5.10 Impacts of Urbanization

Describe the effects of urbanization on the environment.

• Urbanization can lead to depletion of resources and saltwater intrusion in the hydrologic cycle.
• Urbanization, through the burning of fossil fuels and landfills, affects the carbon cycle by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Impervious surfaces are human-made structures—such as roads, buildings, sidewalks, and parking lots—that do not allow water to reach the soil, leading to flooding.
• Urban sprawl is the change in population distribution from high population density areas to low density suburbs that spread into rural lands, leading to potential environmental problems.
• Enduring understanding EIN-2: When humans use natural resources, they alter natural systems.