Land use change

Definition

Land use change refers to the transformation of natural landscapes into developed land for agriculture, urbanization, or other human activities. This process significantly impacts the hydrologic cycle by altering natural water pathways, soil properties, and vegetation cover, which in turn affects water availability and quality.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Land use change can increase surface runoff and reduce groundwater recharge due to the removal of vegetation and soil compaction.
2. Urban development often leads to the creation of impervious surfaces like roads and buildings, which prevent water from infiltrating into the ground.
3. Changes in land use can lead to increased flood risks as natural drainage systems are altered or destroyed.
4. Altered land use can impact local climate conditions by changing evapotranspiration rates, leading to variations in temperature and humidity.
5. Land use change often affects water quality by increasing sedimentation and nutrient runoff into nearby water bodies.

Review Questions

• How does land use change impact the hydrologic cycle?
  • Land use change significantly alters the hydrologic cycle by modifying how water moves through an ecosystem. For instance, when natural vegetation is removed for agriculture or urbanization, it leads to increased surface runoff and decreased groundwater recharge. This not only affects the amount of water available in aquifers but also impacts the timing and intensity of streamflows. The overall balance of evaporation and precipitation is also disrupted, affecting local hydrology.
• Discuss the implications of urbanization as a form of land use change on hydrological processes.
  • Urbanization transforms natural landscapes into built environments characterized by impervious surfaces, which prevent water from naturally infiltrating the ground. This results in increased surface runoff, higher flood risks, and decreased groundwater recharge. Furthermore, urban areas often experience altered drainage patterns that can lead to more severe flooding during storms. Additionally, the reduction in vegetation cover affects evapotranspiration rates and contributes to urban heat islands, impacting local climate conditions.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of deforestation as a land use change on both hydrology and biodiversity.
  • Deforestation has profound long-term effects on both hydrology and biodiversity. The removal of trees disrupts the natural water cycle by reducing transpiration and increasing surface runoff, which can lead to more frequent flooding and decreased water quality due to sedimentation. Biodiversity suffers as habitats are lost, leading to declines in species populations and disruptions in ecological relationships. The combined impact of altered water flow patterns and loss of species creates a less resilient ecosystem that struggles to recover from environmental changes.

Related terms

Urbanization: The increase in population and infrastructure in urban areas, often leading to the conversion of natural land into cities and suburbs.

Deforestation: The clearing or thinning of forests, which can lead to significant changes in local water cycles and contribute to soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.

Agricultural Expansion: The process of converting forests, grasslands, or other natural areas into agricultural land for farming, which can disrupt local ecosystems and hydrology.