Human Impacts on Hydrologic Cycle

Question 1

dams:

Answer 1

a man-made structure that’s built to hold water and raise the water levels in the reservoir that the dam has created

Question 2

reservoir:

Answer 2

an artificial lake that forms when a dam blocks water and causes the levels to rise

Question 3

function of dams and reservoirs:

Answer 3

generate electricity and supply water to industries, homes, and irrigation systems

Question 4

pros of dams and reservoirs:

Answer 4

1. hydroelectricity
2. plentiful harvest
3. reduces or prevents floods
4. debris control

Question 5

cons of damns and reservoirs:

Answer 5

1. reduce biodiversity
2. poor water quality
3. lower crop production
4. block fish migration
5. increase water borne illness
6. trigger earthquakes

Question 6

solutions for dams and reservoirs:

Answer 6

diversions rather than complete blockage

Question 7

optimal water quality:

Answer 7

clarity, life, high oxygen percentage, no radiation

Question 8

subprime water quality:

Answer 8

murky, less life or no life, low oxygen quality, radiation

Question 9

problems with water quality:

Answer 9

1. human waste in water carries disease-causing microbes

2. increased ammonia and nitrate levels by dumping sewage

Question 10

solution for water quality:

Answer 10

proper maintenance of bodies of water

Question 11

wetlands:

Answer 11

large swampy areas with large amounts of water that filter polluted water and soak up extra water

Question 12

wetland drainage:

Answer 12

smaller wetlands cleared and consolidated into single wetland which changes the water levels and properties of the soil and plants

Question 13

solution for wetland drainage:

Answer 13

leave them alone

Question 14

deforestation:

Answer 14

human removal of plants and animals from an area for non-plant use

Question 15

impacts of deforestation:

Answer 15

decreases infiltration in geosphere, increases erosion and runoff, decreases percolation

Question 16

solution for deforestation:

Answer 16

hydroponics and decrease in slash-farming

Question 17

climate change:

Answer 17

changes in weather patterns that have developed in the last century due to the increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere

Question 18

impacts of climate change:

Answer 18

as the temperature increases more water evaporates, which increases the likelihood of extreme droughts and rainfall

Question 19

solution for climate change:

Answer 19

decrease fossil fuel usage

Question 20

groundwater mining:

Answer 20

manual extraction of water from aquifers that exceed replenishment rate

Question 21

impact of groundwater mining:

Answer 21

diminishes aquifers, which is a source for wildlife and vegetation and creates sinkholes

Question 22

solution for groundwater mining:

Answer 22

give aquifers more time to replenish and regulate groundwater mining

Question 23

irrigation:

Answer 23

supply of water to land or crops to help the growth by means of artificial channels

Question 24

impact of irrigation:

Answer 24

removes water from the natural source causing leaching and runoff

Question 25

solution for irrigation:

Answer 25

drip irrigation: a slow, precise, watering system that targets the root zone of a plant and encourages deeper roots while saving water

Question 26

urbanization:

Answer 26

process of moving from rural and suburban areas to major cities

Question 27

impact of urbanization:

Answer 27

infiltration is difficult because less permeability and more runoff and limited ground water

Question 28

solution for urbanization:

Answer 28

permeable structures like permeable concreate