Week 9 Land System Changes

Question 1

What are the main drivers/causes of land use change?

Answer 1

Industrialization of housings, agriculture, development, economy

agriculture has become the largest source of excess nitrogen and phosphorus to water ways and coastal zones.

Question 2

Identify the control variables and planetary boundaries for land system change.

Answer 2

Control Variables: Area of forested land as % of original forest cover (Global and Biome-specific).

Planetary Boundary: Global: 75%, Biome-specific: Tropical (85%), Temperate (50%), Boreal (85%).

Focus on Forest Change: Forests play a crucial role, and its depletion significantly impacts the Earth system.

Question 3

The importance of the amazon rainforest

Answer 3

1 in 10 species live in the Amazon

The Amazon rainforest performs 14% of all photosynthesis on Earth

supplies about 8% of the oxygen in the Earth system.

Question 4

What are the earth system effects of land use changes

Answer 4

1. changing the global carbon cycle and possibly the global climate
2. affect the regional climates through changes in surface energy and water balance
3. transformation of the hydrologic cycle
4. anthropogenic nutrient inputs to the biosphere from fertilizers and atmospheric pollutants
5. declines in biodiversity

Question 5

What is the land use dilemma?

Answer 5

The natural ecosystem has balanced other pressures, but less crop production

intensive cropland has too much crop production and less of all the other factors. crop land with restored system is all factors full