Case Study: The River Eden - Human Activity
Geography: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 1.1.24
Impacts of Human Activity on the River Eden
Many upland areas around the Eden have been cleared of trees. These human activities have affected the geomorphic processes acting on the basin.
Deforestation
- Deforestation has caused increased surface runoff, which means that rainfall enters the river faster.
- This gives the river more energy and more power to erode, potentially leading to mass movements.
Farming
- Draining land decreases the soil stability, which can increase the amount of soil that is washed away when it rains.
- Soil that is washed away finds its way into river channels, adding to the river's load. -A higher load means that there is more deposition downstream.
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How does draining land affect soil?