The physical geography of the environment and its effects on human society
1. Introduction
Humans are part of nature and the environment. The physical geography of the environment and its features have a direct bearing on human society. The way humans exploit or conserve the physical features of the environment determinates the effect it has on human society. It can be said that physical features have adverse effects on human society both in the negative and positive aspects depending on the way they are utilized and conserved. This paper will discuss the physical geography of the environment and its effects on human society. It will further discuss the way humans exploit or conserve the physical geography of the environment.
2. The physical geography of the environment and its effects on human society
2.1 The land
The land is a basic natural resource that provides space for human habitation, farming, grazing, forestry, mining, and recreation, among other uses. The relief, soils, climate, and vegetation cover are some of the main physical features of land that have an effect on human society. They determine the suitability of an area for human settlement and economic activities such as agriculture, forestry, mining, and tourism.
2. 1. The relief
The relief refers to the topographical features of an area of land including its mountains, hills, valleys, plains, and plateaus. It affects human settlement patterns and land use. For example, mountainous areas are usually sparsely populated because they are difficult to access and develop. They are mostly used for grazing by livestock or recreation such as hiking and mountaineering. Hilly areas are also sparsely populated but more developed than mountainous areas because they are easier to access and develop. They are used for cultivation, ranching, forestry, mining, and recreation. Plains and valleys are densely populated because they are easy to access and develop. They are used for cultivation, ranching, urban development, industry, mining, and recreation (National Geographic Society, 2016).
2. 1.2 The soils
The soils refer to the layers of unconsolidated rock material that cover the Earth’s surface. They support plant growth and determine the type of vegetation that grows in an area. They also affect agricultural activities such as crop production. Sandy soils found in deserts support very little plant life while rich loamy soils found in forests support a wide variety of plant life (National Geographic Society, 2016).
2. 1.3 The climate
The climate is determined by factors such as precipitation (amount of rainfall), temperature (average temperature in an area), humidity (amount of moisture in air), air pressure (force exerted by air on unit area), wind (moving air), latitude (distance from equator), altitude (height above sea level), ocean currents (movement of water in oceans), relief (topographical features), and vegetation (type of plants growing in an area) (National Geographic Society, 2016). The climate has a significant effect on human activities such as agriculture, forestry, recreation, tourism, industry, mining, etc. For example, tropical climates located near the equator support dense rainforests while cold climates located near the poles support ice caps and glaciers (National Geographic Society).
2. 2 The water
Water is another basic natural resource that is essential for human survival. It covers about 71% of Earth’s surface and is found in the oceans, lakes, rivers, ice caps, and groundwater (water below the ground surface). It is used for drinking, irrigation, transportation, industry, recreation, etc. The main physical features of water are its chemical composition, temperature, and salinity (National Geographic Society, 2016).
2. 3 The air
The air is a mixture of gases that surrounds Earth. It is made up of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen with traces of other gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and argon. The main physical features of air are its composition, temperature, and pressure (National Geographic Society, 2016). The air has a significant effect on human activities such as transportation, communication, recreation, etc. For example, hot air rises while cold air sinks. This difference in density creates wind which is used to power sailboats and windmills (National Geographic Society).
3. The way humans exploit the physical geography of the environment
3.1 The effect of human development on the environment
Human development refers to the process of improving the quality of human lives. It is usually measured in terms of economic indicators such as Gross National Income (GNI) per capita or Human Development Index (HDI) (United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], n.d.). Human development has a direct effect on the environment. It leads to increased demand for natural resources such as land, water, and forests which results in environmental degradation. For example, increased demand for food due to population growth leads to clearance of forests for agriculture which results in soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and climate change (UNDP).
3. 2 The effect of environmental degradation on human society
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment that results from human activities such as deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, mining, industrialization, urbanization, etc. It has a negative impact on human health, livelihoods, food security, water security, etc. For example, soil erosion caused by deforestation can lead to loss of topsoil which is essential for agricultural production. This can lead to food insecurity and poverty (UNDP).
4. The way humans protect the physical geography of the environment
4.1 Environmental protection
Environmental protection refers to the conservation and improvement of the environment. It includes measures such as afforestation (planting of trees), soil conservation measures such as terracing and contour ploughing), water conservation measures such as irrigation and drainage), and pollution control measures such as waste management and emissions reductions (UNDP). These measures help to reduce environmental degradation and its negative effects on human society.
4. 2 Social groups and the environment
Social groups are organized communities of people who share common interests or goals. They can be categorized according to their size (e.g. family, friends), function (e.g. religious groups), or geographical location (e.g. neighborhood associations) (Sociology Central Ltd., n.d.). Social groups play an important role in environmental protection by creating awareness about environmental issues and mobilizing people to take action against environmental degradation. For example, community-based organizations can raise awareness about the importance of conserving natural resources such as water and forests. They can also lobby for better policies to protect the environment from further degradation (Sociology Central Ltd.).
In conclusion, the physical geography of the environment and its features have a direct bearing on human society. The way humans exploit or conserve the physical features of the environment determinates the effect it has on human society. It can be said that physical features have adverse effects on human society both in the negative and positive aspects depending on the way they are utilized and conserved.