the layer of gases that surrounds Earth. It includes the oxygen we need to breathe, so it is essential for life on Earth

includes all the water on Earth, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, groundwater, and water vapour in the atmosphere

the solid parts of Earth, including the crust, mantle, and core, as well as rocks, soil, mountains, and other landforms

life on Earth, encompassing all living organisms (plants, animals, bacteria, etc.) and the ecosystems they form

proposed geological epoch that marks when human activity has had a significant impact on Earth

An introduction to the Anthropocene

Geography

Evidence of the Anthropocene

The human impact on ecosystems

The impact of consumption

Plastic pollution

Threats to oceans

Fieldwork: Planning an air pollution enquiry and collecting data

Fieldwork: Presenting air pollution data

Fieldwork: Analysing, concluding and evaluating air pollution data

Phasing out fossil fuels

Alternative energy supplies

Global governance

Our future climate

Sustainability: A new way of living

This unit teaches pupils about how humans have affected our world by looking at environmental issues such as plastic pollution and the impact of fossil fuel use. The unit leads pupils to question whether we are in a new geological epoch.

Anthropocene: What is the impact of humans on the world?

the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at a given time, measured in parts per million (ppm)

long cylinders of ice drilled from glaciers or ice sheets

the variety of living things in an ecosystem or area

something found in layers of Earth (like rock, ice, or mud) that shows a big change in the planet's history

the physical material at the surface of Earth

plants, animals, or other organisms that are brought into a new environment, usually by humans, where they don't naturally belong

all the living things in an ecosystem or area

a natural environment where the plants and animals interact within it

when people use more resources than Earth can replace

the mass production and sale of cheaply made clothing that is not worn often and is quickly replaced

the exchange of goods, money and services between countries

resources that come from Earth without human influence and can be used for human needs

material or substance that can break down naturally over time by the action of bacteria, fungi or other living organisms

tiny pieces of plastic, usually smaller than five millimetres, that either come from the breakdown of larger plastic items or are made that size

a large area of the ocean where plastic and other waste collects, trapped by circular ocean currents

continuous movements of seawater in the ocean

catching too many fish, so the breeding population becomes too depleted to recover

a sequence that shows how a group of living things are linked by what they eat

when the ocean becomes more acidic because it absorbs too much CO₂ from the air

tiny particles held in the air such as dust, ash and soot

data that is collected by geographers themselves in the field

data that has been collected by someone else but not necessarily an expert in that topic area

a form of shading that uses one colour where the greatest density of something is shown by the darkest shade of that colour

using colour conventions in data presentation to represent certain ideas

a statistical test that shows the strength of any correlation between two variables

enquiries that focus on a small area such as a street or a park

enquiries that focus on a large area such as a city or a whole country

natural substances that were formed over millions of years ago from the buried remains of ancient organisms. They include coal, oil and gas

energy sources, such as fossil fuels, that cannot be replaced and will eventually run out

sources of energy that can be reused and will not be used up or run out

reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) released into the atmosphere from processes such as burning fossil fuels

sources of energy that can be reused and will not run out

is the energy from inside atoms which can be used to generate electricity

global deal made in 2015 where nearly every country agreed to work together to limit global warming

taking action to reduce or prevent the effects of something

a person who belongs to a country and has rights and responsibilities there

steps taken by people, governments, and organisations to reduce climate change and its effects

(non-governmental organisation) is a group that works independently from governments to help with social or environmental issues

a computer program that uses maths and science to predict how Earth’s climate might change in the future

a severe weather event or any weather significantly different from the average

when people have regular access to enough safe, nutritious food to live healthy lives

moving from one place to another with the intention of staying there

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own need

a measure of the distance between where a food is grown or made to where it is eaten

the shared use of vehicles such as trains, buses, trams and planes on routes where people pay fares

food that is grown and harvested at a specific time of year when it is naturally ripe and ready for consumption

Anthropocene: What is the impact of humans on the world?

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