EXPLORATION: Weathering and Erosion

Humans both benefit and are harmed by the gradational processes of weathering and erosion.

Benefits

1. agriculture
   - provides water for agriculture,
   - flooding gives nutrients to agricultural land,
2. transportation
   - rivers have provided transportation for man for thousands of years
3. recreation
   - lakes, rivers, waterfalls provide recreational opportunities for humans
4. drinking water
   - humans use groundwater or surface water for drinking water supplies

Harms

1. landslides/avalanches
   - if humans build homes in area prone to landslides and avalanches, damage, injury or death will eventually occur.
2. flooding
   - humans like to build on flood plains, due to flat terrain and good soil for agriculture.
   - unfortunately, this means homes can be damaged by flooding or lives may be lost, unless humans build domes to control runoff.
3. loss of land
   - erosional forces may take away land people own near rivers or coastlines
4. subsidence
   - erosional forces may cause land to subside (sink) damaging homes and infrastructure

Many human activities such as road building, storm sewers, building dykes and deforestation can change gradational processes and cause disasters like floods and slides.