Land use and Human Impact

urbanization

An increase in the percentage and in the number of people living in urban settlements.

rural

relating to farm areas and life in the country

suburban

An area that typically surrounds the central city, is often residential, and is not as densely populated.

urban

in, relating to, or characteristic of a city or town.

heat island

urban area where climate is warmer than in the surrounding countryside due to factors such as numerous concrete buildings and large expanses of asphalt

deforestation

The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves.

agriculture

the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

mitigation

the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something

overgrazing

the depletion of vegetation due to the continuous feeding of too many animals; soil compaction is a result

erosion

Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away (i.e. weathering, glaciation)

runoff

water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground; flows into rivers, streams etc.

crop rotation

The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil.

grazing rotation

moving animals from one field to another to prevent overgrazing

contour farming

Plowing and planting across the changing slope of land, rather than in straight lines, to help retain water and reduce soil erosion.

terrace farming

a farming system that is in the form of steps going up a mountain

silt fencing

temporary fencing used to keep any debris from passing from the site to any areas beyond the construction zone, farm area, beach dune etc.

recreation

anything a person does to relax or have fun; play

mineral

a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition

subsurface mining

The extraction of mineral and energy resources from deep underground deposits.

open pit mining

Removing minerals such as gravel, sand, and metal ores by digging them out of the earth's surface and leaving an open pit.

quarrying

form of open pit mining to harvest granite and marble

solar evaporation

place sea water into large shallow ponds, let water evaporate, harvest salt (30% world's salt comes from this process)

dredging

Type of surface mining in which chain buckets and draglines scrape up sand, gravel, and other surface deposits covered with water. It is also used to remove sediment from streams and harbors to maintain shipping channels.

smelting

The process by which ore is melted to separate the useful metal from other elements.