Examine how humans interact with one of the following surface processes: - River processes - Coastal processes - Mass movement processes. - Leaving Cert Geography - Question C - 2017

River engineering has various implications:

1. Flood Control: Dams help in storing excess rainwater, mitigating flood risks downstream.
2. Hydropower Generation: Dams can generate electricity, harnessing the potential energy of stored water.
3. Ecosystem Changes: However, the construction of dams can disrupt local ecosystems, affecting fish migration and altering sediment transport downstream.

Another significant interaction is coastal development, particularly through the construction of seawalls.

Seawalls are built to protect coastal property from erosion and storm surges.

The construction of seawalls impacts coastal processes in the following ways:

1. Erosion Control: Seawalls can effectively slow down the rate of coastal erosion by absorbing wave energy.
2. Habitat Disruption: Conversely, they can disrupt local ecosystems and natural habitats, impacting marine life.
3. Reflective Wave Energy: Seawalls can change wave patterns, potentially increasing erosion at adjacent unprotected areas.

Humans also interact with mass movement processes through land use changes, such as deforestation on hillsides.

This can lead to increased landslide susceptibility.

Changes in land use can exacerbate mass movement processes:

1. Increased Landslides: Deforestation removes roots that stabilize soil, making slopes more prone to slipping.
2. Soil Erosion: The removal of vegetation can lead to accelerated soil erosion, which further destabilizes the terrain.
3. Flooding: Altering land can affect drainage patterns, increasing flood risk in areas below.