Scotland’s Changing Landscape

Colin K. Ballantyne, Andrew R. Black, Rob Ferguson, John E. Gordon, James D. Hansom

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Landscape changes in Scotland occur in an environment of relative tectonic and climatic stability but widespread human impact. However, climatic trends and projections suggest that gradual warming and loss of snowcover may in the future be accompanied by increases in winter wetness and extreme rainstorm events, particularly in western Scotland. Periodic flood events show no clear historical trend, but are responsible for channel changes in upland rivers, infrastructural damage and urban flooding; increased wetness and ground saturation may increase the frequency of such events. Active rock-slope instability is rare, but there is evidence of increasing debris-flow activity, which has been responsible for disruption of road and rail links. Coastal changes (mainly beach and dune erosion) reflect relative sea-level rise, diminution of offshore sediment supply and the effects of coastal protection structures causing localised erosion and beach steepening. Anthropogenic activity (urban expansion, infrastructure development, land-use change and mineral extraction) has had a major geomorphological and visual impact on the Scottish landscape, at worst resulting in geodiversity loss and landscape blight. Growing recognition of the benefits of geoconservation, however, may help preserve Scotland’s outstanding and varied landscapes and landforms.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationLandscapes and Landforms of Scotland
    EditorsColin K. Ballantyne, John E. Gordon
    Place of PublicationSwitzerland
    PublisherSpringer
    Chapter5
    Pages97-114
    Number of pages18
    Edition1
    ISBN (Electronic)9783030712464
    ISBN (Print)9783030712457 (hbk), 9783030712488 (pbk)
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Publication series

    NameWorld Geomorphological Landscapes
    PublisherSpringer
    ISSN (Print)2213-2090
    ISSN (Electronic)2213-2104

    Keywords

    • Climate change
    • Floods
    • River channel changes
    • River regulation
    • Rock-slope stability
    • Debris flows
    • Snow avalanches
    • Coasts
    • Coastal erosion
    • Anthropogenic impacts
    • Geodiversity
    • Geoconservation

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Earth-Surface Processes
    • Geology

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