Chapter 1.1, Problem 1BYL

To determine

Some ways in which geology controls the locations that are safe to live.

Answer to Problem 1BYL

Human life is largely influenced by the geologic factors such as volcanism, tectonism, seismicity, slope stability, climate, and so forth. Generally, earthquake-prone regions, very steep slopes, and the regions close to volcanoes are not suitable for safe living. Therefore, the Earth processes have to be considered before choosing a site to reside in.

Explanation of Solution

The Earth processes control human lives in several ways. The landscape around humans has various signs that indicate the suitability and safety of a place to live in. They also provide indications for the occurrence of natural disasters.

Volcanoes are potentially dangerous as they erupt lava, volcanic bombs, ash, and dust. However, they provide good nutrients and fertile soil to grow crops. Then, it is the choice of people to choose between the fertile soils and a safe life.

Very steep hillslopes and those made of weak materials are not suitable for any type of construction since those slopes can fail at any time owing to lose of stability. Too much steep slopes are extremely risky locations to live or to construct houses. Hence, people should never reside in those types of landscapes.

The elevation and shape of a landscape affects the temperature of air, strength and direction of wind, cloud formation, occurrence of precipitation, and other features of weather and climate. These factors very much influence the shaping of a landscape and the suitability of life there.

The regions prone to very strong earthquakes should not be considered as a safe place to live. It involves a great risk in dwelling in such a place. Soil of a region is majorly influenced by the regional rocks, slope steepness, and climate. Usually, the soil adjacent to rivers will be fertile and productive. Hence, much of the population chooses to live near a river. The other types of soil would be dangerous to build on as they turn out to be weak during an earthquake or expand when damp, cracking the foundations and rendering structures unsafe.