What are some ways in which human activities affect rates of erosion globally?
1 Answer
Humans affect erosion rates in a number of ways across the globe.
Explanation:
Humans affect erosion rates in a number of ways across the globe. Studies have shown that humans now cause more erosion than natural processes do.
Deforestation can drastically increase erosion rates, as healthy forests and ecosystems are filled with plants and the roots of these plants hold soil in place. Without it, we see increased erosion due to wind (soil and sand blown from place to place) and water (increased runoff).
Agricultural practices can have a very significant impact on erosion rates. Certain practices cause more erosion than others. When livestock are permitted to graze the grass to very low levels, this increases the likelihood of erosion, as soil can be transported more easily due to wind and water.
Growing monocultures (one type of crop) rather than a diversity of crops also contributes to erosion as do other forms of intensive agriculture where nutrients are depleted form the soil and the soil cannot recover in between growing seasons.
The use of certain chemicals in agriculture can also contribute to increased soil erosion, as these chemicals disrupt the organisms that live in the soil and change the chemical composition of the soil.
Human activities such as repeatedly walking or biking the same trails or areas can also contribute to erosion slowly over time. Forest fires also contribute to soil erosion, as vegetation previously holding the soil in place is often destroyed. Mining increases erosion, as soil is exposed during this process and thus available to be moved by wind and water in addition to the amount of soil and rock moved intentionally by humans. Urbanization also contributes to erosion, as vegetation is lost and replaced with buildings.
Erosion rates can be slowed by reforesting areas, using chemicals wisely on agricultural areas, growing diverse crops and using less intensive agricultural procedures, limiting resource extraction, and so forth.
To read more about this problem, see this page by WWF.
