Final Flashcards
Hydrological Cycle
1Evaporation 2Transpiration 3Condensation 4Transport 5Precipitation 6Runoff 7Percolation 8Groundwater
Droughts
2 or 3years of below average rainfall
Can be local or statewide
Transportation of water can mitigate the effects
Floods
The other extreme of Climate variability
El Nino
Historically- spreads fertile soil
Recently- Dams, levees, dikes to control
Snowpack
Natural reservoir of water
Slowly melts spring through summer
Provides steady runoff
Could be impacted by global warming
Groundwater
Percolates through soil
Provides 30% of urban & Agri. needs
Pumping started in 1900’s in central Valley
Hydrolic Regions
Major drainage areas
Bounded by mountain ranges
Spanish Period (water)
Water given by monarch to communities
American Period (water)
Individuals have water rights
In CA two realities govern the law of water
1-Basic Availability
2-How available is the water (distribution)
Riparian Rights
Legal ability to access water adjacent to property
Based on English Common law
Remains with property even as title changes hands
Reasonable use as long as it does not impact others
Diversion not allowed
Appropriative Rights
Superior rights to those who first put water to beneficial uses
Person can continue using amount of water as long as it is continuous
Rights can be lost
CA Aqueducts
1-Cali Water Distribution System
2-Central valley project
3-Colorado River Aqueduct & Canals
4-Los Angeles Aqueduct
Aqueduct and water issues
Long term environmental change
Loss of wetlands & ecosystems
Agriculture-runoff & salt buildup
Urban water use
11%
CA Water Distribution System
Aqueduct system
State water project
70% urban & industrial
Central Valley Project
Federally funded 1935
Irrigates 1/3 of state agri. land
Water from northern CA generates electricity
Colorado River Aqueduct & Canals
1933-1941
CA shares water w/ 6 other states & Mexico
75% of water irrigates agri. in Imperial county
CA has taken excess water historically
Now cutback
Salton Sea
huge evaporation pond
25% saltier than the ocean
full of salt from agri. fields
Imperial County
Economic Geography
First among states
Leader among nations
Leads in population size and growth
Geographic effects
International trade
fishing
Climate
Primary economic activity
Economic flexibility over time
Aero Space
High Tech
International Trade
Primary Activities
Mining
Fishing
Oil and gas
Entertainment
Climate and natural settings
More than 50% of movies made in CA
ancillary business: nightlife & tourism
Tourism
CA ranked 1st in nation Diverse landscape Large size of state & pop.help keep it viable Hollywood effect 80% of tourists from CA
Agriculture
one of main contributors of GDP Valley flat lands fertile soil long growing season Livestock & field crops
Environmental Impact of agriculture
Air, water, soil pollution
Housing Market
Historically expensive especially along coasts
Unaffordable to many in the state
Coastal environment
Very important to CA
Tourism, fishing, marine transportation
Early Groups
Chumash
Ca largest ocean economy in US
Fishing Kelp Oil & Gas Marine Tourism Transportation
Environmental Protection
Early laws 1972
CA coastal commission
Planning and regulating coastal environment
North Pacific gyre
move water in huge clockwise pattern
Currents
CA current
North Pacific/ Alaska current
North equatorial current
Kuroshio current
CA current
north to south along coast
leads to cooler water than eastern US
Upwelling
Vertical upward flow of cool, subsurface water result of surface winds Brings up nutrient rich material good food for marine life Most between March & September
Southern CA eddy
Counter current that brings somewhat warmer water from the south
Southern CA bight
A bend in the coastline forming a wide mouth open bay
semi contained area of the pacific from the point of conception
storm runoff pollution
oil
fertilizer
pesticides
pet waste
coastal land forms
pacific coast is rugged
high relief
sea cliffs
headlands
results from tectonic process
erosional coast
wind and wave action
Beach dynamics
beach and dunes
Beaches
always in flux
material for beaches is added by streams & rivers bringing sediments to the coast
dunes
constantly changing
formed when wind blows dry sand inland, away from ocean, & accumulates around vegetation & driftwood
littoral drift
movement of sand along coasts
winter & summer differences
winter get pulled away-narrow
summer gets pushed back- wider
sand material for beaches
damming and cementing of river reduces sediment
wetlands
SF Bay estuary
largest wetlands on west coast
suffers from urban encroachment and depleted freshwater inflows
islands
tops of undersea mountains
provides wildlife sanctuary
rare species evolving in isolation
Channel Islands
Energy
Transport people and water produce and industrial output oil and natural gas import electricity energy consumption higher than national avg
Air pollution
air pollution decreased
urban-transportation
rural-machinery, fertilizers, pesticides
solution to pollution
renewable and alternative energy
solar energy issues
expensive takes up lots of space disrupt desert environment generation far from users production & disposal of PVC Photovoltaic cells
Hydro power
19% of total energy
80% generated in the state
usually dams and reservoirs
Hydro power issues
dams interrupt natural flow of water, silt, fish
located in remote areas
energy lost in transmission
no new dams being built
geothermal issues
access to sites not evenly distributed
typically far away from populated areas
wind power issues
wind varies during day & by season
environmental disturbance, birds, bugs, noise
nuclear power issues
how to dispose and store uranium
other energy sources
ocean waves
not financially viable yet
automobile alternatives
electric cars
hybrids
hydrogen powered cars
public transportation
electric car issues
still dirty but controlled at central location
hybrid issues
good intermediate solutions
bio diesel
limited
diverting farmland can cause problems
hydrogen car issues
not practical
no environmental benefit
energy needed to get hydrogen
public transportation issues
doesn’t go to destination
urban areas developed around cars
Agricultural improvements
1-multi crop rotation to keep soil fertile
2-diversity of crops to reduce water input
3-select crop based on climate, topography, soil
Homes sustainability
energy use energy saving light bulbs roof positioning designs plant deciduous trees near windows CA climate good for these techniques
how to lessen water usage
drought resistant plants
artificial grass
education
CA environmental protection agency
tracks pollution status
air, water, land
