Geomorphic responses to land use change

Influence of the EU CAP on terrain morphology and vineyard cultivation in the Priorat region of NE Spain

“…This confirms land terracing to be an induced geomorphic process which is able to reshape terrain morphology on a very short time scale, leaving a mark that will be difficult to erase in the short or medium term. The modern terracing system in the Priorat is leading to major topographical transformations that entail problems such as the burial of original soils and a change in soil physical and chemical properties (Cots-Folch et al, 2004), as has also been observed in other areas (Querejeta et al, 2000;Brierley and Stankoviansky, 2003). In addition, mass movements due to the inconsistency of the new slopes, as also stated by Shrestha et al (2004), are frequent in the analyzed terraced field.…”

Dependence of Gully Networks on Faults and Lineaments Networks, Case Study from Hronska Pahorkatina Hill Land

“…The main trigger of the gully erosion process is still unclear. However, it can be assumed that land use changes and climatic changes are the main triggers [2]. One group of authors prefers only one of these causes whereas the other group considers both causes as equivalent.…”

River Channel Management

“…If change in the magnitude and frequency of peak discharges caused by land use change is greater than critical threshold levels (see p. 125), then channel morphology may adjust incrementally or channel type may change.The complexity of the adjustments, and of the changes that can take place, must not be underestimated however, and a collection of geomorphic responses to land use change (Brierley and Stankoviansky, 2002) show how geomorphic insights into the nature and extent of change at regional, catchment, reach and hillslope scales have considerable implications for the sustainable management of landscapes. More effective integration of the differing scales of sedimentary cascades could significantly expand the range of critical tools that geomorphologists provide for future land management and planning (Brierley and Stankoviansky, 2002).…”