Anthropogenic Soils

Abstract

Anthropogenic landforms are created either directly by artificial processes (e.g., strip mining), or indirectly by natural processes triggered by human activity (e.g., accelerated soil erosion). They are commonly produced by the building up of the land with artificial fill materials (aggradation), or as a result excavation (degradation). Anthropogenic landforms vary as a function of geocultural setting, and are generally recognized by their deviation from the natural landscape. Anthropogenic landforms can be classified physically into six basic types: (1) flats, (2) benches, (3) terraces, (4) convexomorphic, (5) concavomorphic, and (6) plateau. The NRCS Geomorphic Description System used in the U.S. classifies landforms hierarchically according to landscape, landform, microfeature and anthropogenic feature.