Processes Of Land Cover Change

Question 1

1. Growth of urban settlement and urbanisation

Answer 1

• proportion of people living in urban areas, will see more of the worlds people living in cities or metropolitan areas surrounding cities
• although urban area only covers 3% of worlds land area they contain more than 50% of the worlds population
• scientists say urban areas can affect climate because, change in colour and smoothness of land surfaces affects the heat budget and water cycle

Question 2

2. Deforestation

Answer 2

• removal or clears of forests generally for urban or agricultural development
• different types include, forest fires, clear cutting for agriculture, logging for timber, degradation from climate change
• Brazil has highest level of deforestation with 17% of Amazon rainforest already being deforested

Question 3

3. Land reclamation

Answer 3

• humans have history of adapting the land to their needs, can be seen through reclamation of land
• where land is gained or created, from the sea, wetlands or river beds
• cities of Singapore, Tokyo have large tracts of reclaimed land, used predominantly for industrial and port facilities

Question 4

Expansion and intensification of agriculture

Answer 4

• increase in Availability of land which can be used for agricultural activities
• often involves deforestation of forest ecosystems or other vulnerable land being cleared
• very little undeveloped farm land left, much of remaining land is desert, ice, or forest
• countries that are continuing to expand their agriculture is Argentina with their soy production and Indonesia with their palm oil

Question 5

Industry and mining

Answer 5

• mining is an important industry in many parts of Australia
• in 2014 Australian exports of minerals and energy was valued at 195 billion and is an essential element to the Australian economy
• large tracts of land have been cleared for mines to be established and once they are finished there is no way of rehabilitating the land