TOPIC 1: WATER AS A
RESOURCE GE: 340 (NOTES)
Distribution of water on earth
•
Saline
and fresh water distribution
•
Hydrological
cycle
•
Reasons
for uneven distribution of water
•
Water
covers about 70% of Earth’s surface (Shakhashiri,2009).
The Earth is often referred to as the
"blue planet" because when viewed from space it appears blue
•
This
blue color is caused by reflection from the oceans which contain the bulk of
water.
Water is widely
distributed on Earth as freshwater and salt water in the oceans. Water is
contained in the ocean, atmosphere, icecaps, glaciers, underground sources,
rivers and lakes.
•
Other small amount of water in the atmosphere,
and inside the body of living organisms. (Your body is made up of 60% water)
•
According
to the earth system models all these areas that contain water are the
hydrological interconnected systems.
•
This
fact of interconnectivity among the areas that contain water can be explained by
the so called Hydrological cycle.
•
The
global hydrological cycle explains the distribution of water as it moves as
either a liquid, solid or vapor between the ocean, the atmosphere and the land.
•
The
total amount of water in the cycle is always the same; no water is added or
lost (The principle of mass/matter conservation).
This is a good example of a closed system.
•
The
hydrological cycle is powered by solar energy. The sun heats water from the ocean,
lakes, rivers and the Earth’s surface. This water then evaporates into the
atmosphere (Evaporation)
•
Additional water is drawn from the soil by
plants, and is then evaporated into the atmosphere from leaves and stems (transpiration).
•
As
the air rises and the temperature drops, the moisture-laden air condenses
(Condensation) forming clouds and eventually resulting in precipitation in the
form of rain or snow.
•
Surface run-off makes its way back to the
ocean via rivers. Other water seeps into the soil. This process is called
infiltration
•
If
the rock below the soil is permeable, then the water percolates the rock and is
stored as groundwater.
•
As water passes through the hydrological
cycle it is naturally cleaned through the following processes.
•
Distillation:
happens when water evaporates, leaving impurities behind
•
Crystallization:
occurs when ocean water freezes and creates pure water ice. Again, impurities
are removed from the water naturally.
•
Filtration: The
ground itself works as a filtering agent. When water moves through particles of
sand or rock, larger contaminants get left behind.
•
Dilution:
is when contaminants in water are made less dangerous by the addition of pure
water. For example, a small pond with undrinkable water will be cleaner after a
large amount of precipitation increases its pure water content.
•
Oxidation:
in water breaks down organic materials, such as dead plants, animals and their
waste products, into simple molecules.
UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF WATER ON THE
EARTH’S SURFACE
Uneven distribution of
water is caused by
• The
nature of rainfall of an area
• The
nature of surface bedrock which has an effect on the rate of infiltration
• The
nature of landscape.
• Availability
of water bodies. Water bodies normally help to speed up the rate of evaporation
• Economic
development and technological development.
GROUP QUESTIONS
1.If water is
constantly being cleaned and recycled through the earth’s water cycle, why do
we need to conserve it?
2.Using examples elaborate the contention that “water
is unevenly distributed in time, space, quantity and quality in Tanzania”.
3.If 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water.
Do you think there is any need to conserve water? Why?
The information which you have posted about the water system is very true. You have written a great post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your appreciation!
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