Understanding Human–Landscape Interactions in the “Anthropocene”

Harden, Carol P.; Chin, Anne; English, Mary R.; Fu, Rong; Galvin, Kathleen A.; Gerlak, Andrea K.; McDowell, P. F.; McNamara, D. E.; Peterson, Jeffrey M.; Poff, N. LeRoy; Rosa, Eugene A.; Solecki, William; Wohl, Ellen

doi:10.1007/s00267-013-0082-0

Cited by 81 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…One of the most important roles for scientists, as Slaymaker et al (2009) argue, is to clarify the options that will enable us to respond to global environmental change in a sustainable way; the complex set of relationships between geomorphology and society surely need to be considered in choosing such options. Understanding human-landscape systems should indeed be a high priority research initiative that requires participation from the social, behavioural and economic sciences in full collaboration with geosciences, biosciences and engineering (Harden et al 2014).…”

Section: The Future Of the Anthropocene?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomorphology in the Anthropocene: Perspectives from the Past, Pointers for the Future?

Meadows

2016

Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences

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The term Anthropocene has been introduced to highlight the fact humans have, directly or indirectly -accidentally or intentionally -profoundly transformed the earth system. There is much debate as to whether the magnitude and extent of such change is geologically distinctive and, accordingly, warrants formal designation as a new epoch although, irrespective of this, the magnitude of change is undoubtedly significant. In order to put the Anthropocene into perspective, the chapter briefly reviews various systemic and cumulative drivers of geomorphic change before going on to explore the time-transgressive impacts of humans on virtually all environments of the earth. This is followed by a consideration of three instructive case studies of how the deleterious effects of growing numbers of people using increasingly sophisticated technologies are expressed geomorphologically across a range of environments. The problems of accelerated soil erosion, the impact of large dams and the nature and extent of artificial ground are used to highlight the important role that geomorphology plays in understanding the burgeoning footprint of humanity on earth systems. The Quaternary record offers a foundational understanding of baseline conditions of earth system processes and responses and facilitates increased confidence in evaluating the magnitude of past and future global climate change and its diverse effects. A quarter of a century on from the first IPCC report, the degree to which the strength of its statements, and the confidence with which they are made, is rooted in a better understanding of longer-term past changes should not be underestimated. The fact that geomorphology may still be a 'Cinderella' in relation to studies of environmental change is ongoing cause for concern and, if we are to illuminate the range of options available to mitigate and adapt to future change, we need systematically to incorporate a stronger geomorphological perspective into global change science; the Anthropocene represents an appropriate platform from which to inject that perspective.

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Section: The Future Of the Anthropocene?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomorphology in the Anthropocene: Perspectives from the Past, Pointers for the Future?

Meadows

2016

Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences

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“…Recognition of this concern is apparent in the oft-repeated calls by geomorphologists to engage more-fully with social sciences to better understand the integration of the physical landscape and the human systems, or to establish a "cultural" geomorphology (Gregory, 2000(Gregory, , 2006James and Marcus, 2006;Slaymaker, 2009;NRC 2010;Harden et al, 2014). This arises in part from explicit concern for landscape sustainability, restoration and conservation and the need for codevelopment of a science of human-landscape systems (Harden et al, 2014;Wohl et al, 2014).…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This arises in part from explicit concern for landscape sustainability, restoration and conservation and the need for codevelopment of a science of human-landscape systems (Harden et al, 2014;Wohl et al, 2014).…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a sociogeomorphology of rivers

Ashmore

2015

Geomorphology

136

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While human impacts on rivers and other landforms have long been a component of geomorphic research, little of this work explicitly includes insights into human agency from social science or recognises that in many cases rivers can be considered to be hybrid coproductions or "socio-natures". A socio-geomorphic approach proposed here has parallels with some aspects of sociohydrology and can extend and enrich existing geomorphic explanations of the morphology of, for example, urban rivers by explicitly recognising and working with the coevolution of the human and natural systems. Examples from recent literature illustrate ways in which these relationships can be understood and analyzed, showing a range of socio-natural influences in particular contexts that have material consequences for river morphology and recognising that events in the system have many forms. The approach recognises the importance of contingency in time and place together with the role and nature of both local and global knowledge. An important element of this approach is that it provides ways for understanding the nature, position and intention of geomorphic and other scientific interventions as part of the system, for example in the case of river restoration. This also leads to the need for reflexivity by geomorphologists and reconsideration of the nature of geomorphological knowledge by those involved in such work and with respect to sociogeomorphology as a whole.

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“…Wohl et al (2014) explore the composition of the integrated core science (center of ''flower'' schematic in Fig. 1; Harden et al 2014, this issue) by identifying themes common among the physical, biological, and social sciences feeding into it, as represented in the disciplines of geomorphology, ecology, and environmental governance. These themes include feedbacks, thresholds or tipping points, space and time scales, and connectivity, providing promising areas for interdisciplinary research.…”

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confidence: 99%