Water In Geomorphology Essay

Water is arguably one of the most influential forces on Earth. Particularly, it has a special role in weathering. The flow of water in our environment gives life, takes life, and molds landscapes. Ultimately, it plays a large part in facilitating quality of life and terrestrial design. In this essay, research and discussion will revolve around the significance of water in geomorphology, the dynamic between water controlling the type and rate of weathering on aspects of the environment, and issues or topics circulating in the scientific community about it.

Weathering is both the physical (disintegration) and chemical (decomposition) break down of rocks or materials at or near the Earth’s surface. According to Britannica, “Weathering, disintegration

Additionally, as we impact these weathering processes, these weathering processes affect us, such as disturbing large portions of land and changing the way normal rain run-off plays its proposed role in the weathering process. This relationship between human activity and weathering is morphing the development of landscapes, altering the availability of resources, revealing and destroying habitats and materials known and unknown to geomorphologists. According to teachers in the subject that are apart of Geoscience Australia, “Erosion is a natural process that has been occurring throughout geological time to create landforms such as rivers, valleys, caves and coastal platforms. The rates of erosion can, however, be accelerated by human interference. Activities like inappropriate cropping, grazing, and the building of roads and houses have sometimes resulted in large-scale soil erosion, landslides and even desertification” (Lech; Trewin, 2016). Furthermore, human interference has accelerated issues in environments, perhaps being even more harmful to humans, than wildlife itself, such as salinity: the saltiness or amount of salt dissolved in a body of water. “Salinity is a national land management priority in Australia, as more and more of Australia’s agricultural lands are no longer productive due to the effects of salinity. Salinity can be a natural process but is accelerated by human intervention” (Lech; Trewin, 2016). There are various forms of salinity, too: dryland, soil, irrigation, urban, river, and industrial. Furthermore, issues can arise in health problems and the geographical distribution of these problems, affecting quality of health for all living things. “Our health depends on our intake of essential nutrients that are found in the food we eat. These nutrients were absorbed into the plants we