After learning about water, what it is, how it is important to everything in the world, how it gets polluted, and how we can prevent pollution in our waters, here are some ways that we all can do to accelerate to protect our waters.
Many students are now discovering that they can contribute to scientific knowledge and help the environment through active learning and undergraduate research programs. Internship is a way of doing this.
You can also join a group or an organization to help sanitize, clean, and help people from all of the country who are in need of water or help educate them. By joining an organization such as "A Child's Right," their mission is to serve families in the poorest communities in the world as they implement community-managed projects that integrate water supply, sanitation, and health education according to their website, "A Child's Right." Here are their contacts if interested in joining or learning more.
USA - A Child's Right
1127 Broadway, Suite 102 . Tacoma, WA 98402 USA
Phone: 253.327.1707 . email: acr@achildsright.org
Another organization that is here in Wisconsin is the "Community Shares of Wisonsin." What they do is addresses social, economic, and environmental problems through grassroots activities, advocacy, research, and public education according to their website "Community Shares."
To get to know this organization better contact them through mail, address or phone.
612 W. Main Street, Suite 303
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 256-1066
Fax: (608) 256-8823
Email
You don't have to join an organization if you don't want to. What you also can do is walk around the beaches and collect the garbages in the area. You could also conserve water by using enough or less when cooking, taking a bath, brushing your teeth, watering your lawn, and washing your car with less water. Every little thing counts when using water or doing something that can affect the water, and you'd be surprise how much water you are saving for yourself and the world. This not only helps you but also the people around you.
A Child's Right. N.p., 2006. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.achildsright.org/water_relief_org_links.php>.
Community Shares. N.p., 2011. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.communityshares.com/contact.asp>.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Insufficient Sewage Treatment Causes Water Pollution
Many cities in developing countries are able to afford a sewage treatment system for their community, but for those less unfortunate cities who can not afford one, are faced with spreading of diseases, eutrophication, increase in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), etc.
According to Cunningham and Cunningham, the World Bank estimates that only 35% of urban residents in developing countries have satisfactory sanitation services (2010.) Even if they had little fresh water, it would go and mix with the sewage. They also state that in Latin America, only 2 percent of urban sewage receives any treatment, and in Egypt, Cairo's sewer system was built about 50 years ago to serve 2 million people. There are about 10 million people today in Egypt which is a huge problem having to deal with insufficient sewage and facing all sorts of disease or health issues
Many rivers and streams in developing countries are more like open sewers, and yet the poor people wash, bath, cook, and drink from it (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010). In most cases, they would not survive for very long before they die. It is very important that countries who have the technology, knowledge, and money should help the poor people. Even without money, knowledge could still help the poor people better themselves and their community.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.500. Print.
According to Cunningham and Cunningham, the World Bank estimates that only 35% of urban residents in developing countries have satisfactory sanitation services (2010.) Even if they had little fresh water, it would go and mix with the sewage. They also state that in Latin America, only 2 percent of urban sewage receives any treatment, and in Egypt, Cairo's sewer system was built about 50 years ago to serve 2 million people. There are about 10 million people today in Egypt which is a huge problem having to deal with insufficient sewage and facing all sorts of disease or health issues
Many rivers and streams in developing countries are more like open sewers, and yet the poor people wash, bath, cook, and drink from it (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010). In most cases, they would not survive for very long before they die. It is very important that countries who have the technology, knowledge, and money should help the poor people. Even without money, knowledge could still help the poor people better themselves and their community.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.500. Print.
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Hydrological Cycle
Air pollution that causes pollution in water may be determine by the hydrological cycle which moves and carries the water.
The Hydrologic cycle is a model that describes the storage and movement of water between the, biosphere, atmosphere, and the hydrosphere(Hubbert 2010). This water evaporates from moist surfaces, falls as rain or snow, passes through living organisms, and returns to the ocean (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010).
The Hydrologic cycle begins with evaporation from the surface of the ocean. According to Bramer, moisture is than transported by the winds around the globe until it returns to the surface as precipitation. Once the water reaches the ground, it may evaporate back again, or penetrate the surface and become ground water states the article of the Hydrological Cycle. The ground water may seep into the river, lake, and ocean, or it may be released back into the atmosphere through transpiration according to the article "A Summary of The Hydrological Cycle." The remains of the water on the Earth's surface is runoffs, which goes back to lakes and rivers that carries it to the ocean (Bramer 2010). The Hydrological Cycle than begins again.
Bramer, Daniel. "A Summary of The Hydrologic Cylce." http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/smry.rxml. N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/smry.rxml>.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.372. Print.
Hubbert, Jason. "Hydrologic Cycle." http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle. N.p., 02/23/2011. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle>
The Hydrologic cycle is a model that describes the storage and movement of water between the, biosphere, atmosphere, and the hydrosphere(Hubbert 2010). This water evaporates from moist surfaces, falls as rain or snow, passes through living organisms, and returns to the ocean (Cunningham, Cunningham 2010).
The Hydrologic cycle begins with evaporation from the surface of the ocean. According to Bramer, moisture is than transported by the winds around the globe until it returns to the surface as precipitation. Once the water reaches the ground, it may evaporate back again, or penetrate the surface and become ground water states the article of the Hydrological Cycle. The ground water may seep into the river, lake, and ocean, or it may be released back into the atmosphere through transpiration according to the article "A Summary of The Hydrological Cycle." The remains of the water on the Earth's surface is runoffs, which goes back to lakes and rivers that carries it to the ocean (Bramer 2010). The Hydrological Cycle than begins again.
