The Human Impact on the Natural Environment
Past, Present, and Future
7th Edition
Published on 10. June 2013
Book
Hardback
422 pages
978-1-118-57657-1 (ISBN)
Description
The seventh edition of this classic student text explores the multitude of impacts that humans have had over time upon vegetation, animals, soils, water, landforms and the atmosphere. It also looks into the future and considers the ways in which climate changes and modifications in land cover may change the environment in coming decades. Extensively re-written, it contains many new statistical tables, figures, and references. It is essential reading for undergraduates in geography and environmental science, and for those who want a thorough, wide-ranging and balanced overview of the impacts of humans upon natural processes and systems from the Stone Age to the Anthropocene and who wish to understand the major environmental issues that concern the human race at the present time.
Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/goudiehumanimpact.
Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/goudiehumanimpact.
Reviews / Votes
The new edition of this classic student text provides an up-to-date and comprehensive view of the major environmental issues facing the world today, and is an essential introduction to the past, present and future impact of humans on Earth... A new design makes the text even more accessible and easy to use. (Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ., 1 September 2013) As a resource for teachers, students or researchers in need of an assessment of human interactions with the planet, this is unbeatable; some would say essential. (Frontiers of biogeography, 5 February 2013)More details
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Person
Professor Andrew Goudie, Director of the China Centre of the University of Oxford, was formerly head of the School of Geography and the Environment, and Master of St Cross College. He has also been President of the International Association of Geomorphologists.
Content
PREFACE TO THE SEVENTH EDITION xi
ABOUT THE COMPANION WEBSITE xii
PART I: THE PAST AND PRESENT 1
1 INTRODUCTION 3
Chapter Overview 3
The development of ideas 3
The development of human population and stages of cultural development 7
Hunting and gathering 11
Humans as cultivators, keepers and metal workers 13
Modern industrial and urban civilizations 20
Points for review 25
Guide to reading 25
2 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON VEGETATION 26
Chapter Overview 26
Introduction 26
The use of fire 27
Fires: natural and anthropogenic 29
Some consequences of fire suppression 30
Some effects of fire on vegetation 32
The role of grazing 32
Deforestation 34
Secondary rain forest 42
The human role in the creation and maintenance of savanna 43
The spread of desert vegetation on desert margins 46
The maquis of the mediterranean lands 51
The prairies and other mid-latitude and high-altitude grasslands 51
Post-glacial vegetational change in Britain and Europe 53
Lowland heaths 55
Introduction, invasion and explosion 56
Air pollution and its effects on plants 61
Forest decline 63
Miscellaneous causes of plant decline 65
The change in genetic and species diversity 66
Conclusion: threats to plant life 67
Points for review 68
Guide to reading 69
3 HUMAN INFLUENCE ON ANIMALS 70
Chapter Overview 70
Domestication of animals 71
Dispersal and invasions of animals 71
Human influence on the expansion of animal populations 76
Causes of animal contractions and decline: pollution 80
Habitat change and animal decline 83
Other causes of animal decline 86
Animal extinctions in prehistoric times 90
Modern-day extinctions 94
Points for review 101
Guide to reading 102
4 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE SOIL 103
Chapter Overview 103
Introduction 103
Salinity: natural sources 104
Human agency and increased salinity 105
Irrigation salinity 105
Dryland salinity 107
Urban salinity 108
Interbasin water transfers 108
Coastal zone salinity 109
Consequences of salinity 110
Reclamation of salt-affected lands 113
Lateritization 113
Accelerated podzolization and acidification 114
Some anthrosols resulting from agriculture and urbanization 115
Soil carbon 116
Soil structure alteration 116
Soil drainage and its impact 118
Soil fertilization 119
Fires and soil quality 120
Soil erosion: general considerations 120
Soil erosion associated with deforestation and agriculture 122
Accelerated wind erosion 126
Soil erosion produced by fi re 128
Soil erosion associated with construction and urbanization 129
Soil conservation 130
Points for review 133
Guide to reading 133
5 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE WATERS 134
Chapter Overview 134
Introduction 134
Deliberate modification of rivers 135
Urbanization and its effects on river flow 143
Vegetation modification and its effect on river flow 145
The human impact on lake levels 148
Changes in groundwater conditions 150
Water pollution 155
Chemical pollution by agriculture and other activities 157
Deforestation and its effects on water quality 162
Thermal pollution 164
Pollution with suspended sediments 165
Marine pollution 165
Points for review 168
Guide to reading 168
6 HUMAN AGENCY IN GEOMORPHOLOGY 169
Chapter Overview 169
Introduction 169
Landforms produced by excavation 171
Landforms produced by construction and dumping 173
Sediment transport by rivers 174
