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Human Impacts on the Geosphere/Lithosphere

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What is the geosphere?

The geosphere is all of the solid parts of the Earth including the interior, rocks and minerals, landforms, and processes shaping the surface

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It is where we find the mineral resources that humans use

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What are some of the human impacts being seen on the geosphere?

  • Erosion
  • Deforestation
  • Urbanization
  • Mining
  • Desertification
  • Soil Leaching
  • Soil Contamination

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What is erosion

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Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that remove soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, then transport it away to another location

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How does deforestation impact the geosphere?

  • Deforestation is the loss of forests.

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  • Due to logging, agriculture, road building, development

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  • When trees are removed, soil erosion increases

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How does urbanization impact the geosphere

  • Paving and compacting interfere with formation of soil

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  • Construction sites increase erosion and sedimentation

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  • Urbanization leads to the creation of urban heat islands

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Urban Heat Islands

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How does mining impact the geosphere

  • Strip mining destroys landscapes, forests and wildlife habitats at the site of the mine when trees, plants, and topsoil are cleared from the mining area. This in turn leads to soil erosion and destruction of agricultural land.

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  • When rain washes the loosened topsoil into streams, sediments pollute waterways

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  • Strip mining causes dust and noise pollution when topsoil is disrupted with heavy machinery and coal dust is created in mines.

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  • Underground mining causes huge amounts of waste earth and rock to be brought to the surface – waste that often becomes toxic when it comes into contact with air and water.

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  • Mining causes subsidence as mines collapse and the land above it starts to sink

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How does desertification impact the geosphere

Desertification is a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife.

  • The most common human activity leading to desertification is improper agricultural practices

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What regions are at risk to desertification?

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How does soil leaching impact the geosphere

  • Leaching is when soil loses water soluble plant nutrients from soil

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  • Leaching is typically caused by excess rain or irrigation

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How does soil contamination impact the geosphere

  • The presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment

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  • It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals, or improper disposal of waste.

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What can we do?

  • Increase vegetation in areas to limit erosion
  • Utilize good agricultural practices
    • Contour plowing
    • No till agriculture
    • Proper irrigation
  • Limit addition of artificial chemicals to soil
    • Pesticides
    • Fertilizers
  • Reduce consumption of minerals
  • Clean up abandoned mine sites