Population and environment Flashcards
1
Q
population of the world
A
7.9 billion
2
Q
Factors affecting population
A
- physical environment
- development processes
- global population patterns
3
Q
population density
A
Measurement of population per unit area,
e.g. population per km2
4
Q
how does the physical environment affect population
A
CLIMATE:
- affects agriculture as crops need certain conditions to grow
- affects the incidence of disease, some diseases thrive in certain climates
SOIL:
- the quality of the soil affects agricultural productivity
NATURAL RECOURCES:
- clean water is needed for hygiene, sanitation, agriculture, and drinking.
5
Q
How do development processes affect population
A
NEOTHILIC REVOLUTION:
- 12,000 years ago, there was a shift from hunter-gatherer populations to agricultural communities. Birth rates and
rose as women no longer had to wait to have more children
GREEN REVOLUTION:
- the process of using technology and more efficient farming practices in agriculture to maximize yields in the 50s
and 60s.
- created more food, especially in developing countries, meaning a larger population could be sustained.
6
Q
how do global population patterns affect population
A
GLOABL POPULATION NUMBERS:
- The world’s population stayed below 1 billion until 1804 , to reach 2 billion it only took just over 100 years.
GLOBAL POPULATION DENSITY:
- Urbanized areas are the most densely populated areas, as many people move for job prospects and opportunities.
- 55% of the population currently live in urban areas
7
Q
food production increase statistic
A
tripled globally in the past 50 years
8
Q
Strategies for food production increase
A
- increased use in farming machinery allows for more crops to be collected in a quicker time
- Increased use of farming resources such as herbicides and pesticides, to maximize
yields. - Better farming management to maximize yields
9
Q
Food production distribution
A
- unevenly distributed , with lower income countries producing the least amount of crops.
- richest countries have the largest food supplies, they produce more calories for their population
10
Q
Example of a region with a high crop yield
A
Eastern Asia:
- consistent high yields
- receives high amounts of rainfall, facilitating in crop growth.
11
Q
Example of a region with a low crop yield
A
Saharan Africa:
- extreme environmental limitations, such as droughts and temperatures unsuitable for crop growth
12
Q
Food consumption trend
A
- lower income countries consume less
food than high income countries. - HICs have more money to import food and invest in agriculture
13
Q
Food consumption statistics
A
- Africa consumes the least calories; over 27% of Africa’s population are affected by severe food insecurity.
- North America has the
highest consumption rate, followed by Europe.
14
Q
The agricultural system inputs
A
- rain
- soil
- pesticides
- labor
15
Q
Factors that affect agricultural productivity
A
- type of agricultural system
- climate
- soils
16
Q
The agricultural system processes
A
- tending to land
- harvesting
- breeding
17
Q
The agricultural system outputs
A
- crops
- animal produce
- waste
18
Q
how does the type of agricultural system affect agricultural productivity
A
management strategies with low inputs to maximize outputs allow for high productivity, e.g. commercial farming
19
Q
how does the climate affect agricultural productivity
A
- precipitation, temperature, winds affect what type of agriculture can occur.
- Some crops and animals can only be farmed in certain
climates, such as tropical fruits, - the amount of arable land is decreasing due to climate change (i.e. more floods/ more droughts
20
Q
how does soil affect agricultural productivity
A
- Different soils are suited to different types of agriculture
- Issues with soils - such as over-farming, erosion, desertification may also decrease productivity, as low nutrients in soil will affect plant growth
21
Q
How Climate Change Affects Agriculture
A
- increase in extreme weather events decrease productivity, these events can devastate large areas of land
- Rising sea levels due to melting sea ice will cause flooding in low lying areas,
such as Bangladesh, devastating crop yields - Pests insects and plant diseases are projected to increase in some areas due to climate change
22
Q
Soil problems
A
- Wind erosion: displacement of topsoil due to high winds and unstable soil.
- Waterlogging: oversaturation of
the soil, causing leaching of nutrients. - Desertification: fertile land becoming dry and desert-like.
23
Q
How soil problems can be caused by agriculture
A
- wind erosion: Ploughing can cause fine soil to be exposed, which can be blown away.
- waterlogging: Too much irrigation, crops will not be able to grow as the plant ‘drowns’.
- Desertification: overgrazing or overcultivation
24
Q
Management of soil problems
A
Water:
- redirecting runoff using diversion channels/ terraces
Wind:
- trees to block wind
- altering soil composition
Structure:
- cover crops to protect soil
25
Food security
having accessible and affordable food that is safe and nutritious, so that people may live a healthy lifestyle.
26
Increasing access to ensure food security
- increasing a country’s access to foreign markets means they can import food
- Trading agreements such
as trade blocs
- aid and relief
27
Increasing amount to ensure food security
-technology
- Managing farms more
successfully through
training, farming equipment
28
Increasing efficiency to ensure food security
- increasing the efficiency of a farm can save time and food, meaning overall there is more food available and it may be more affordable as there are less expenditures.
- Equipment and better management can produce more crops in less time
29
Mortality rate definition
number of deaths over time, per unit of population - usually per 1000
30
What do mortality rates indicate about a region?
- socioeconomic status of a region.
- Crude death rates are highest in low-income regions
31
What is infant mortality and where is it highest?
- Infant mortality is the number of infants who die per 1000 births.
- Highest in Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan
- Typically lower in high-income, developed countries.
32
What do morbidity rates reveal about health?
- Morbidity rates reflect the incidence of disease.
- Non-communicable diseases (e.g., heart disease) are higher in HICs.
- Infectious diseases (e.g., malaria) are more common in LICs.
