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SCIENCE VISUAL RESOURCES ENVIRONMENT An Illustrated Guide to Science The Diagram Group Introduction Environment is one of eight volumes in the Science Visual Resources set. It contains seven sections, a comprehensive glossary, a Web site guide, and an index. Environment is a learning tool for students and teachers. Full-color diagrams, graphs, charts, and maps on every page illustrate the essential elements of the subject, while parallel text provides key definitions and step-by-step explanations. The human factor provides an overview of the impact of the human species on the environment. It examines the ways in which humanity has transformed the planet through the exploitation of its natural resources, the growth of the human population, and the general disposition of human societies around the globe. Food and water examines the state of the humanity’s agriculture and the security of its supply of safe fresh water. Issues such as pesticide resistance, sustainable development, and fertilizer use are outlined in this section. Land and habitat is concerned with the processes that are threatening the continued existence of some of Earth’s most valuable habitats. These processes include deforestation, desertification, wind and water erosion, and soil degradation. Land and sea pollution describes the forms of pollution that threaten the terrestrial and marine biospheres. It looks in detail at the problems of industrial and domestic waste disposal, sewage, and the accumulation of toxic substances in food chains. Air pollution describes the types of air pollution, their sources, and their influence on the environment. This section covers acid rain and greenhouse gases—two of the most significant threats to the environment. Nature under threat looks at the growing threat to biodiversity posed by human activities. This section lists the most endangered plant and animal species, estimates the number of species that have become extinct due to human activity, and details biosphere reserves and other protected areas. Environmental disasters describes events such as the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, the chemical release at Bhopal, and their lasting impact on humanity and the planet. Contents 1 THE HUMAN FACTOR 8 The environment 9 The human problem 10 Influences on the environment 11 Demands on the environment 12 World population growth: rate 13 World population growth: regions 14 World population growth: percentage 15 Demographic profiles: Africa 16 Demographic profiles: the Americas 17 Demographic profiles: Asia 18 Demographic profiles: Europe and Oceania 19 World fertility rates and trends 20 Population growth: cause and effect 21 Contraceptive use 22 World causes of death and disability 23 The spread of AIDS 24 Living with AIDS 25 Malaria and climate change 26 Urban and rural population growth 27 Urbanization of the world population 28 The megacities 29 Problems of the urban environment 30 Poverty in the developing world 31 World distribution of wealth 32 The fuelwood crisis 33 The freshwater crisis 34 Freshwater scarcity 35 Living space 36 Environmental effects of transportation 37 Automobiles by country 38 Automobile density 39 Sanitation 40 Wellbeing of nations: 1 41 Wellbeing of nations: 2 42 Global municipal waste 43 International aid 44 Official development assistance 45 Third World debt 46 Environmental refugees: Narmada Valley development, India 47 Environmental refugees: forced resettlement in Indonesia 48 Environmental refugees: famine, Horn of Africa 49 Environmental refugees: Central Africa 2 FOOD AND WATER 50 51 52 53 54 Food and water supply Origins of agriculture Food crops Origin of non-food crops Origin of livestock 55 56 57 58 Vavilov Centers of crop diversity Land productivity Land use