Textbook Question
Explain why the northern United States experiences a cold season in winter and a warm season in summer.
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The Human Footprint
Chapter 17, Problem 3
An ecological footprint . a. is the position an individual holds in the ecological food chain; b. estimates the total land area required to support a particular person or human population; c. is equal to the size of a human population; d. helps determine the most appropriate wastewater treatment plan for a community; e. is often smaller than the actual land footprint of residences in a city
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the correct definition of an ecological footprint from the options provided.
Understand that an ecological footprint is a measure that reflects the environmental impact of an individual or a population.
Recognize that the ecological footprint includes various factors such as the land needed for housing, energy consumption, waste production, and resources needed for food and goods.
Consider that the ecological footprint is a way to estimate how much of the Earth's resources are used by an individual or a population, and it is not directly related to positions in the food chain, population size, or specific community plans like wastewater treatment.
Conclude that the correct answer must relate to the total land and resource use required to support a person or population, rather than other unrelated aspects.
Verified Solution
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Ecological Footprint
The ecological footprint measures the environmental impact of an individual or population, quantifying the amount of land and water area required to produce the resources consumed and absorb the waste generated. It reflects the sustainability of lifestyles and consumption patterns, indicating whether a population lives within the planet's ecological capacity.
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06:50
Ecology
Sustainability
Sustainability refers to the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It encompasses environmental, social, and economic dimensions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining ecological balance while promoting human well-being and resource equity.
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05:06Biodiversity and Sustainability
Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the ecosystem. It is influenced by resource availability, environmental conditions, and human activities, and understanding it is crucial for managing populations and ensuring sustainable development.
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06:24Estimating Earth’s Human Carrying Capacity
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Add labels to the figure that follows, which illustrates how various factors influence local climate.
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Textbook Question
Areas of low solar irradiation are .
a. closer to the equator than to the poles;
b. closer to the poles than the equator;
c. at high altitudes;
d. close to large bodies of water;
e. more than one of the above is correct
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Textbook Question
The solar equator, the region of Earth where the sun is directly overhead, moves from 23.5°N to 23.5°S latitudes and back over the course of a year. Why?
a. Earth wobbles on its axis during the year;
b. The position of the poles changes by this amount annually;
c. Earth's axis is 23.5° from perpendicular to the rays of the sun;
d. Earth moves 23.5° toward the sun in summer and 23.5° away from the sun in winter;
e. Ocean currents carry heat from the tropical ocean north in summer and south in winter
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Textbook Question
Which of the following biomes is most common on Earth's land surface?
a. chaparral;
b. desert;
c. temperate forest;
d. tundra;
e. boreal forest
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