Szabó / Dávid / Loczy Anthropogenic Geomorphology

A Guide to Man-Made Landforms
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-90-481-3058-0
Verlag: Springer Netherland
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 250 Seiten, eBook

Anthropogenic geomorphology studies society’s impact on the geographical environment, and especially on the Earth’s surface. This volume provides guidance to students discussing the basic topics of anthropogenic geomorphology. The chapters cover both its system, and its connections with other sciences, as well as the way the subject can contribute to tackling today’s practical problems. The book represents all fields of geomorphology, giving an introduction to the diversity of the discipline through examples taken from a range of contexts and periods, and focusing on examples from Europe. It is no accident that anthropogenic geomorphology has been gaining ground within geomorphology itself. Its results advance not only the theoretical development of the science but can be applied directly to social and economic issues. Worldwide, anthropogenic geomorphology is an integral and expanding part of earth sciences curricula in higher education, making this a timely and relevant text.

Zielgruppe

Professional/practitioner

Autoren/Hrsg.

Szabó, József

Dávid, Lóránt

Loczy, Denes

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Anthropogenic Geomorphology: Subject and System.- Anthropogenic Geomorphology and Related Disciplines.- Human Impact in a Systems Approach.- Anthropogenic Geomorphology in Environmental Management.- Anthropogenic Geomorphology and Landscape Ecology.- Impacts of Various Human Activities on the Landscape.- Agriculture: Crop Cultivation and Horticulture.- Agriculture: Grazing Lands and Other Grasslands.- Agriculture: Cultivation on Slopes.- Agriculture: Deforestation.- Quarrying and Other Minerals.- Mining: Extraction of Fossil Fuels.- Water Management.- Urban Development and Anthropogenic Geomorphology.- Transportation and Industry.- Military Activities: Warfare and Defence.- The Impact of Tourism and Sports Activities.- Impacts in Extreme Environments.- An Anthropogenic Geomorphological Synthesis.- Nature and Extent of Human Geomorphological Impact – A Review.

Leseproben

"Chapter 4 Anthropogenic Geomorphology and Landscape Ecology (p. 39-40)

Péter Csorba

Abstract Since landscape ecology is the discipline of functionally studying natural factors and anthropogenic processes in light of the present and forecasted land-use tendencies, anthropogenic geomorphology easily fits in among the various fields of landscape ecology. The spatial distribution of human structures (builtup areas, roads, railways, channels and others) is always adjusted to topographic conditions.

To rank the intensity of anthropogenic impact on a qualitative range, so-called hemeroby levels have been established by German scientists.When assessing hemeroby, estimations are made for the degree of human geomorphic impact based on the rate of soil erosion, surface dissection or the abundance of terraces, escarpments and artificial excavational features.

At the highest level of human impact, in urban-industrial (or urban-technical) ecosystems, even remnant patches of semi-natural ecosystems seldom occur wedged into built-up areas and into linear infrastructural elements. The micro- and meso-elements of topography are often totally destroyed by terrain modification, such as levelling for development. Relying on anthropogenic geomorphology, landscape ecology can make significant practical contributions to landscape planning. Keywords Landscape ecology · Hemeroby · Landscapes · Cultivated landscapes

4.1 Landscape Ecology as a Discipline

Landscape geographical research, since the 1960s, has increasingly acquired an ecological approach (Leser 1991; Finke 1986; Farina 1998; Csorba 2003; Wu and Hobbs 2007). In its simplest form, it means that phenomena and processes are studied embedded in their environmental systems. Recently the denomination “landscape research of ecological approach” is used for this field of research. It is not much modified by the fact that the term “landscape ecology (or geoecology)” has become widespread in the international usage (Leser 1991; Huggett 1995).

Among the fundamental characteristics of landscape ecology, a practical approach should also be accentuated (Helming and Wiggering 2003; Wiens and Moss 2005). Landscape ecology research primarily aims at fulfilling social demands in a way they should have the least pressure on potential natural resources and hinder the satisfaction of other social demands to the least possible extent. Landscape ecology provides a scientific background to achieve reasonable landscape management and land-use compromises (Marsh 1997; Ingegnoli 2002; Jongman 2005). Landscape ecology, as a result of its roots in geography, also inherited the spatial approach of geography.

A decisive question is where the various forms of social activities could be accommodated at the lowest physical-economic-social conflicts. According to Carl Troll, the founder of landscape ecology as an independent discipline (1939), landscape ecology is “Raumökologie der Erdoberfläche”, i.e. the science of ecological processes on the Earth’s surface."

Über Autor(innen)

József Szabó is Professor Emeritus, Vice-President of the Hungarian Geographical Society, Corresponding Member of the CERG - Strasbourg and a Member of the International Landslide Research Group - Palo Alto, California. His research fields are mass movements and other geomorphological processes, land evaluation, anthropogenic geomorphology, geomorphological hazards and history of physical geography.Lóránt Dávid is a college professor and Head of the Department of Tourism and Regional Development at Károly Róbert College. He has longstanding teaching and research experience in the fields of anthropogenic geomorphology, environmental protection, tourism and regional development, and has worked as an expert in a number of government programs. Dénes Lóczy is an associate professor, Head of the Department of Physical Geography and Deputy Director of the Institute of Geography at Janus Pannonius University, Pécs. From 2001 till 2005 he was Secretary of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG/AIG). His research interests are land evaluation, land use studies, floodplain geomorphology and environmental protection.