Human Effect: Land Use
Urbanization• Physical growth of urban areas as result of rural
migration
• Currently more people living in urban areas than rural areas (first time in history)
Urbanization
Environmental Effects• Heat Islands – solar radiation reflected by
buildings, asphalt, etc• Makes location hotter than surrounding areas• Extra solar radiation not being used (plants,
water, etc)
Urbanization
Environmental Effects• More people = more waste/trash• Less plant life to clean air (increase air
pollution)• Acid rain – Decrease in pH of rain due to
pollution
Urbanization
Environmental Effects• Increase of impermeable surfaces• Water and other materials cannot pass
through• Leads to increased run off and flooding
Deforestation
The removal of forests (rain, deciduous, etc.)• Less C pulled from atmosphere• Less oxygen produced• Increase water runoff!!• Decrease in biological diversity• Bio-diversity down 30% in past 40 years
Deforestation
Agriculture
Growing resources on land• Increase population = increase agriculture• Depletion of water (ground/surface)• Salinization – build up of salts in soil; becomes
useless to plants
Effects on ShorelinesIncreased population = increased development• Decrease vegetation = decrease stability• Human activity/recreation increases erosion
(wind/water/etc)• Dunes/barriers to help
Effects on Mountainsides• Increase development = decrease in
vegetation → increase in erosion• Decrease in stability• (rockfalls, rockslides, mudslides, mudflows)
Effects on Mountainsides
• Efforts to stabilize slopes• Retaining walls/barriers
• Vegetation
• Rocks