Accelerated sedimentation 179
Ground subsidence 184
Arroyo trenching, gullies and peat haggs 187
Accelerated weathering and the tufa decline 191
Accelerated mass movements 192
Deliberate modification of channels 195
Non-deliberate river-channel changes 195
Reactivation and stabilization of sand dunes 201
Accelerated coastal erosion 203
Changing rates of salt marsh accretion 209
The human impact on seismicity and volcanoes 210
Points for review 212
Guide to reading 212
7 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON CLIMATE AND THE ATMOSPHERE 213
Chapter Overview 213
World climates 213
The greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide 214
Other gases 216
Ozone depletion and climate change 220
Aerosols 220
Global dimming and global brightening 222
Vegetation and albedo change 222
Forests, irrigation and climate 224
The possible effects of water diversion schemes 225
Lakes 226
Urban climates 226
Deliberate climatic modification 232
Geoengineering 234
Urban air pollution 234
Air pollution: some further effects 238
Stratospheric ozone depletion 243
Conclusions 247
Points for review 248
Guide to reading 248
PART II: THE FUTURE 249
8 THE FUTURE: INTRODUCTION 251
Chapter Overview 251
Introduction 251
Changes in the biosphere 255
Climate and geomorphology 261
Points for review 265
Guide to reading 265
9 THE FUTURE: COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS 266
Chapter Overview 266
Introduction 266
The steric effect 268
Anthropogenic contribution to sea-level change 268
Reduction in lake-water volumes 268
Water impoundment in reservoirs 268
Groundwater mining 269
Urbanization and runoff 269
Deforestation and runoff 269
Wetland losses 269
Irrigation 269
Synthesis 269
Permafrost degradation 270
Melting of glaciers and sea-level rise 270
Ice sheets and sea-level rise 270
How fast are sea levels rising? 271
The amount of sea-level rise by 2100 271
Land subsidence 271
Coral reefs 272
Salt marshes and mangrove swamps 275
River deltas 277
Estuaries 278
Cliffed coasts 279
Sandy beaches 280
The role of sediment starvation 282
Conclusions 282
Points for review 282
Guide to reading 282
10 THE FUTURE: HYDROLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL IMPACTS 284
Chapter Overview 284
Introduction 284
Rainfall intensity 285
Changes in tropical cyclones 286
Runoff response 287
Cold regions 289
Changes in runoff in the UK 290
Europe 291
Other examples 291
Geomorphological consequences of hydrological and other changes 293
Weathering 295
Points for review 296
Guide to reading 296
11 THE FUTURE: THE CRYOSPHERE 297
Chapter Overview 297
The nature of the cryosphere 297
The polar ice sheets and ice caps 298
Valley glaciers and small ice caps 300
Predicted rates of glacier retreat and some environmental consequences 304
Sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic 305
Permafrost regions 306
Points for review 310
Guide to reading 310
12 THE FUTURE: DRYLANDS 312
Chapter Overview 312
Introduction 312
Climate changes in the past 314
Future changes in climate in drylands 315
Wind erosivity and erodibility 317
Future dust storm activity 317
Sand dunes 318
Rainfall and runoff 321
Lake levels 322
Sea-level rise and arid zone coastlines 322
Salt weathering 323
Points for review 323
Guide to reading 324
13 CONCLUSION 325
Chapter Overview 325
The power of non-industrial and pre-industrial civilizations 325
The proliferation of impacts 327
Human impacts on the environment in China 330
Are changes reversible? 331
The susceptibility to change 334
Human influence or nature? 336
Global warming and other pressures 337
Into the unknown 338
Points for review 339
Guide to reading 339
GLOSSARY 341
REFERENCES 345
INDEX 406
Colour plate section can be found between pages 196-197
ABOUT THE COMPANION WEBSITE xii
PART I: THE PAST AND PRESENT 1
1 INTRODUCTION 3
Chapter Overview 3
The development of ideas 3
The development of human population and stages of cultural development 7
Hunting and gathering 11
Humans as cultivators, keepers and metal workers 13
Modern industrial and urban civilizations 20
Points for review 25
Guide to reading 25
2 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON VEGETATION 26
Chapter Overview 26
Introduction 26
The use of fire 27
Fires: natural and anthropogenic 29
Some consequences of fire suppression 30
Some effects of fire on vegetation 32
The role of grazing 32
Deforestation 34
Secondary rain forest 42
The human role in the creation and maintenance of savanna 43
The spread of desert vegetation on desert margins 46
The maquis of the mediterranean lands 51
The prairies and other mid-latitude and high-altitude grasslands 51
Post-glacial vegetational change in Britain and Europe 53
Lowland heaths 55
Introduction, invasion and explosion 56
Air pollution and its effects on plants 61
Forest decline 63
Miscellaneous causes of plant decline 65
The change in genetic and species diversity 66
Conclusion: threats to plant life 67
Points for review 68
Guide to reading 69
3 HUMAN INFLUENCE ON ANIMALS 70
Chapter Overview 70
Domestication of animals 71
Dispersal and invasions of animals 71
Human influence on the expansion of animal populations 76
Causes of animal contractions and decline: pollution 80
Habitat change and animal decline 83
Other causes of animal decline 86
Animal extinctions in prehistoric times 90
Modern-day extinctions 94
Points for review 101
Guide to reading 102
