Human Impact on the Lithosphere

What is urbanization?

• when cities can't get enough water
• movement of population from rural areas to cities
• cities are often warmer than surrounding areas
• when topsoil is eroded away and nothing will grow

What is deforestation?

• throwing someone out of a window
• selectively cutting trees for lumber, making sure the forest remains healthy
• allowing more animals to graze on the land than it can support
• cutting and removal of rainforest

What are some reasons deforestation occurs?

• clearing land for agriculture, ranching, and mining

• just wanting to destroy things

• Population moving from rural areas to cities

• to maximize sustainable use of natural resources

What are some consequences of deforestation?

• increased population in cities

• weakens the shorelines of land on the coast

• soil erosion, loss of ability of trees to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, loss of animal habitats

• more mercury and cyanide released into rivers

Flash flooding often occurs in city areas because

• Roads, pavements, and buildings reduce the infiltration of water into the ground

• Ground water storage is usually very large

• Runoff decreases during precipitation

• The heat generated by city areas decreases evaporation

What is a negative impact of mining?

• Material left after ore is extracted can release toxic chemicals into the groundwater

• Mining can improve the air quality where miners work

• Quarries attract new species to the area

• Mining can decrease soil erosion

What are some ways humans can reduce the negative impact on the lithosphere? (Choose all that apply)

• After mining, we can return the area to its original state

• Mine near large bodies of water to wash away the harmful chemicals

• We can only cut down a small number of trees at a time planting new ones as we go

• Add green spaces in cities to help control runoff

• Plant crops on steep hills to prevent soil erosion

What is a possible consequence of agriculture?

• Water pollution caused by soil erosion & the use of chemicals (fertilizer, pesticides etc)

• Decrease in animal's natural habitats

• Increase of flooding due to less areas for water infiltration

• Provides jobs for many people

What is one pro of mining?

• Very safe conditions for miners

• No chemicals are washed into nearby water sources

• Many minerals and ores mined are needed to make electronics

• No animals ecosystems are disturbed

What is one pro of urbanization?

• Decreasing the amount of pollution generated

• Creating jobs and access to modern technology

• Decreasing overcrowding in the countryside

• Feeding the worlds population