3.2.4.1 Introduction Flashcards
population growth pattern is __________?
expected population in 2050 is?
exponential. . but will plateau as carrying capacity is reached (HOWEVER CC IS NOT STATIC - boserup)
9. 9 billion!!!!
How has human interaction with the environment changed over time?
What has facilitated this change? Any examples?
Environmentally dependent
Environmentally protected
Environmentally controlling
Environmentally integrating
Development in technology… e.g. using fires as a heat source or building housing allowed permanent communities to develop in higher latitudes. Can also mention industrial and green revolution
Physical factors affecting population distribution and density?
Climate
Soils
Topography
Natural Resources
How does climate affect population distribution and density?
More of a LIMITING factor than an attractive factor
Low precipitation = negligible population in deserts e.g. Sahara has pop density of 1 person per square mile: lowest on earth
Likewise, Iceland (average temperatures of 1-2 degrees in winter) has a density of 3 people per km^2
Temperature affects agriculture (5 degrees Celsius needed for arable farming - see two case studies for more detail)
diseases e.g. malaria
How do soils affect population distribution and density?
typically, high fertility for agriculture = high density (as historically infertile soils are unable to support population) though nowadays high quality soils may be reserved purely for agriculture
e. g. Yangtze valley = 1/3 of China’s population of 400 million (fertile due to the flooding of Yangtze river - deposits alluvium = fertile)
99. 7% food we eat is derived from soil - link to hydroponics and boserup and how that might change in order to increase carrying capacity
How does topography affect population distribution and density?
depends on latitudes: high lats…high mountainous regions - low temps, poor quality and thin soils, poor accessibility = low population e.g. rocky mountains BUT may have a higher population due to tourism e.g. Banff National Park in Canada = pop of 9000
in lower latitudes where temps are higher - higher altitudes = more amenable climate and also reduces the risk of diseases (e.g. in Ethiopia, upland areas such as Addis Ababa = low/no malaria cases)
How do natural resources affect population distribution and density?
Water: key to survival and life! for hydration, irrigation, sanitation, industrial purposes etc.
historically, cities built along rivers, e.g. 95% of population in Egypt is within 12 miles of River Nile
Minerals - California gold rush 1849 - pop remained - industrial inertia (despite poor conditions and little money for miners): changing demographics from 160,000 native Americans to a more diverse 500,000 in 6 years (led to the California genocide of native Americans). It was also responsible for California achieving statehood status (due to economic growth)
Another example of natural resources affecting population?
Namib Desert = lack of fresh available water - yet diamond deposits = creation of small densities of mining populations e.g. 4000 on Namibia-south Africa border
Human factors affecting pop density and distribution? note: environmental context = BOTH physical and human factors
Historical legacy factors
Migration factors
Trade factors
Economic phase
human factors affected how?
historical: fertile valleys (e.g. Ganges, yellow river etc.) = increasing population due to conducive conditions for agriculture - contributing further wealth to each generation
migration - FORCED migration i.e. SLAVERY depopulated millions from West Africa yet populated and can be attributed to the higher pop density on Eastern coast of N. and S. America
economic phase - urbanisation, decline in rust-belt cities in USA,
describe temporal and spatial fluctuations in pop density, number, change and distribution
distribution: less people in harsher environments
density: large variation can occur: daily (due to commuters e.g. 2.5 million commute every day into tokyo), seasonally (tourism) and annually (migration)
number and change - due to in and out migration - affecting demographics
Development processes (NOT green revolution) impact on population and environment? - can link to DTM
Neothilic Agrarian Revolution - the birth of agriculture
and the the 4 industrial revolutions - led to tech developments:
- mechanization, coal and steam engines
- electricity, gas, oil and steel
- electronics, communications, research
- currently: digital revolution, AI etc
population effect: rapid rise in pop
environment: negative
