Module 3: Anthropogenic Impact to the Environment

Introduction

Our planet Earth is amazing! It's the only place we know of where we can live. But as humans
have grown and developed, we've changed our environment a lot. We want to be comfortable
and have nice things, but this has a big impact on the Earth.

We humans have become a major force, changing the planet just like natural forces do. We use
so many resources that we're affecting the Earth's air, water, and everything living on it. Think
about it: will we still have clean air, fresh water, and healthy land in the future? As people who live
on this planet, we have a responsibility to take care of it.

In this module, we'll learn about how our actions are affecting the Earth. We'll look at things like
pollution, damage to the land, loss of animals and plants, and global warming. And most
importantly, we'll talk about what we can do to help solve these problems.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain what the "Anthropocene" is.

2. Explain what "ecological footprints" are and how they affect our resources.
3. Describe how humans impact the environment through pollution, land damage, loss of
animals and plants, global warming, and effects on our health.
4. Become more aware of how our actions affect the Earth.

Lesson 1: The Geological Time Scale, Anthropocene, and Ecological

Footprints
Introduction

Humans have changed the Earth in big ways. We've had such a huge impact that it will likely
affect the planet forever. Think about climate change, pollution, plastic in the oceans, animals
disappearing, and more. These changes have happened really fast, especially in the last 60 years.

Scientists study rocks to learn about the Earth's history. They divide this history into different time
periods. Right now, we're in a period called the ___________________. But many scientists
believe we've entered a new period called the Anthropocene.

Geological Time Scale

1. ___________________- Eons are the largest divisions of geological time, spanning hundreds
of millions to billions of years.

There are four eons – Hadean Eon, Archean Eon, Proterozoic Eon, Phanerozoic Eon

2. ___________________ - Eras are subdivisions of eons, representing major changes in the

types of fossils found in rock layers.

The Phanerozoic Eon is divided into three eras – Paleozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Cenozoic Era

3. ___________________ - Periods are subdivisions of eras, defined by more specific fossil

assemblages and geological events.

For example:

Mesozoic Era is divided into: Triassic Period, Jurassic Period, Cretaceous Period

Cenozoic Era is divided into the Paleogene and Neogene periods, and then the Quaternary
period.

4. ___________________ - Epochs are subdivisions of periods, characterized by even finer

details in the fossil record and geological changes.

The Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic Era is divided into:

• Pleistocene Epoch
• Holocene Epoch
• Some scientists argue that we are now in the Anthropocene Epoch.
The Paleogene period is divided into Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs.

The Neogene period is divided into Miocene, and Pliocene epochs

5. ___________________- Ages are the smallest subdivisions of geological time, used for very
detailed stratigraphic analysis. They are defined by specific fossil zones or other stratigraphic
markers. Ages are very regionally specific, and because of that, are not as commonly used in
general discussions of the geological time scale.

___________________ is the study of layered rocks (strata), including their composition,

sequence, and relationships. It aims to interpret the history and processes that formed these
layers. It primarily deals with sedimentary rocks, as they form in layers over time, but it also
considers layered volcanic rocks and other stratified materials.

1. ___________________
(4540 - 4000 Million Years Ago - MYA)

"Formation of the Earth" - This eon marks the very beginning of our planet. The Earth was formed
from the solar nebula, a swirling cloud of gas and dust left over from the Sun's formation.

Extremely hostile environment - The early Earth was incredibly hot, with frequent volcanic activity,
asteroid impacts, and no stable crust or oceans.
No life - The conditions were too extreme for any life to exist.

2. ___________________
(4000 - 2500 MYA)

"Earth's crust had cooled enough to allow the formation of continents and life started to form" -
The Earth began to cool, allowing the formation of a solid crust and the first oceans.

First life - Simple, single-celled organisms, like bacteria and algae, appeared. These were likely
anaerobic, meaning they didn't need oxygen to survive.

Atmosphere - The atmosphere was very different from today's, lacking free oxygen.

3. ___________________
(2500 - 541 MYA)

"Bacteria, Algae, Jellyfish" - This eon saw the rise of more complex single-celled organisms and
the first multicellular life, including early forms of algae and soft-bodied animals like jellyfish.

Great Oxidation Event - Cyanobacteria, a type of bacteria, began producing oxygen through
photosynthesis, gradually changing the atmosphere.

First continents: Larger continental landmasses began to form.

4. ___________________
(541 MYA - Present)

This eon is characterized by the abundance of macroscopic fossils (visible to the naked eye) and
is divided into three eras - Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.

Paleozoic Era (541 - 252 MYA)

• Cambrian Period (541 - 485 MYA): "Invertebrate animals, Brachiopods, Trilobites." The
"Cambrian Explosion" occurred, a rapid diversification of life forms, including many
invertebrates like trilobites and brachiopods.
• Ordovician Period (485 - 443 MYA): "Early Bony Fish." First fish with jaws evolved.
• Silurian Period (443 - 416 MYA): "Earliest Land Animals." The first land plants and animals
(like arthropods) appeared.
• Devonian Period (416 - 359 MYA): "First Seed Plants, Cartilage Fish." The "Age of Fishes,"
with diverse fish species. First amphibians evolved.
• Mississippian Period (359 - 323 MYA): "Many Crinoids." Carboniferous period with
abundant crinoids (sea lilies).
• Pennsylvanian Period (323 - 299 MYA): "First Insects." Large insects evolved, and coal-
forming swamps were widespread.
• Permian Period (299 - 252 MYA): "First Reptiles." Reptiles diversified.

