Environmental Management - Chapter 2 - The Hydrosphere

Environmental Management Chapter 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

Animals

Natural Vegetation

An ecosystem

Soil

More irrigation water used for food production

More water used at homes

Increase demand for fresh water

Increasing demand for water

Improved standards of living

Rising world population

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

Cities are more wealthy places with factories and offices

On average, people’s incomes are higher

Why access to safe water is higher in urban areas

Water pipes are easier & cheaper to build when a lot of people live close together

Wealthy people are more likely to live in cities

Easier to put pressure on the politicians / leaders to make improvements

Rural areas are more poorer areas.

Rural areas are poorer places

Why access to safe water is lower in rural areas

Water pipes are harder and expensive to build when a lot of people live far away

Wealthy people are more likely to live in cities

Harder to put pressure on the politicians / leaders to make improvements

100% precipitation

40% evapotranspiration

10% run-off 50% groundwater

25% evapotranspiration

100% precipitation

45% run-off

30% groundwater

Effects of a major flood 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 drought  Decrease in tree growth  Reduced crop yields  Reduced stream flows  Reduced water supply  Dry conditions in some biomes  Conflict between farmers and urban dwellers