Geog Flashcards
What are two processes of land cover change
Deforestation
Irrigation
Explain how deforestation is a process of land cover change
Deforestation is the clearing of forests for agriculture and urban development and can cause land cover change through fires, clear-cutting for agriculture, logging for timber and degradation from climate change.
Occurs heavily in brazil, has highest level of deforestation as around 17% of amazon has been deforested in last 50 years, greatly changing the land
Explain how irrigation is a process of land cover change
Irrigation is the artificial method of watering plants for agriculture and can change land cover change through diverting water from streams, flooding areas like rice paddies, or use of sprinklers.
Areas of high irrigation can be found along Nile River in Egypt and Sudan + Murray-Darling River basin in Australia.
Explain the implication of anthropogenic biomes on ecological balance in ecosystems
Anthropogenic biomes impact the ecological balance that existed prior to human altercation
Flow of energy through food chains is greatly altered as habitats are changed or removed, resulting in individual species numbers changing
The increase/decrease of a species in a chain impacts the other species below or above it in the food chain
Species at top of food chain are most at risk
Plant eating animals –> Panda Bears have been affected by anthropogenic biomes due to habitat destruction limiting their food supply (bamboo)
What are two impacts of land cover change on local/regional environments
Changes to the water cycle
Urban heat islands
Explain how changes to the water cycle impacts local/regional environments
Creation of dams increases amount of evaporation and filtration in that area as is an increase in surface area of body of water
Deforestation reduces evapotranspiration by plants –> raises water table as less plants using its water
Irrigation depletes water tables and rivers and can cause nutrient run off from agriculture areas due to use of fertilizer –> can lead to eutrophication of waterways where algae grows –> depriving water/organisms of oxygen
Pollutants can cause change in nature of precipitation
–> e.g. changes in water cycle has led to acid rain in places like China, due to high levels of sulphuric acid
Explain how urban heat islands impacts local/regional environments
Urban heat islands = caused by removal of natural surfaces (which absorb and use great level of heat) and the establishment of a built environment (which use non-reflective and water resistant materials that will radiate more heat)
The materials used in built environment causes built environment to radiate more heat than previous natural environment
In Perth, suburbs are reported to be 6 degrees hotter than surrounding areas
Describe the impact of indigenous peoples’ land management on land cover over time
firestick farming (burning land cover with fire)
Promoted plant growth
Over time converted dense forest areas into more medium scrublands and grasslands.
Native plant species adapted to help survive low intensity fires
Explain the implication of anthropogenic biomes to the functioning of world’s ecosystems
Creation and expansion of anthropogenic biomes + population growth + rapid urbanisation put pressure on terrestrial ecosystems
World’s ecosystems been impacted by humans through habitat loss, extinction of species and climate change
Standard of living increased due to modification of ecosystems which results in its eventual breakdown
Explain impact of population growth on land cover change
World population = 7.6 billion
Growth rate = 1.1%
As population grows, so does need for resources and food –> people forced to expand agricultural land in order to feed growing population
Large scale clearance of land leads to habitat destruction
Explain impact of growing affluence on land cover change
Affluence = having abundant supply of money, goods and wealth
Societies with growing affluence have bigger impact on environment as they have resources to do so
More affluent countries have higher demand for food and consumer products which leads to expansion and intensification of agriculture
Explain impact of advances in technology on land cover change
Technology can affect land cover through machinery like forest clearing machinery, also opens previously inaccessible resources and can lead to their exploitation and degradation.