Permian-Triassic Extinction (252 MYA): "Death Rate 95%." The largest mass extinction in Earth's
history, wiping out about 95% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species.

Mesozoic Era (252 - 66 MYA)

• Triassic Period (252 - 201 MYA): "Cycads, First Dinosaurs." First dinosaurs evolved.
• Jurassic Period (201 - 145 MYA): "First Birds." Dinosaurs dominated, and the first birds
appeared.
• Cretaceous Period (145 - 66 MYA): "Modern seed bearing plants, Dinosaurs." Flowering
plants evolved, and dinosaurs reached their peak.

Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction (66 MYA): "Death Rate 80%." A mass extinction event, likely
caused by an asteroid impact, wiped out the dinosaurs and many other species.

___________________ (66 MYA - Present)

• Paleogene Period (66 - 23 MYA): "Rise of Mammals." Mammals diversified and became
the dominant land animals.
 • Neogene Period (23 - 2.6 MYA): Continued mammalian diversification, including the
evolution of primates.
• __________________________ (2.6 MYA - Present): "Rise of Man." The Pleistocene
epoch saw the ice ages and the evolution of humans.
o ___________________ (11,700 years ago - Present): The current interglacial
period, marked by the development of human civilization.
o Proposed Anthropocene Epoch: Some scientists argue that we have entered
a new epoch, the Anthropocene, where human activity is the dominant
influence on the planet's environment.

What is the Anthropocene?

The Anthropocene is a new, unofficial time period. It's used to describe the time when humans
started having a big impact on the Earth's climate and ecosystems.

"Anthropocene" comes from Greek words meaning "___________________" and

"___________________."

Scientists like ___________________ and ___________________ helped make this idea

popular.

We haven't officially changed the geologic timescale yet, but the idea is becoming widely
accepted.

Here's how humans are changing the Earth:

Animals and Plants - Many animals and plants are becoming extinct much faster than normal.

Climate Change - We're putting a lot of carbon dioxide into the air, causing the Earth to warm up.

Plastic Pollution - We're filling our oceans with plastic, which will leave traces for future
generations.

Soil Changes - We're using a lot of fertilizers, which changes the soil.

Air Pollution - We're leaving behind particles from burning fossil fuels in the air and ice.

Anthropocene vs Anthropology

Anthropocene Anthropology
Definition The Anthropocene is a Anthropology is the study of
proposed geological epoch humans, their societies, and
characterized by significant their cultures, both past and
human impact on Earth's present.
geological and ecological
systems. It encompasses a broad
range of subfields, including
It signifies a period where archaeology, cultural
human activities have anthropology, linguistic
become a dominant force anthropology, and physical
shaping the planet. anthropology.

Key Aspects Focuses on planetary-scale Examines the human

changes: climate change, experience in its entirety,
biodiversity loss, pollution. including cultural, social, and
biological dimensions.
Primarily a concept within
Earth system science, Provides critical perspectives
geology, and environmental on the human role in shaping
studies. the environment.

Ecological Footprints

Introduction
Everything we use comes from the Earth. Some people use more resources than others. People
in richer countries tend to use more than people in poorer countries.

Making the things we use can cause pollution.

An ___________________ represents the total impact of the population on the environment. It

quantifies the demand for natural resources needed to sustain a particular lifestyle or level of
[Link] includes the resources required for food production, energy consumption,
housing, transportation, and waste disposal.

Ecological footprint is measured in ___________________. One global hectare represents a

biologically productive hectare with world average productivity. It's often used in conjunction with
___________________, which measures a region's ability to produce renewable resources and
absorb waste.

The difference between biocapacity and ecological footprint determines a country's

___________________ (positive, sustainable) or ___________________ (negative,
unsustainable).

___________________

This measures the demand that human activities place on the Earth's ecosystems. It quantifies
the amount of biologically productive land and water area required to produce the resources a
population consumes and to absorb its waste.

___________________

This represents the Earth's capacity to produce biological materials used by people and to absorb
waste generated by humans, under current management and production technologies. It's
essentially the Earth's ability to regenerate resources.

• An ecological reserve occurs when a • An ecological deficit occurs when a

region's or country's biocapacity exceeds region's or country's ecological footprint
its ecological footprint. exceeds its biocapacity.
• In simpler terms, it means that the area has • This signifies that the population is
more than enough biologically productive demanding more resources and
land and water to supply the resources its generating more waste than the local
population consumes and to absorb its ecosystem can handle.
waste. • Countries with an ecological deficit are
• A country with an ecological reserve is essentially "overspending" their natural
essentially living within its ecological capital.
means. • To compensate for this deficit, they may
• This indicates a more sustainable rely on:
situation, where resource consumption is o Importing resources from other
in balance with the Earth's regenerative regions.
capacity. o Depleting their own natural
resources at an unsustainable
rate.
• It is important to understand that on a
global scale, we cannot import resources
from other planets. Therefore, a global
ecological deficit, is called
___________________.

Countries with the Largest Ecological Footprints (2024):

• ___________________: 5.1 billion hectares (This reflects its large population and growing
economy)
• ___________________: 2.6 billion hectares (High consumption patterns contribute to
this)
• ___________________: 1.5 billion hectares (Also driven by a large population)

Countries with the Smallest Ecological Footprints (per capita):

• ___________________: 0.5 global hectares per citizen

• ___________________: 0.5 global hectares per citizen