Hums exam

water pollution:

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater). This form of environmental degradation occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

is china really what it portreys?

harmonious--> promised the uyghurs liberation from the manchus and chinese nationalists so that they could live a happy and peaceful life under the chinese-->this never happend--> repressed by the chinese--> china saw 9/11 as a chance to justify a crackdown on the uyghurs--> labeled as terrorists --> even by the UN

literacy rates:

This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age.

what makes wellbeing?

human wellbeing is promoting healthier standers, this includes better education, curing diseases and encouraging mental stability. Access to education is seen as the key to improving wellbeing as it opens up many doors to better jobs, higher wages, this all adds up to a higher standard of living.

what is the link between china and india?

india and china are almost ballanced--> india could take over china--> india and china trade closely--> a trade route has opened up--> this gives china certain power over india --> tibet

what are some ecosystem decline causes?

land use changes, pollution, changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, changes in the nitrogen cycle and acid rain, climate alterations, and the introduction of exotic species, all coincident to human population growth.

what is the link between china and pakistan?

- china has been an ally to pakistan for 50 years - the KKH highway from pakistan to china encouraged economic and social progress --> chinese technology and clothes are brought from china to pakistan via the KKH --> china and pakistan are close ---> any issues in pakistan and china would come and help/solve--> KKH is the link between china and pakistan--> china provides alot for them--> they want buissness with china--> china needs gwardar port for trade--> needs pakistan

drinking water:

water pure enough for drinking.

what are the effects of water pollution?

-Death of aquatic (water) animals The main problem caused by water pollution is that it kills life that depends on these water bodies. Dead fish, crabs, birds and sea gulls, dolphins, and many other animals often wind up on beaches, killed by pollutants in their habitat (living environment). -Disruption of food-chains Pollution disrupts the natural food chain as well. Pollutants such as lead and cadmium are eaten by tiny animals. Later, these animals are consumed by fish and shellfish, and the food chain continues to be disrupted at all higher levels. -Diseases Eventually, humans are affected by this process as well. People can get diseases such as hepatitis by eating seafood that has been poisoned. In many poor nations, there is always outbreak of cholera and diseases as a result of poor drinking water treatment from contaminated waters. -Destruction of ecosystems Ecosystems (the interaction of living things in a place, depending on each other for life) can be severely changed or destroyed by water pollution. Many areas are now being affected by careless human pollution, and this pollution is coming back to hurt humans in many ways.

whats the link between china and afghanistan?

-afghanistan is reliant on opium production --> it also has a great amount of unused resources - untapped copper deposits- largest in the world--> china sees afganistan as an economic investment

whats the link between china, north korea and the us?

-china is happy having korea divided in two--> it leads to strustural weakness and inability for the koreans to stand up against the chinese nation--> china wants any country surrounding that is reasonbly powerful to be divided - US= north korea is a threat, hopes that china will take away said threat--> china wont = likes korea being divided in 2--> in ability to stand up to china if its divided --> very important card for the chinese goverment--> wants to keep it this way--> if united it will be too big and powerful for comfort.

developed country:

A developed country, industrialized country, or "more economically developed country" (MEDC), is a sovereign state that has a highly developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure relative to other less industrialized nations.

what is the difference between a developed and developing country?

A developed country, industrialized country, or "more economically developed country" (MEDC), is a sovereign state that has a highly developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure relative to other less industrialized nations. Most commonly, the criteria for evaluating the degree of economic development are gross domestic product (GDP), the per capita income, level of industrialization, amount of widespread infrastructure and general standard of living (Wiki) Developed countries have post-industrial economies, meaning the service sector provides more wealth than the industrial sector. They are contrasted with developing countries, which are in the process of industrialization, or undeveloped countries, which are pre-industrial and almost entirely agrarian. A developing country, also called a less-developed country, is a nation with a lower living standard, underdeveloped industrial base, and low Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries

developing country:

A developing country, also called a less developed country or underdeveloped country, is a nation with an underdeveloped industrial base, and a low Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries.

what is a population pyramid?

A population pyramid, also called an age pyramid or age picture diagram, is a graphical illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups in a population (typically that of a country or region of the world), which forms the shape of a pyramid when the population is growing.

what causes water pollution?

Around half of all ocean pollution is caused by sewage and waste water. Each year, the world generates perhaps 5-10 billion tons of industrial waste, much of which is pumped untreated into rivers, oceans, and other waterways.

whats hard power + example used by china:

Hard Power: Power exercised through coercion, or threatened acts of coercion, to influence the actions of other global actors. Most commonly exercised through military means. Effectiveness - Hard power has been effective for the CCP when they have needed to act swiftly to maintain territorial integrity. However, the use of hard power has had negative repercussions on China's national interests of creating a harmonious society and ensuring a 'peaceful rise'. Examples - - 1600+ missiles facing Taiwan off the Chinese mainland to deter the Taiwanese government from formally declaring independence. - China's launch of an aircraft carrier in 2012 to help solidify her territorial claims in the South China Sea and deter other states from further exploration in areas that China claims sovereignty over.

what are the impacts on the enviroment because of salinity?

