UNIT 5 MOD 30 Urbanization and Effects

Urbanization

Process of increasing population density in areas.

Urban areas

Regions with over 386 people per km².

Suburbs

Residential areas surrounding metropolitan centers.

Exurbs

Communities outside urban areas, not densely populated.

How many people live in suburban or exurban communities?

Abt 2/3

Urban sprawl

Expansion of urban areas into rural regions with clusters of housing, retail shops, office parks, and miles of road separating them.

Main causes of urban sprawl

Increased availability of automobiles and highways

Reasonable living costs in the suburbs

Lack of support for urban communities (urban blight)

Government policies funding highways and subsidizing mortgages in suburban areas

Explain urbanization and its effects on the environment

Smart growth

Sustainable community development strategies.

EPA list when considering smart growth

Walkable neighborhoods

Mixing residential, retail, recreational, and business land use

Encouraging stakeholder collaborations

Preserving open spaces and natural beauty

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

U.S. agency focused on environmental protection.

The greater the population there is in a urban and surburban areas,

the greater the need there is for water, transportation, and disposal of refuse.

Cone of depression

Area of reduced groundwater levels around wells.

Saltwater intrusion

Invasion of saltwater into freshwater aquifers.

Impervious surfaces

Surfaces that prevent water infiltration.

Urban runoff

Water that flows over urban surfaces without infiltration.

Prevent runoff

more rooftop gardens, tall buildings, permeable pavement, more trees in parks, storm drains, and more places where water can flow rather than remain in one area and cause flooding.

Aquifers

Underground layers storing freshwater.

Walkable neighborhoods

Areas designed for easy pedestrian access.

Land use mixing

Combining residential, retail, and recreational spaces.

Stakeholder collaborations

Partnerships among community members and organizations.

Open spaces preservation

Protecting natural areas within urban settings.

Increased congestion

Higher traffic density in urban areas.

Longer commutes

Extended travel times to reach destinations.

Urban blight

Decline of urban areas due to neglect.

Automobile availability

Access to cars facilitating suburban living.

Highway funding

Government support for road infrastructure.

Flooding due to runoff

Excess water causing overflows in urban areas.

Rainwater collection

Capturing rain for reuse in landscaping.

Rural to urban migration

Movement of populations from countryside to cities.

Resource consumption

Use of natural resources by populations.

Suburban communities

Residential areas with lower density than cities.