lithosphere is part of the environment. One natural source of the lithosphere is the solidification of magma.

Water hydrosphere is one of the main constituents of the environment. It is found in oceans, rivers, seas, and lakes. They contain saline water in a continuous ocean body and small seas. Unlike oceans and seas, rivers contain freshwater and they flow toward a sea, a lake, an ocean, or another river.

Few rivers flow toward the ground without reaching another water body and dry up. Rivers flow in a channel. They complete the water cycle since the river water is collected from glaciers, recharge of groundwater, and springs. Small rivers are known as streams. They are important in the environment because they connect different habitats and maintain biodiversity.

A lake is a body of water in part of the land and not connected to an ocean, the lake is deeper and larger than a pond. Natural lakes are usually present in areas with recent glacier formations or mountain areas. Ponds are small bodies of standing water, they are either naturally formed or man-made, they are smaller than lakes. Man-made ponds include fish ponds and solar ponds. Water in built environments is affected by humans in various ways such as deforestation, urbanization, building dams, and channels to modify rivers as well as streams.

Dams are designed to keep water to keep water and change its direction. Even though dams are useful in generating electricity and creating water reservoirs, they have a negative impact on natural environments by stopping the movement of fish and organisms through rivers and streams. Moreover, they affect the water supplying the forests. This eventually leads to the deterioration of trees and a decrease in the food supply for different biotic factors in the environment.

The atmosphere is the main factor in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem. The atmosphere is composed of a thin layer of gases that covers the Earth. The atmosphere is maintained in its position by the gravitational force. The atmosphere is composed of different gases such as nitrogen , oxygen, carbon dioxide , argon, and inert gases.

Moreover, the atmosphere includes water vapor and ice crystals forming clouds. Ultraviolet radiation damages the DNA of living organisms. Thus, the atmosphere as a component of the environment is important for the survival of living organisms including humans, and for maintaining the environmental balance by preventing temperature extremes.

Global warming is one of the major challenges affecting our environment nowadays. These gases keep the heat within the atmosphere. The rise in their levels in the atmosphere is caused by human activities such as deforestation, carbon dioxide combustion , etc.

Accordingly, the global surface temperature increased 0. The climate is the state of wind, humidity, rain, atmospheric pressure, and temperature in a given area over a long period of time. It is classified in relation to different variables such as precipitation and temperature. Conversely, weather represents the condition of these elements but in the short term only. Both are important components of the environment.

Weather is the sum of all phenomena taking place at a given time in a given area. Generally, the weather describes daily temperature values, while the climate describes the average condition of the atmosphere over a long time.

Weather describes differences between places in their moisture and temperature. These differences are due to several factors such as the sun angle on a given area. What will be the extent and impact of global warming? Should we protect tropical forests and why are they being destroyed? What causes famine and why do people die from it? Should we allow Hydro Quebec to dam the rivers entering James Bay?

Environmental geography at Concordia. Curriculum focused on the Environment New multidisciplinary Environmental Science An emphasis on techniques and skill building in cartography, computer design, geographic information systems, statistics, field work Student centred teaching Strong emphasis on undergraduate teaching Courses taught by dedicated full and part-time faculty Courses given in both the day and evening to accommodate students who work We cater to non-conventional students Excellent Student Advising Program Active Geography Student Association.

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