Coupled human-environment system

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Much as space and time came to be linked a century ago, so today’s scientists are exploring a variety of ways in which Earth and its humans are linked. Many scientists now speak of "coupled human-environment systems," or "coupled human-natural systems."

In other words, scientists are beginning to understand how the natural objects and processes around us on Earth -- plus human society -- are linked and always have been.

The profound connection between humans and the Earth is an active area of scientific study. For example, in 2007, it is a priority of the National Science Foundation to fund research on “coupled natural and human systems,” within its program called Biocomplexity in the Environment.

[edit] Bibliography

  • W.C. Clark, B. L. Turner, R. W. Kates, J. Richards, J. T. Mathews, and W. Meyer, eds. The Earth as Transformed by Human Action. (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1990).
  • "Illustrating the coupled human-environment system for vulnerability analysis: three case studies." B.L. Turner II, Pamela A. Matson, James J. McCarthy, Robert W. Corell, Lindsey Christensen, Noelle Eckley, Grete K. Hovelsrud-Broda, Jeanne X. Kasperson, Roger E. Kasperson, Amy Luers, Marybeth L. Martello, Svein Mathiesen, Rosamond L. Naylor, Colin Polsky, Alexander Pulsipher, Andrew Schiller, Henrik Selin, Nicholas Tyler. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 100, 14, page(s) 8080-8085, July 8, 2003).
  • Eric Sheppard and Robert B. McMaster, eds. Scale and Geographic Inquiry: Nature, Society, and Method (see especially "Crossing the Divide: Linking Global and Local Scales in Human-Environment Systems" by William E. Easterling and Colin Polsky) (Blackwell Publishing, January 1, 2004)

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