Natural environment: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Milton Beychok (Added a photo) |
imported>Milton Beychok m (Test) |
||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | {{subpages}} | ||
{{Image|Devils Punchbowl, New Zealand.jpg|right| | {{Image|Devils Punchbowl, New Zealand.jpg|right|250px|Devils Punchbowl, New Zealand}} | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
* Complete [[ecological]] units that function as natural systems without massive [[human]] intervention, including all [[vegetation]], [[animal]]s, [[microorganisms]], [[soil]], [[Rock (geology)|rocks]], [[atmosphere]] and [[natural phenomenon|natural phenomena]] that occur within their boundaries. | * Complete [[ecological]] units that function as natural systems without massive [[human]] intervention, including all [[vegetation]], [[animal]]s, [[microorganisms]], [[soil]], [[Rock (geology)|rocks]], [[atmosphere]] and [[natural phenomenon|natural phenomena]] that occur within their boundaries. | ||
* [[Natural resource]]s and [[Physical phenomenon|physical phenomena]] that do not originate from human activity and lack clear-cut boundaries, such as [[air]], [[water]], and [[climate]]. | * [[Natural resource]]s and [[Physical phenomenon|physical phenomena]] that do not originate from human activity and lack clear-cut boundaries, such as [[air]], [[water]], and [[climate]]. | ||
The natural environment is contrasted with the [[built environment]], which comprises the areas of Earth that are strongly influenced by humans. | The natural environment is contrasted with the [[built environment]], which comprises the areas of Earth that are strongly influenced by humans. | ||
Latest revision as of 15:03, 1 May 2011
The natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, is a term that encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region of Earth.
Terminology and concept
The concept of the natural environment can be broken down into a few key components:
- Complete ecological units that function as natural systems without massive human intervention, including all vegetation, animals, microorganisms, soil, rocks, atmosphere and natural phenomena that occur within their boundaries.
- Natural resources and physical phenomena that do not originate from human activity and lack clear-cut boundaries, such as air, water, and climate.
The natural environment is contrasted with the built environment, which comprises the areas of Earth that are strongly influenced by humans.