Human Agency in Geomorphology Flashcards
is the study of Earth’s surface features and the processes that shape them. While natural forces like wind, water, and tectonics play a role, humans have become a major agent of geomorphic change.
Geomorphology
Refers to how human activities—such as agriculture, mining, and urbanization—modify landforms and accelerate geomorphic processes. Human agency in geomorphology refers to the ways humans influence and modify landforms through activities.
Human Agency in Geomorphology
Weathering, erosion, sediment deposition, and plate tectonics shape the land over thousands to millions of years.
Natural Processes
Originate from within the Earth.
Endogenic (Internal) Processes
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain formation caused by plate movements.
Tectonic Activity
The rise or fall of Earth’s crust due to changes in weight (e.g., after glacial melting).
Isostatic Adjustments
Driven by external forces like weather and water
Exogenic (External) Processes
– Breakdown of rocks due to physical (temperature changes), chemical (acid rain), or biological (plant roots) factors.
Weathering
– Transport of sediments by wind, water, glaciers, and gravity (e.g., river valleys, sand dunes).
Erosion & Deposition
– Movement of soil and rock downslope due to gravity (e.g., landslides, rockfalls).
Mass Wasting
These are landscape changes caused by human activities, either intentionally or as a side effect. Accelerate or modify natural geomorphic changes, often within decades..
Human-Induced Processes
Clearing forests and plowing land can accelerate soil erosion and alter river courses.
Deforestation & Agriculture
compacts the soil, reducing water absorption.
Overgrazing by livestock
Clearing forests and plowing land can accelerate soil erosion and alter river courses.
Deforestation & Agriculture
compacts the soil, reducing water absorption.
Overgrazing by livestock
increase erosion.
Tillage and monoculture farming
– Building roads, cities, and dams reshapes the natural landscape by redirecting water flow and modifying terrain.
Urbanization & Construction
– Extracting minerals and rocks can lead to drastic changes in landforms, creating artificial hills, pits, or even sinkholes Impact on landforms:
Mining & Quarrying
– Humans build dams, levees, and seawalls, changing the natural behavior of rivers and coastlines. Dams disrupt sediment transport, leading to erosion downstream. Changes in water flow can cause flooding and displacement of communities.
Dams, River & Coastal Engineering
– Human-induced climate change affects geomorphology by intensifying natural processes like desertification, glacial melting, and rising sea levels.
Climate Change Effects
refer to landform-related dangers that arise due to human-induced changes in the Earth’s surface. Unlike natural hazards, these are often accelerated or worsened by human actions, leading to long-term environmental and social consequences.
Geomorphic Hazards Caused by Human Activities
Triggered by deforestation and road construction.
Landslides
Overgrazing and deforestation cause soil degradation.
Desertification
Poor urban drainage and deforestation increase risks.
Flooding
