Hydrosphere notes

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Increase in greenhouse gases created by humans. We need greenhouse gases, its the enhanced greenhouse effect thats detrimental to the earth. Human induced climate change is an effect of the EGE (enhanced greenhouse effect.) Possible impacts of EGE Rising sea levels Shifting climate zones towards the poles Higher levels of evaporation could increase rainfall in some areas or increase drought and desert in other areas Areas further north and south could become more agriculturally productive Fragile ecosystem could collapse eg. Coral ecosystems Changes in temperature and humidity will change the distribution of diseases and pests Increased numbers of environmental refugees due to flooding, drought and famine Management strategies Elimination of CFC production, and the development of the technology to recapture those CFCs no in use A change from carbon-intensive fuels such as coal to nitrogen-intensive fuels such as natural gas, where possible. Reduction of the rate of deforestation Encouragement of the development and use of solar energy and other carbon-free sources of energy An increase in the efficiency of the energy production and use.

Human interactions with the hydrosphere

Friday, 2 March 2012 8:33 AM

New challenges arise for water management as countries aspire to economic development. To meet the water needs for domestic, agriculture and industrial uses we need to collect, store, allocate and distribute equitably. Domestic

Agricultural

Industrial

Amount of water used for domestic purposes varies with living standards 4% of the world use 300-400L per day 65% rural 35%urban Dont have water Provision of a reticulated(piped and measured) water supply system would increase consumption dramatically The provision of access to a safe water supply leads to improved standards of living, greater use of water Developing world safe watersignificant health benefits, improvement in the status of women

Irrigation uses about two thirds of annual freshwater consumption More efficient water use has become a top priority in order to increase production, decrease demand, slow groundwater depletion and increase tendency towards sustainable use of water New irrigation technology uses less water is included in a range of policies that increase the efficiency of water use New irrigation technologyone of the policies that increase the efficiency of water use. Drip irrigation, far less water than sprinklers Efficienty of canal systems 84% of world agriculture is rain fed

Industry uses about 23% of annual freshwater withdrawals Industrial withdrawals are rising especially in China and India Demands for water for power generation, mining, processing and manufacturing Germany, France and UK 60-80% of total water demand goes to industry

River Landforms

River provide water to drink, irrigation systems, water for crops, transport and recreation. The cliff rock is sedimentary and provides trees to grow on it Water from the atmosphere comes from the oceans 9% is carried over by coastline Energy from the sun, which sculpts the landscape when rain falls The water erodes the land and transports the material and deposits it closer to the ocean Water works quickly at wearing away the continents The work of water on the moving crust of the earth is creates a continually changing landscape Rain water soaks into a bog then seeps out as a small stream Source of a river is also known as headwater Water shed is the boundary of the catchment Source of rivers, snow melts, rainfall on mountains Start from uplift, which means higher topography River on steep slopes tend to go down a series of steps Steps are formed when water is flowed over harder parts of the rock Often waterfalls, the hard rock overlays a softer layer As a waterfall continues to cut back it forms a canyon or gorge A lot of waterfalls are created by glaciers Waterfalls hang off the end of truncated spurs, which are created by glaciers Niagra falls was created from a fault line.

Erosion The water itself my erode the surface, its called hydraulic erosion Weathering on other rocks Hammering is the hydraulic erosions. Hammers away at a certain point Most erosion takes place when river is flooded Hammering from the water creates plunge pools Abrasion= other rocks weather away bigger harder rocks Rock has been undercut mainly caused by the scraping walls and erosion Joints

Have an influence on how river valleys deveop Usually straight Rocks develop cracks for various reasons but a main cause is stress unloading Boulders may break away from near the river or the valley walls, end up in valley When rocks become smooth enough they move on= transport=erosion

Erosion Rocks bounced along by current this is called As the river becomes faster the river become turbulent If the speed is doubled the river can carry about 30 times more material High turbitiy you have a lot of erosion in the water Weathering Breaking rock down into smaller components in situ (into smaller pieces) Surface of rocks can be broken down by heat, moisture and water 2 types of weathering physical or chemical Chemical-does alter rock chemistry e.g. limestone +H20 dissolves the rock Physical-does not try and alter chemistry, sandstone stays sandstone but becomes smaller pieces.

Produces round rocks such as tor- which is very much part of the alpine ecosystem weathered by heat and cold. Through onion weathering. Usually granite. Very important habitats.

V-shaped valleys Gravity and weathering and erosion The pressure is release on the sides therefore the edges erode away. Scree slopes- slope created by eroded material at the base of the valley. River under cuts and the section above it falls in Rain shadow Orographic rainfall creates a rain shadow. Limestone Dissolved by water therefore chemical weathering impact of hydrolic weathering. Braided river (decrease in velocity) Energy slows in middle reaches and the sediment is dropped out and the rivers braid. Catchment Watershed Meander Terraces Different level of flood plain. As the river gets deeper there are different levels of flood plain

Oxbow Cut off meander Weathering- In situ AquiferCorrasion Occurs when smaller material, carried in suspension , rubs against the banks of the river. This process is more likely in lowland areas by which time material will have been broken up small enough to be carried in suspension. River banks are worn away by a sand-papering action by a sandpapering action in which is also called abrasion. Corrosion Is when acids in the river disolve rocks, such as limestone, which form the banks and bed. This can occur at any point of the rivers course. Interlocking spurs

The Global Water Budget

The location quantity an quality of water resources are largely determined by the relationship between climate (precipitation and evaporation) and biophysical features, such as geology.

