Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature: "anthropogenic" describes environmental changes, processes, or phenomena that are caused or significantly influenced by human activity.
   • Pertaining to human origins: In a more specialized context, it can relate to the study of the origins and development of human beings.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 is largely an anthropogenic phenomenon. (The rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 is largely a human-caused phenomenon.)
  • Scientists are studying the anthropogenic impacts on the local ecosystem. (Scientists are studying the human-caused impacts on the local ecosystem.)
  • The debate focuses on natural versus anthropogenic causes of climate change. (The debate focuses on natural versus human-caused reasons for climate change.)

Advanced Usage

• "anthropogenic forcing": In climate science, this refers to human-induced perturbations to the Earth's energy balance.
  • Models attempt to quantify anthropogenic forcing from greenhouse gas emissions.
• "anthropogenic biome": Also known as "anthrome," this describes ecological regions shaped by sustained human interaction.
  • Agricultural land is a classic example of an anthropogenic biome.

Variants and Related Words

• Anthropogenically (adverb): In a way that is caused by humans.
  • The landscape was anthropogenically modified.
• Anthropogenesis (noun): The study of or the process of human origins and development.

Synonyms

• Human-caused
• Human-induced
• Man-made (though this is broader and can refer to objects, not just influences)

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Anthropogenic climate change: Climate change attributed directly to human activity.
  • The evidence for anthropogenic climate change is overwhelming.
• Anthropogenic emissions: Emissions produced by human activities.
  • Regulations aim to reduce anthropogenic emissions from industry.

Adjective

1. of or relating to the study of the origins and development of human beings