Human impacts on landscapes

Summary

In this educational series by Geoscience Australia, we delve into the landscapes and landforms of Australia, exploring their natural features and the processes that shape them. The video emphasizes the significant impact humans have on these landscapes, from urban development and agriculture to mining and climate change. It also highlights how humans alter waterways, exemplified by Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin, an artificial lake created by damming the Molonglo River in 1963. The series encourages viewers to consider the value of landscapes, the ways humans impact them, and the importance of protection.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Natural processes like tectonic plate movement, weathering, erosion, and deposition shape landscapes and landforms.
• 🏙️ Human activities, particularly urban development, significantly alter landscapes by clearing land, disrupting ecosystems, and affecting biodiversity.
• 🌱 Urbanization is a global phenomenon, with around 55% of the world's population living in urban areas, a figure that is even higher in Australia at nearly 90%.
• 🏡 Parks and recreational areas within cities are often man-made, featuring structures like tables, chairs, barbecues, and facilities like car parks, toilets, and bins.
• 🌾 Agriculture plays a crucial role in shaping the environment to meet the needs of a growing population and contribute to the economy.
• ⛏️ Mining activities for resources like coal, iron ore, and gold also have substantial impacts on landscapes and landforms.
• 🌡️ Human-induced climate change leads to more intense weather events, affecting weathering, erosion, and deposition processes.
• 💧 Humans alter waterways and water distribution, impacting the natural flow and movement of water in landscapes.
• 🏞️ Artificial lakes and wetlands, like Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin, are created by human intervention, showcasing how human activities can create new landscape features.
• 🤔 The script encourages viewers to reflect on the landscapes near them and consider how human activities have altered them.

Q & A

What is the role of Shona in Geoscience Australia?

Shona is the Education and Outreach Manager at Geoscience Australia.

What does Geoscience Australia specialize in?

Geoscience Australia specializes in bringing together experts in Australia's geology and geography.

What are some of the natural processes that shape landscapes and landforms?

Natural processes that shape landscapes and landforms include the movement of tectonic plates, weathering, erosion, and deposition.

In what ways do humans alter landscapes and landforms?

Humans alter landscapes and landforms through urban development, agriculture, mining, and human-induced climate change.

What percentage of the world's population lives in urban settings according to the script?

Around 55 percent of the world's population lives in urban settings.

How does urban development degrade landscapes?

Urban development degrades landscapes through land clearing, which removes native vegetation and habitats, disrupting natural ecosystems and harming biodiversity.

What is one of the most significant impacts of human activities on landscapes and landforms mentioned in the script?

One of the most significant impacts is human-induced climate change, which can lead to more intense storms, prolonged droughts, and sea level rise, increasing weathering, erosion, and deposition.

How does agriculture shape and change the environment?

Agriculture shapes and changes the environment by altering land use, which can lead to habitat loss and changes in local ecosystems.

What is an example of how humans alter waterways and water distribution in the landscape?

An example of how humans alter waterways is the creation of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin by building Scrivener Dam in 1963.

What is the significance of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin?

Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake that is now the centerpiece of Canberra, originally created by building Scrivener Dam.

How has the landscape near you been altered by human activities?

The script encourages viewers to think about local landscapes that have been altered by humans, such as through urban development, agriculture, or the creation of artificial lakes and wetlands.