anthropogenic
Meaning: Originating from human activity. Used primarily in environmental science to describe pollution, climate change, and other ecological impacts caused by people rather than natural processes.
Anthropogenic is the key adjective in climate science debates: the phrase 'anthropogenic climate change' asserts that global warming is driven by human activity — principally the burning of fossil fuels — rather than natural variability. The IPCC uses the term extensively in its assessment reports. Beyond climate, the word applies to any human-caused environmental alteration, from deforestation to ocean acidification. It collocates with 'emissions,' 'climate change,' 'warming,' 'pollution,' and 'impact.'
Examples
- The IPCC report concluded with high confidence that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are the dominant cause of observed warming since the mid-20th century. IPCC报告以高置信度得出结论,人为温室气体排放是20世纪中期以来观测到的变暖的主导原因。El informe del IPCC concluyó con alta confianza que las emisiones antropogénicas de gases de efecto invernadero son la causa dominante del calentamiento observado desde mediados del siglo XX.IPCC報告書は、人為的な温室効果ガス排出が20世紀半ば以降に観測された温暖化の支配的な原因であると高い確信度で結論づけました。IPCC 보고서는 인위적 온실가스 배출이 20세기 중반 이후 관측된 온난화의 지배적 원인이라고 높은 신뢰도로 결론지었습니다.
- Anthropogenic pollution from industrial discharge has severely degraded water quality in several British rivers. 工业排放造成的人为污染严重降低了英国数条河流的水质。La contaminación antropogénica procedente de vertidos industriales ha degradado gravemente la calidad del agua en varios ríos británicos.産業排出による人為的汚染がいくつかの英国の河川の水質を著しく悪化させています。산업 배출에 의한 인위적 오염이 영국 여러 하천의 수질을 심각하게 악화시켰습니다.
- The research distinguished between natural and anthropogenic sources of methane in the atmosphere. 该研究区分了大气中甲烷的自然来源和人为来源。La investigación distinguió entre las fuentes naturales y antropogénicas de metano en la atmósfera.この研究は大気中のメタンの自然由来と人為的由来を区別しました。이 연구는 대기 중 메탄의 자연적 발생원과 인위적 발생원을 구분했습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Greek anthrōpos (human being) and -genēs (born of, produced by). The compound gained widespread use in the late 20th century alongside growing environmental awareness.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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