Environmental Management - Chapter 2 - The Hydrosphere
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Transcript of Environmental Management - Chapter 2 - The Hydrosphere
Environmental ManagementChapter 1 – The Hydrosphere
Global Freshwater stores
infiltration
interception
Groundwater flow
The water cycle
• Evaporation – when water droplets get converted to water vapor due to heat, in the atmosphere.
• Condensation – when water vapor is cooled down.
• Precipitation – cooling of water vapor and reaching back to the surface.
• Surface run-off – Water that flows from the ground to some water body.
(Contd…)• Transpiration – when water is lost by plants
and trees.• Evapo-transpiration – the total water lost by
land and plants.• Groundwater flow – when the remainder
water runs sideways off the ground.• Infiltration – when remaining water seeps
downwards into the ground.• Interception – precipitation prevented to
directly fall on the ground by trees and plants.
Climate
Soil
Natural Vegetation
Animals
An e
cosy
stem
Incr
easi
ng d
eman
d fo
r wat
er
Rising world population
More irrigation water used for food production
Increase demand for fresh water
More water used at homes
Improved standards of living
Water use per person
Ads and Disads of Dams
• Water supplies are assured throughout the whole country/region.
• More farmland can be reclaimed
• Helpful for water-poor countries
• HEP from dams provides electricity
• People are forced to move from land about to be flooded
• New farmland is usually not of good quality
• Ecosystems destroyed• Animal habitats lost
Why access to safe water is higher in
urban areas
Cities are more
wealthy places with
factories and offices
Easier to put pressure on
the politicians / leaders to
make improvements
On average, people’s incomes
are higher
Wealthy people are more likely
to live in cities
Water pipes are easier & cheaper to build when a
lot of people live close together
Why access to safe water is lower in rural
areas
Rural areas are
more poorer areas.
Harder to put pressure on
the politicians / leaders to
make improvements
Rural areas are poorer
places
Wealthy people are more likely
to live in cities
Water pipes are harder and
expensive to build when a lot of people live far
away
100% precipitation40%
evapotranspiration
10% run-off
50% groundwater
100% precipitation25%evapotranspiration
45% run-off
30% groundwater
Immediate Short-term Long-term
Loss of human life Houses destroyed factories and work places flooded out livestock carried away Crops ruined road and rail bridges washed away communications disrupted
people in need of medical treatment for injuries homeless people people suffering from water-related diseases shortage of safe drinking water food shortages problems of moving
repair and build new houses replace bridges, roads and railway lines
Effects of a major flood
Decrease in tree growth Reduced crop yields Reduced stream flows Reduced water supply Dry conditions in some biomes Conflict between farmers and urban dwellers
Effects of a drought