4 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE SOIL 103
Chapter Overview 103
Introduction 103
Salinity: natural sources 104
Human agency and increased salinity 105
Irrigation salinity 105
Dryland salinity 107
Urban salinity 108
Interbasin water transfers 108
Coastal zone salinity 109
Consequences of salinity 110
Reclamation of salt-affected lands 113
Lateritization 113
Accelerated podzolization and acidification 114
Some anthrosols resulting from agriculture and urbanization 115
Soil carbon 116
Soil structure alteration 116
Soil drainage and its impact 118
Soil fertilization 119
Fires and soil quality 120
Soil erosion: general considerations 120
Soil erosion associated with deforestation and agriculture 122
Accelerated wind erosion 126
Soil erosion produced by fi re 128
Soil erosion associated with construction and urbanization 129
Soil conservation 130
Points for review 133
Guide to reading 133
5 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE WATERS 134
Chapter Overview 134
Introduction 134
Deliberate modification of rivers 135
Urbanization and its effects on river flow 143
Vegetation modification and its effect on river flow 145
The human impact on lake levels 148
Changes in groundwater conditions 150
Water pollution 155
Chemical pollution by agriculture and other activities 157
Deforestation and its effects on water quality 162
Thermal pollution 164
Pollution with suspended sediments 165
Marine pollution 165
Points for review 168
Guide to reading 168
6 HUMAN AGENCY IN GEOMORPHOLOGY 169
Chapter Overview 169
Introduction 169
Landforms produced by excavation 171
Landforms produced by construction and dumping 173
Sediment transport by rivers 174
Accelerated sedimentation 179
Ground subsidence 184
Arroyo trenching, gullies and peat haggs 187
Accelerated weathering and the tufa decline 191
Accelerated mass movements 192
Deliberate modification of channels 195
Non-deliberate river-channel changes 195
Reactivation and stabilization of sand dunes 201
Accelerated coastal erosion 203
Changing rates of salt marsh accretion 209
The human impact on seismicity and volcanoes 210
Points for review 212
Guide to reading 212
7 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON CLIMATE AND THE ATMOSPHERE 213
Chapter Overview 213
World climates 213
The greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide 214
Other gases 216
Ozone depletion and climate change 220
Aerosols 220
Global dimming and global brightening 222
Vegetation and albedo change 222
Forests, irrigation and climate 224
The possible effects of water diversion schemes 225
Lakes 226
Urban climates 226
Deliberate climatic modification 232
Geoengineering 234
Urban air pollution 234
Air pollution: some further effects 238
Stratospheric ozone depletion 243
Conclusions 247
Points for review 248
Guide to reading 248
PART II: THE FUTURE 249
8 THE FUTURE: INTRODUCTION 251
Chapter Overview 251
Introduction 251
Changes in the biosphere 255
Climate and geomorphology 261
Points for review 265
Guide to reading 265
9 THE FUTURE: COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS 266
Chapter Overview 266
Introduction 266
The steric effect 268
Anthropogenic contribution to sea-level change 268
Reduction in lake-water volumes 268
Water impoundment in reservoirs 268
Groundwater mining 269
Urbanization and runoff 269
Deforestation and runoff 269
Wetland losses 269
Irrigation 269
Synthesis 269
Permafrost degradation 270
Melting of glaciers and sea-level rise 270
Ice sheets and sea-level rise 270
How fast are sea levels rising? 271
The amount of sea-level rise by 2100 271
Land subsidence 271
Coral reefs 272
Salt marshes and mangrove swamps 275
River deltas 277
Estuaries 278
Cliffed coasts 279
Sandy beaches 280
The role of sediment starvation 282
Conclusions 282
Points for review 282
Guide to reading 282
10 THE FUTURE: HYDROLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL IMPACTS 284
Chapter Overview 284
Introduction 284
Rainfall intensity 285
Changes in tropical cyclones 286
Runoff response 287
Cold regions 289
Changes in runoff in the UK 290
Europe 291
Other examples 291
Geomorphological consequences of hydrological and other changes 293
Weathering 295
Points for review 296
Guide to reading 296
11 THE FUTURE: THE CRYOSPHERE 297
Chapter Overview 297
The nature of the cryosphere 297
The polar ice sheets and ice caps 298
Valley glaciers and small ice caps 300
Predicted rates of glacier retreat and some environmental consequences 304
Sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic 305
Permafrost regions 306
Points for review 310
Guide to reading 310
12 THE FUTURE: DRYLANDS 312
Chapter Overview 312
Introduction 312
Climate changes in the past 314
Future changes in climate in drylands 315
Wind erosivity and erodibility 317
Future dust storm activity 317
Sand dunes 318
Rainfall and runoff 321
Lake levels 322
Sea-level rise and arid zone coastlines 322
Salt weathering 323
Points for review 323
Guide to reading 324
13 CONCLUSION 325
Chapter Overview 325
The power of non-industrial and pre-industrial civilizations 325
The proliferation of impacts 327
Human impacts on the environment in China 330
Are changes reversible? 331
The susceptibility to change 334
Human influence or nature? 336
Global warming and other pressures 337
Into the unknown 338
Points for review 339
Guide to reading 339
GLOSSARY 341
REFERENCES 345
INDEX 406
Colour plate section can be found between pages 196-197