Human Impacts on Hydrologic Cycle Flashcards
dams:
a man-made structure that’s built to hold water and raise the water levels in the reservoir that the dam has created
reservoir:
an artificial lake that forms when a dam blocks water and causes the levels to rise
function of dams and reservoirs:
generate electricity and supply water to industries, homes, and irrigation systems
pros of dams and reservoirs:
- hydroelectricity
- plentiful harvest
- reduces or prevents floods
- debris control
cons of damns and reservoirs:
- reduce biodiversity
- poor water quality
- lower crop production
- block fish migration
- increase water borne illness
- trigger earthquakes
solutions for dams and reservoirs:
diversions rather than complete blockage
optimal water quality:
clarity, life, high oxygen percentage, no radiation
subprime water quality:
murky, less life or no life, low oxygen quality, radiation
problems with water quality:
- human waste in water carries disease-causing microbes
2. increased ammonia and nitrate levels by dumping sewage
solution for water quality:
proper maintenance of bodies of water
wetlands:
large swampy areas with large amounts of water that filter polluted water and soak up extra water
wetland drainage:
smaller wetlands cleared and consolidated into single wetland which changes the water levels and properties of the soil and plants
solution for wetland drainage:
leave them alone
deforestation:
human removal of plants and animals from an area for non-plant use
impacts of deforestation:
decreases infiltration in geosphere, increases erosion and runoff, decreases percolation
solution for deforestation:
hydroponics and decrease in slash-farming
climate change:
changes in weather patterns that have developed in the last century due to the increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
impacts of climate change:
as the temperature increases more water evaporates, which increases the likelihood of extreme droughts and rainfall
solution for climate change:
decrease fossil fuel usage
groundwater mining:
manual extraction of water from aquifers that exceed replenishment rate
impact of groundwater mining:
diminishes aquifers, which is a source for wildlife and vegetation and creates sinkholes
solution for groundwater mining:
give aquifers more time to replenish and regulate groundwater mining
irrigation:
supply of water to land or crops to help the growth by means of artificial channels
impact of irrigation:
removes water from the natural source causing leaching and runoff
solution for irrigation:
drip irrigation: a slow, precise, watering system that targets the root zone of a plant and encourages deeper roots while saving water
urbanization:
process of moving from rural and suburban areas to major cities
impact of urbanization:
infiltration is difficult because less permeability and more runoff and limited ground water
solution for urbanization:
permeable structures like permeable concreate