Among the characteristics of climate are the of rainfall and its seasonal distribution. These characteristics influence the biosphere through the limits of water availability places on plant growth. The world patterns of climate and vegetation, therefore, are the result of specific interactions between the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere.

River Hydrology
1. Define River Catchment Rain falling at relatively higher points in the natural landscape will be divided between two river systems. A line joining such points is called a watershed and it marks the boundary between river catchments. 2. Explain what happens to sediment carried by rivers Geomorphic functions River systems transport many materials, either as solids or in solution. In effect they move and redistribute many of the weathering products. Unless the flow of a river is rapid they river may not have the energy to move larger pebbles and boulders down stream. It is the fine materials (sands, clay and silts) that are suspended and carried along turbulent waters.

3. Copy figure 178 what does it demonstrate Stream order: first order streams flow into second order. Second order streams flow into the larger third order streams.

4. Fluvial landforms There are a variety of fluvial landform features. This divsity is a product of the interaction between river hydrology, geology, riverine vegetation and topography. High relief is associated with V-shaped valleys and waterfalls. Low relief is associated with floodplains, delta and levees, which are established through the deposition of flood-borne sediments. The flow rates and ratio of discharge to sediment load are factors leading to the development of braided streams and meanders.

Sources Of Water Pollution

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Crop spraying Irrigation Freshwater aquifers Septic systems Livestock waste (feedlots + intensive ag) Municipal sewage discharge Sewage treatment plants (incl. industrial waste) Stormwater runoff (not treated like sewage) Industrial discharge Waste disposal in deep wells (leaching) Landfill Underground mining(tnt and explosives) Underground water storage Strip mining/ open cut (sediment in runoff- turbidity) Mining waste ponds (tailings) Construction erosion Chemical applications to parks and lawns (fertilizers and pesticides) Salt runoff from roads Siltation in reservoirs

20. 21. 22. 23.

Soil erosion Deforestation Excessive fertiliser application -- eutrophication -- algal blooms Disposal of hazardous wastre (heavy metals) a. Carinogens eg. Cadium 24. Thermal water from industry, power stations, hard surfaces.

The Nile River The Nile River and its tributaries are 6826km in length and the Nile is the longest river system in the world. The Nile River flows through 9 countries (Zaire, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt) and experiences a wide range of climatic conditions. It originates from two sources; the White Nile and the Blue Nile and flows from south in Central Africa through the Sahara Desert and to the Mediterranean Sea and to the north. 86% of the Niles average annual flow comes from the Ethiopian Highlands and 14% comes from the equatorial lake sources. Historical Context Every year in late summer and autumn, monsoonal rain in Africa would cause the river to flood. The river would pick up soil and mud and flood Egypt, covering the fields for 2 months. The floods then recede, leaving behind large amounts of silt to enrich the soil and create the rich agriculture lands of the Nile Valley. The floods flush the river of pollution and provide a source of water for 2/3 of the densely populated city of Cairo. However, these floods were uncontrollable and strong floods would destroy villages and crops and weak floods led to famines. Productivity also decreases during flooding and water is often lost or wasted. River Regulation In 1960 under the direction of the Soviet Hydroproject, the Aswan High Dam was constructed. It was designed to harness the water from the floods and relive Egypts dependence on the flood cycle. It is located 250km south of Cairo and is 3600m long with a max height of 111m. The Aswan Dam was built to store 11/2 times the average annual flow of the Nile, after a massive international effort to save and relocate priceless ancient archaeological sites. The dam protects the lower Nile from floods and manages the release of water for irrigation downstream. Due to the dam, the city has expanded at a rate of 1200 hectares per year, which in turn places more pressure on water resources. (Cairo is a megacity and its expanding population places problems) Economic Development Nearly 90% of Egypts water supply is used for irrigated agriculture. 60% of the population is employed in agriculture. It accounts for 30% of GNP and 80% of export income. Multiple cropping has been extended because of access to water and high yields have been achieved in cotton, rice and wheat. The Aswan High Dam Power Station provides about 50% of Egypts hydropower. The dam has also enabled tourists to use the river all year round. It has also protected the population during periods of severe drought. Negative Impacts Sediment previously transported downstream by the Nile is now trapped behind the dam wall. The floodplain no longer receives a new layer of sediment and nutrients. This means that agriculture is now adding synthetic fertilisers in order to make ip the shortfall. Excess nutrients in the system lead to eutrophication and therefore algal blooms.

The lack of sediment reaching the Nile Delta is causing the coastline to erode and retreat by 5 to 8 metres a year, and the lack of nutrients has caused a reduction in sardines and other fish in the Mediterranean sea. the erosion of the coastline has also increased the salinity in the delta which has affected the ecology of the area (the biophysical environment). Shistosomiasis (Bilharzia) has increased in Egypt as a result of the Aswan High Dam.

Interaction between Hydrosphere and Lithosphere Water can have a weathering and eroding effect on the Lithosphere. Water can be in the form of liquid (rain, river etc) and solid (ice, snow, hail etc) One form of water that has a major effect is glaciers. Glaciers create U-shaped valleys, cirques, horns and artes. Moraines are eroded sediment created from abrasion and plucking. Abrasion is created when sediment carried by the glacier rubs against and wears away the sides and floor of the valley. Plucking is created when the frozen ice sticks to the rocks and pulls it away from the sides and floor of valley because of gravity.