Human impact on the environment

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/human-impact-on-the-environment

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific term for human influence?Anthropogenic environmental impact
2. What is the proposed geological epoch?The Anthropocene, marked by significant human alteration of Earth's systems
3. What is the Anthropocene?The Anthropocene is a term that describes a new geological era where human activities have become a major force shaping Earth’s environment, similar to big natural events like ice ages or volcanic eruptions.
4. How did the Industrial Revolution change the Earth?During the Industrial Revolution, steam engines and the use of coal and oil powered factories and transportation, which increased pollution, used up natural resources faster, and destroyed habitats.

Anthropocene: A proposed geological epoch characterized by the significant impact of human activities on Earth's geology and ecosystems.
Ocean Acidification: The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Biodiversity Loss: The decline in the number and variety of species within a given ecosystem or on Earth as a whole.
Ecological Collapse: A situation where an ecosystem can no longer support the life it once did due to severe degradation.