- Life expectancy is higher in HICs due to better health spending.
33
What is the Epidemiological Transition?
- The Epidemiological Transition explains how disease and mortality change as societies develop.
Stage 1: Infectious diseases (high mortality).
Stage 2: Declining infectious diseases due to medical advances.
Stage 3: Non-communicable diseases (e.g., heart disease) rise with lifestyle changes
34
How does the environment affect health?
- Climate influences disease prevalence (e.g., vector-borne diseases like malaria).
- Extreme weather events (e.g., floods, storms) increase waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera).
- Topography and latitude affect disease spread (e.g., waterborne diseases in low-lying areas).
35
What are vector-borne diseases
- Diseases transmitted by vectors (e.g., mosquitoes spreading malaria).
36
How does sunlight exposure impact health?
- Too little sunlight causes deficiencies (e.g., vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets).
- Too much sunlight can cause skin diseases, such as skin cancer (e.g., Australia has the highest rates due to intense UV exposure).
37
What impact does water quality have on health?
- Poor water quality leads to waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera).
- lack of access to clean water in LICs leads to high mortality rates from diseases like diarrhoea.
- Contamination from industrial pollutants and waste exacerbates health risks.
38
What are the effects of ambient and household air pollution?
- Ambient air pollution (e.g., from fossil fuels, industrial sites) leads to lung disease, heart attacks, and cancer.
- Household air pollution (e.g., burning fuels inside) causes respiratory issues, lung disease, and strokes, particularly in LICs.
39
What is the role of international agencies in global health?
International agencies work with governments, conduct research, spread awareness, and provide resources to achieve global health.
40
What does the World Health Organization (WHO) do?
WHO provides leadership, shapes the research agenda, and provides technical support to improve global health.
41
What is the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) focus?
works to prevent hunger, promote health, and develop strategies to mitigate disease through research.
42
What is Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)?
Doctors Without Borders, provides medical aid during crises and disasters, committed to neutrality and independence
42
What does the World Food Programme (WFP) do?
aims to eradicate hunger by providing food assistance during emergencies and promoting nutrition and resilience.
42
What is Oxfam's mission?
Oxfam works to eradicate poverty by providing essentials like clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, particularly during emergencies.
43
What is the Demographic Transition Model (DTM)?
The DTM shows how birth and death rates change over time, affecting population growth and development stages.
44
What happens in Stage 2 of the Demographic Transition Model?
death rates fall due to improvements in healthcare, leading to rapid population growth as birth rates remain high.
45
What characterizes Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model?
birth rates fall due to cultural and societal changes, such as women's rights, contraception, and changing family structures.
46
What is Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model?
low birth and death rates, leading to slow population growth in developed countries.
47
What is Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model?
a proposed stage, occurs when birth rates fall below death rates, leading to population decline (e.g., in Germany).
48
What is a dependency ratio?
the proportion of dependents (under 18 and over 65) to the working-age population.
49
What are the types of migration?
economic migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
50
What barriers influence migration?
physical (e.g., distance, transport) and socioeconomic factors (e.g., lack of resources, legal restrictions).
51
What are the societal impacts of migration on both the receiving and emigrating countries?
Receiving countries:
- multiculturalism
- workforce contributions
- but also overpopulation.
Emigrating countries:
- underpopulation
- loss of skilled workers
- dependency on remittances.
52
how does migration affect services, resources, and the workforce?
- Receiving countries may see relaxed pressure on services but face overpopulation. Migrants contribute to the workforce and taxes
- emigrating countries may struggle with a lack of workers and a ‘brain drain.’
53
What political and demographic impacts can migration have
- Migration can cause political disagreements in recieving countries.
- Demographically, migration can cause changes in age, sex composition, and may lead to overpopulation or underpopulation.
54
What is population ecology and how does it relate to migration?
Population ecology studies how the environment affects population factors. Overpopulation, optimum population, and underpopulation depend on the availability of resources. Migration impacts these populations and their resources.
55
What is carrying capacity
Carrying capacity is the maximum population an environment can support without degradation.
56
What is the Population, Resources, and Pollution (PRP) model?
shows the relationships between population growth, resource consumption, and pollution, highlighting feedback loops that can either promote or degrade sustainability.
57
What are the Malthusian and Boserup perspectives on population?
Malthus: argued that population grows exponentially while resources grow linearly, leading to shortages.
Boserup: believed that innovation and technology would always find ways to sustain a growing population.
58
What is thermal stress, and why is it a health risk due to climate change?
conditions like heat exhaustion caused by rising global temperatures. It poses a fatal risk, especially to the elderly.
59
How does climate change impact vector-borne diseases?
- alters weather patterns, increasing the distribution and activity seasons of vector-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease.
60
What is the projected global population by 2100?
- 11.2 billion by 2100
- lower fertility rates could cause it to stabilize at 8.7 billion by 2050 and decline afterward.
60
How will population distribution change by 2100?
- LICs will see the highest growth due to high birth rates.
- High-income countries’ populations are expected to stabilize.
- India will surpass China as the most populous country.
61
How will resource consumption change with population growth?
As populations grow and develop, resource consumption will increase, requiring a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy and technological advancements to sustain growth.
62
What are the key challenges of population-driven pollution?
- Pollution from CO2 emissions, methane, plastic waste, and landfill degrades the Earth. If unresolved, these issues will make it impossible to support future population growth sustainably.
63
What must be done to alter the population-environment relationship?
- Invest in renewable energy.
- Develop sustainable farming, recycling, and resource usage technologies.
- Adopt greener lifestyles to reduce pollution and sustain the Earth’s resources.