However, for most plants, rising groundwater and increasing salinity have a negative impact on plant growth and seed germination. As soil salinity increases, plants find it increasingly difficult to extract water from the soil. High levels of salt can create an imbalance of plant nutrients in the soil and some salts are toxic to certain plants. Waterlogging causes poor soil aeration, starving plants of oxygen. The immediate effects of salinity on plants that are not adapted to salt include leaf drop, leaf burn, stunted growth, poor seed germination and tree death. But, salinity also affects the health of vegetation communities, as fewer young plants survive to adulthood to replace the previous generation. The composition of vegetation communities may also change as salt tolerant plants become dominant in salt affected areas. Scientists studying the Murray-Darling Basin (Metzeling et al 1995) found that many adult (fresh water) fish could tolerate up to 10g/L of salt, but it was not known if they would be able to produce healthy offspring, or if their young would survive. Increasing levels of river salinity can also affect vegetation growing along riverbanks. Riparian vegetation plays an important role in maintaining water quality by reducing surface run-off and stream bank erosion. Erosion can contribute sediment to rivers and streams, causing further decline in water quality. also effects the food chain within an aquatic ecosystem. Mammals, like the Australian platypus, might be able to tolerate higher levels of salinity, but their food supply, which includes freshwater invertebrates such as shrimp, worms, yabbies molluscs and insects, may be severely affected by increasing levels of salinity.

life expectancy:

In summarising mortality patterns, life expectancy is often expressed as the number of years of life a person born today is expected to live.

what are the impacts of soil degradation?

LOSS OF ARABLE LAND Arable land is any land that can be used to grow crops. Many of the practices used in growing those crops can lead to the loss of topsoil and destruction of soil characteristics that make agriculture possible. CLOGGED AND POLLUTED WATERWAYS Soil eroded from the land, along with pesticides and fertilizers applied to fields, washes into streams and waterways. This sedimentation and pollution can damage freshwater and marine habitats and the local communities that depend on them. INCREASED FLOODING Land is often transformed from a forest or other natural landscape, such as floodplains and wetlands, into a crop field or pasture. The converted land is less able to soak up water, making flooding more common. There are methods to improve soil water holding capacity as well as restoration and maintenance of wetlands.

what are the causes of soil degradation?

OVERGRAZING The conversion of natural ecosystems to pasture land doesn't damage the land initially as much as crop production, but this change in usage can lead to high rates of erosion and loss of topsoil and nutrients. Overgrazing can reduce ground cover, enabling erosion and compaction of the land by wind and rain.. This reduces the ability for plants to grow and water to penetrate, which harms soil microbes and results in serious erosion of the land. USE OF AGROCHEMICALS Pesticides and other chemicals used on crop plants have helped farmers to increase yields. Scientists have found that overuse of some of these chemicals changes soil composition and disrupts the balance of microorganisms in the soil. This stimulates the growth of harmful bacteria at the expense of beneficial kinds.

what are the effects of soil erosion?

Poor soil quality means smaller crop yields and may even wash away seeds and small plants. This may call for more of a need for artificial fertilizers and pesticides, which can runoff of fields and contaminate waterways. Also, when the organic matter that is found within the top layer of soil is removed, it can weaken the soil's ability to hold water, leaving the field susceptible to weather conditions such as droughts. The soil that is carried away has to go somewhere, and this leads to off-site problems. As mentioned, when soil is carried away from a farmer's field by water, it carries with it contaminants, such as fertilizers and pesticides. This runoff can cause water pollution that contaminates drinking water and disrupts ecosystems of lakes and wetlands. This negatively impacts the fish and wildlife that depend on these downstream waters for food and habitat. Sediments that accumulate down slope of the erosion can obstruct the flow of water in streams and drainage canals, leading to flooding. As we see, much of the effects of soil erosion are the result of water erosion. But wind erosion can also transport topsoil and weaken soil quality. Wind can also damage young seedlings by blasting them with sand and other small particles. Wind also distributes topsoil, which might uncover and expose some seedlings, while at the same time, burying other seedlings too deep. Also, when farmer's fields undergo excessive tillage, meaning that the field is worked too hard in preparation for planting, the soil structure can be lost, making it more susceptible to erosion.

what causes salinity?

