What does "land cover change" typically imply?

The term "land cover change" primarily refers to the alteration of the Earth's surface as a result of human activities. This encompasses a wide range of practices, such as urban development, agriculture, deforestation, and mining, which transform natural landscapes into modified environments. These changes can affect ecosystems, biodiversity, and environmental processes, making it a significant focus in geography and environmental studies.

Natural disasters may impact ecosystems, but they do not represent the ongoing and human-driven changes associated with land cover. The growth of natural vegetation is typically considered a form of land cover but does not fully encompass the broader concept of change, which includes both increases and decreases in land cover types. Changes in weather patterns, while influential in shaping land cover changes, do not directly describe the physical manifestations of such changes on the Earth's surface. Thus, the focus on human activity as a driver of change accurately encapsulates what "land cover change" signifies.