Issue: External pressures on human settlements - Environmental risks
This is an issue under the Human settlements theme of the Data Reporting System.
Why we need to know about this issue
Human settlements can be affected by a range of phenomena from the external environment. Some of these phenomena may themselves be anthropogenic in origin, while others may arise from natural cycles, processes and changes.
Bushfires, droughts, floods, cyclones and storms are natural processes that may be exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change. Even minor variations in temperature and rainfall patterns can have unexpected outcomes. Land clearing and over-grazing can increase the frequency and intensity of dust storms. Changes affecting either the quality or quantity of inland waters can impact on the water supply available to human settlements. Rising sea levels, increasing sea surge and seawater intrusion into surface and groundwater can impact on coastal settlements. Changes to the stratospheric ozone layer, resulting from the human use of ozone depleting substances, can increase the intensity of ultraviolet radiation reaching human settlements.
Related issues
- Atmosphere - Climate variability and change- Weather
- Land - Contributions and pressures between the land and the atmosphere- Climate
- Land - Contributions and pressures between the land and the atmosphere- Ozone depletion
- Land - Contributions and pressures between the land and the atmosphere- Airborne substances
- Land - Contributions and pressures between the land and the ocean- Pressures of ocean change on the land
- Biodiversity - Pressures on biodiversity- Fire
- Biodiversity - Pressures on biodiversity- Changed hydrology
- Biodiversity - Pressures on biodiversity- Climate variability
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and the atmosphere- Climate and carbon dioxide
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and the atmosphere- Airborne substances
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and inland water- Effect of changes in coasts and oceans on inland waters
- Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and land- Effects of changes in the ocean on the land
- Inland Waters - Catchment scale influences- Influence of climate variability and change
Key
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