Ch. 14

• Distinguish between urban and rural land.

• Describe three major ways in which humans use land.

• Explain the concept of ecosystem services.

Must have At least 2,500 people A governing body – city council etc.

Any area not classified at urban Provides many resources for humans

Wood Crops Minerals Livestock land recreation

Up until about 1850 most people lived in – Rural areas

The Industrial Revolution changed this Machinery Better transportation Elimination of rural jobs People moved to the city to

find jobs

We are still very dependant on rural areas for Clean drinking water Fertile soil and land for crops Trees for wood and paper Oxygen produced by vegetation

Ecosystem Services – resources that are produced by natural and artificial ecosystems

Developed Countries – need 8 hectares (19.7 acres) of land for their ecosystem services per person

US – need 12 hectares of land (29.6 acres) Germany – need 6 hectares (14.8 acres) Developing Nations – use less than 1

hectare (2.5 acrea) per person

http://www.umac.org/ocp/videos/ecosystemServices.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLVkf67mghw

Pg. 383 Clean water – purified by rivers Clean air – purified by plants Oxygen from plants Lumber from trees Fertile soil from decomposing plants Flood prevention from plant roots Climate regulation from oceans and atmosphere Decomposition of waste Beauty

Describe the urban crisis, and explain what people are doing to deal with it.

Explain how urban sprawl affects the environment.

Explain how open spaces provide urban areas with environmental benefits.

Explain the heat-island effect. Describe how people use the geographic

information system as a tool for land-use planning.

1960 – 70% of people lived in cities 1980 – 75% of people lived in cities Urban growth has slowed

Cities built before the invention of the car cover a small area Traffic problems Not much open space

Cities built after the invention of the car Cover large areas Better traffic flow Better city planning More “green” spaces

L.A. Population = 3.8 millionArea = 498 square miles

New YorkPopulation = 8.3 millionArea = 305 square miles

Provide ecosystem services for large cities Temperature moderation Reduction of rainwater

runoff Aesthetic value

Trafic jams Substandard housing Air pollution Water pollution Can overwhelm the infrastructin

Roads Sewers Fire and police stations Schools Hospitals Etc.

Creates suburbs Most suburbs are built on land previously

used for food production

L.A. and Mexcico City were buildin basins and have expanded into the mountain side around them

Can effect local weather patterns

Atlanta, GA Tornado

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-sXHl3l-rM

Where are houses, building, factories, etc. going to be built.

This helps deal with overpopulation later Use Geographic Information Systems

(GIS) to simulate where things are going to be built

Explain the benefits of preserving farmland.

Describe two ways that rangeland can be managed sustainably.

Describe the environmental effects of deforestation.

Explain the function of parks and of wilderness areas.

Threatened by urban sprawl

Usually used for grazing livestock Can be arid (dry) or wet (swamps) Often overgrazed

Valued for the wood it produces. Clear-cutting – removal of all trees in an

area Less expensive More harmful

Selective cutting – removal of only the mature or middle-aged trees More expensive Less harmful

Reduced wildlife Created erosion of topsoil

Can be natural or man made

The US Wilderness Act of 1964 Designated certain lands as wilderness areas

Wilderness – an area of land that is protected from exploitation