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