Salinity is caused by the presence of a shallow watertable. If the groundwater is 2 metres deep or less for substantial periods of time, especially in summer, then salt dissolved in the soil water will diffuse to the soil surface. The growth and survival of agriculturally important plants can then become affected.

whats soft power + example used by china:

Soft Power: The ability to shape the actions of other global actors, most commonly exercised through diplomacy, culture, politics, and history, According to Joseph Nye, soft power is the 'ability to get what one wants by attraction and persuasion rather than coercion or payment'. Effectiveness - Soft power has been particularly effective for the CCP in working towards its objectives of creating a harmonious society and 'peaceful rise'. In contrast to hard power, its use does not have any significant negative impacts. Examples - Panda diplomacy - In 2012, China agreed to lend two pandas to Malaysia in order to encourage the continuation of strong diplomacy. Summit diplomacy - In recent years, the Chinese government has made a concerted effort to take part in high-profile meetings around the world to safeguard key national interests. Chinese leaders have referred to this as summit diplomacy. E.g. involvement in G20 to boost economic growth.

soil degradation:

Soil degradation is the decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agricultural, pastural, industrial or urban purposes. Soil degradation is a serious global environmental problem and may be exacerbated by climate change.

soil erosion:

Soil erosion by water, wind and tillage affects both agriculture and the natural environment. Soil erosion is defined as the dislodgement of soil particles and their removal from their original position. It is a natural process and has been fundamental in the shaping of the Australian landscape over geological timescales.

what are the causes of soil erosion?

Soil erosion occurs when natural forces, such as wind and water, act on the soil. Man can also cause soil erosion by such practices as tilling a farmer's field or the clearing of vegetation. Clearing vegetation removes the protection of plants and roots needed to lock soil in place. Basically, the more exposed or heavily tilled soil is, the more likely it is to erode during rain or windstorms.

fertility rates:

The TFR represents the average number of children a woman would potentially have, were she to fast-forward through all her childbearing years in a single year, under all the age-specific fertility rates for that year.

birth rate:

The birth rate (technically, births/population rate) is the total number of live births per 1,000 of a population in a year.

salinity:

The concentration of dissolved salt in a given volume of water

what some of the impacts of ecosystem decline?

The effects can be global or local, temporary or permanent, or short-lived (acute) or long-term (chronic). The most serious effects involve loss in production, changes in growth, development and/or behavior, altered diversity or community structure, changes in system processes (such as nutrient cycling), and losses of valuable species. These ecological losses in turn may be economically, aesthetically, or socially important.

Why are the effects of soil degradation?

The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. It has led to increased pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers, clogging these waterways and causing declines in fish and other species. And degraded lands are also often less able to hold onto water, which can worsen flooding. Sustainable land use can help to reduce the impacts of agriculture and livestock, preventing soil degradation and erosion and the loss of valuable land to desertification. The health of soil is a primary concern to farmers and the global community whose livelihoods depend on well managed agriculture that starts with the dirt beneath our feet.

GDP:

The gross domestic product (GDP) is one of the primary indicators used to gauge the health of a country's economy. It represents the total dollar value of all goods and services produced over a specific time period; you can think of it as the size of the economy.

what can you tell and what cant you tell from the data?

Wellbeing can be measured by someones access to things like health care, education, jobs and food. these factors can be used to determine the wellbeing of an individual. what you cant tell from this data is the level of happiness of the people--> they could be super poor but quite happy.

the march to tibet:

china has been doing bad things for a long time--> no counrty is willing to speak up due to the economic incentive--> the march to tibet--> on the request of china, deli had its own police inforce the wishes of the chinese gov--> by cracking down on the protest--> shows that china has power over another counrty--> can use any country to get what it wants

what makes a superpower?

economic might: economic wealth is a also a factor. Money allows these countries to stock their arsenals and train their people to improve their industries and strengthen their economies. The worlds wealthiest nations have the advantage of being able to influence other world leaders since they can use their economic advantage to affect the global economy. military resources: military might is often one of the first considerations when looking at the worlds superpowers. Countries like China are known for their military prowess and enjoy a distinct advantage over most of the worlds countries in times of war. human resources: human resources drive the economy. the worlds superpowers often have the best work forces that fuel the economy and give the counrty its economic advantage natural resources: natural resources can also be a factor is these contribute to the wealth of the counrty. Oil-rich countries are naturally wealthy and they can use their resources to control the actions of other countries that rely on their resources.

ecosystem decline:

refers to a situation where an ecosystem suffers a drastic, possibly permanent, reduction in carrying capacity for all organisms, often resulting in mass extinction.

qualitative:

relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity.

quantitative:

relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than its quality. "quantitative analysis"