Landforms and Geological Agents: Shaping Our Environment

Landforms and Geological Agents

Forms of relief are shaped by geological agents and influenced by weather patterns.

Factors Influencing Landforms

• Weather
• Human population density
• Vegetation and fauna
• Ground viewpoint
• Subjective aspects

Geological Agents and Relief Modeling

Geological agents, such as rivers, play a crucial role in modeling relief:

• Rivers: Modeling river waters originates wild streams, U-shaped karst waters.
• Coastal wind: Wind modeling.

Climate is a significant factor influencing the type of landscape.

Geologic agents include weather, vegetation, wildlife, and human activities.

The atmosphere influences weather phenomena, climate temperature, and rainfall. Air tends to flow from anticyclones towards depressions, causing wind.

Weathering Processes

Weathering is the alteration process experienced by rocks exposed to the elements. This involves:

• Moisture
• Oxygen
• Temperature changes
• Water interaction
• Living organisms
• Chemical weathering
• Mechanical weathering
• Biological weathering

Detritus results from weathering, leading to a series of fragments that undergo modifications in composition and structure. Materials accumulate in successive sedimentary layers.

Sedimentation and Subsidence

Subsidence involves sediments falling deeply into a basin, increasing pressure and temperature. Cementation and compaction occur along with water.

Environmental Impact

Environmental impact refers to changes in the environment caused by human activity. These can be positive or negative, affecting the natural and human environment at local, regional, and global scales.

The severity of a negative impact can be evaluated by the ease or difficulty with which it can be corrected.

Impacts on Various Spheres

• Air
• Hydrosphere
• Natural landscape
• Soil
• Biosphere

Impacts on the Hydrosphere

Changes in water properties, dynamics, and distribution, including:

• Eutrophication: Contribution of inorganic nutrients.
• Salinization of aquifers: Removal of fresh water, replaced by salt water.
• Heating of water masses for industrial use.

Impacts on the Landscape

A decrease in the natural presence of elements due to human intervention.

Impacts on the Soil

• Erosion and loss of vegetative cover
• Desertification
• Pollution
• Overexploitation for agriculture, reducing fertility

Impacts on the Biosphere

The biosphere encompasses all living beings. Populations highly dependent on specific habitats are sensitive to changes.

• Species extinction
• Overfishing
• Habitat destruction
• Introduction of invasive species
• Trophic pyramid contamination
• Genetic alterations

Waste Management and Prevention

Human activities produce waste. Waste management involves measures to avoid accumulation and negative impacts, including:

• Source sorting
• Recycling
• Use as an energy source
• Accumulation in landfill facilities: green points, waste treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, incinerators, landfills

Prevention includes actions to prevent negative human impacts on the environment. This involves:

• Preparation of environmental impact studies
• Development of action plans
• Correction of impacts: actions to restore the situation prior to the impact, such as facilities, vegetation screens, reforestation, cleaning, purification, and slope stabilization