Human-Environment Interactions Interactions between humans and the Earth’ environments ‘work both ways and can be beneficial or detrimental. The effects of natural processes on humans and the impacts of ‘humans on the environment have become topics of increasing concem. Certain environmental processes can be hazardous to human life and property, and certain ‘human activities threaten to cause major, and possibly lerevocable, damage to Earth environments. Environmental Hazards The environment becomes a hazard to people and other fiving things when, occasionally and often unpredictably, a natural process operates nan unusuallyintense or violent fashion, Molten rock and gases move upward toward the surface and suddenly trigger massive eruptions that can blow apart volcanic mountains, The powerful earthquake that hit Japan in 2011 and the massive tsunami wave it generated are examples ofthe potential for occurrences of natural processes to far exceed our expectable “norm,” often with devastating results. Rain showers may become torrential rains that occur for days or weeks and cause flooding. Some tropical storms gain strength and reach coastlines with great intensity, suchas Hurricane Katrinain 2005. In September 2008, after Hurricane ike became a powerfulstormin the Atlantic Ocean, itpassed over several islands in the Caribbean Sea, causing great damage, and ‘continued into the Gulf of Mexico. Moving northwest, Ike made landfall near Galveston, Texas,a coastal city thathad been rebuilt after being almost completely destroyed by a hurricane in 1900. Ike brought violent winds, high waves, and a massive 4.5 to 6.5-meter high (15-22 ft) surge of seawater that swept low-lying coastal areas for several Kilometers inland, When a natural process operates in an extraordinary {ashionitisa noteworthy environmental event, but tis not considered to be a natural hazard unless people or their properties are affected. Many natural hazards exstbecause people live where potentially catastrophic environmental events may occur. Neary every populatedareaof the world {s associated with a natural hazard or perhaps several hazards, Forested regions are subject to fire; earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activities plague mountain regions; violent storms threaten interior plains; and many coastal regions experience periodic hurricanes or severe winter storms, Human impacts Just as natural processes can pose a potential danger to ‘people, humans and their activities can constitutea serious thieat to the environment. Issues such as global warming, GEOGRAPHY’S ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE photo/Alexander Td Environmental hazardsatsunam's destructive force. This eral view shows the vitualy total devastation ofthe port town of Wakuya, Japan, after being battered by powerful tsunami waves that were generated by a massive earthquake Jn2011, The earthquake was among the largest ever recorded. acid precipitation, deforestation and the extinction of biological species, damage tothe atmospheric ozone layer, and desertification have been given high priority in the agendas at itemational conferences and when world leaders meet, Environmental concems are recurring subjects in the news, on television in books, and on the Internet. Much environmental damage has resulted from atmospheric pollution associated with industrialization, particularly in support of wealthy, developed nations. But a5 population pressures mount and developing nations struggle to industrialize, human activites are exacting an increasing toll on the air, water, soils, and forests. Environmental deterioration isa problem of worldwide concern and effective solutions must involve international cooperation. Examining environmental issues from a physical geographic perspective requires that characteristics ofthe environment and the humans involved in those issues be [GThe Environmental Perspective