5.10

• Urbanization in coastal areas

  • Population growth in coastal areas can lead to saltwater intrusion due to:
  • Sea level rise due to warming of ocean and melting of ice caps
  • Excessive groundwater withdrawal near coast lowering water table pressure
• Trends in population:

  • People move from rural to urban for jobs, entertainment, cultural attractions
  • Urban areas are more densely populated, minimizing driving, and land use per person
  • highest growth is seen in suburban population
• urban sprawl: population movement out of dense urban centers into less dense suburban areas surrounding the city
• Causes of urban sprawl:

  • Cheaper property in suburbs
  • transportation/expanded highway system makes it easier to commute
  • Blight (unsightly, rundown infastructure) caused by abandoned homes/businesses
• Solutions to urban sprawl:

  • Urban growth boundaries such as zoning laws
  • Public transport and walkable city design
  • mixed land use