Bramer, Daniel. "A Summary of The Hydrologic Cylce." http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/smry.rxml. N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/smry.rxml>.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010.372. Print.
Hubbert, Jason. "Hydrologic Cycle." http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle. N.p., 02/23/2011. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle>
Air Pollution And Water
Besides water vapor causing harm on humans, air pollution is another factor that can cause serious damage to the people, environment and especially water.
Most people believe that air pollution can not affect the water around us since it's up in the sky and not on the ground. But what they don't know is that some air pollutants are able to reach our water resourses such as lakes, rivers, dams, oceans, ponds, and etc... Some fall as dry particles due to gravity, while other air pollutants fall with rain, snow, or fog, and they can enter a body of water directly, or they can fall onto land and enter indirectly with water run-off (Eastburn 2006). They not only affect the water, but also living organisms that depends on the water for their survival.
According to Eastburn, Nitrogen compounds supply an unnatural amount of nutrients to a body of water, which can cause a rapid increase in the growth of algae. The danger of having a rapid increase of algae can cause clogged waterways and upset the balance of the ecosystem. But the most dangerous is that some algae blooms are toxic and are the base of the food web, which can be transmitted to a wide variety of organisms. Besides the increase of algae, Nitrogen compounds can also contribute to water bodies becoming more acidic (Eastburn 2006).
Approximately 2,700 to 6,000 tons of Mercury are released into the air as gas coming from the Earth's crust and oceans each year, and about 2,000 to 3,000 tons are released each year into the atmosphere by human activities, primarily from burning wastes, and especially from fossil fuels such as coal. (Eastburn 2006). According to Eastburn, mercury is soluble in water, therefore bacteria can cause chemical changes that transform it into methyl mercury, a more toxic form. Methyl mercury can cause fish to eat birds, mammals and humans also. Sea creatures can absorb the mercury, and when caught and cook, the mercury would remain, and if we eat it, it can cause nervous system damage or poising.
As you can see, air pollution not only affects the air, but water along with many organisms that depends on the water. So not only do we need to prevent water pollution, we also need to take care of our air.
Eastburn, Teri. "Air Pollution And Water." Windows2Universe. N.p., 03/01/2006. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.windows2universe.org/milagro/effects/water_watersheds.html>.
Most people believe that air pollution can not affect the water around us since it's up in the sky and not on the ground. But what they don't know is that some air pollutants are able to reach our water resourses such as lakes, rivers, dams, oceans, ponds, and etc... Some fall as dry particles due to gravity, while other air pollutants fall with rain, snow, or fog, and they can enter a body of water directly, or they can fall onto land and enter indirectly with water run-off (Eastburn 2006). They not only affect the water, but also living organisms that depends on the water for their survival.
According to Eastburn, Nitrogen compounds supply an unnatural amount of nutrients to a body of water, which can cause a rapid increase in the growth of algae. The danger of having a rapid increase of algae can cause clogged waterways and upset the balance of the ecosystem. But the most dangerous is that some algae blooms are toxic and are the base of the food web, which can be transmitted to a wide variety of organisms. Besides the increase of algae, Nitrogen compounds can also contribute to water bodies becoming more acidic (Eastburn 2006).
Approximately 2,700 to 6,000 tons of Mercury are released into the air as gas coming from the Earth's crust and oceans each year, and about 2,000 to 3,000 tons are released each year into the atmosphere by human activities, primarily from burning wastes, and especially from fossil fuels such as coal. (Eastburn 2006). According to Eastburn, mercury is soluble in water, therefore bacteria can cause chemical changes that transform it into methyl mercury, a more toxic form. Methyl mercury can cause fish to eat birds, mammals and humans also. Sea creatures can absorb the mercury, and when caught and cook, the mercury would remain, and if we eat it, it can cause nervous system damage or poising.
As you can see, air pollution not only affects the air, but water along with many organisms that depends on the water. So not only do we need to prevent water pollution, we also need to take care of our air.
Eastburn, Teri. "Air Pollution And Water." Windows2Universe. N.p., 03/01/2006. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.windows2universe.org/milagro/effects/water_watersheds.html>.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Water Vapor Affecting Our Weather
Many people knows that due to a build up of emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases from human sources affects our global warming. And although we dont want global warming to accelerate any farther, many scientist are now wondering why decrease in water vapor has contributed to slowing of Earth's warming.
Water vapor is a potent heat trapping gas which absorbs sunlight and re-emits heat onto Earth's atmosphere (Bhanoo 2010). Studies have found that from 1980-2000, an increase in water vapor sped the rate of warming during the industrial period states Bhanoo. Methane, which can be found in many industrial companies, when oxidized it produces water vapor, therefore we get warmer weathers.
According to Louise Gray, in 1990 it was studied and shown that about 1/3 of the increase of global temperature was due to an increase in water vapor. Today all has changed and many scientist does not know why there are not alot of water vapors. Today, water vapor has slowed the rate of Earth's warming by 25% states Dr. Soloman in Bhanoo's interview.
Although its great knowing that the decrease of water vapor decreases global warming since we are already battling global warming, its a mystery to everyone why there is a shortage of water vapor in the last ten years.
Bhanoo, Sindya. "Climant Change Is Due To Water Vapor." Sweetness- elite. N.p., 01/29/2010. Web. 3 Apr 2011.
Gray, Louise. "Water vapour is a major cause of global warming and cooling find scientists." Sweetness- elite. N.p., 01/29/2010. Web. 3 Apr 2011.
Water vapor is a potent heat trapping gas which absorbs sunlight and re-emits heat onto Earth's atmosphere (Bhanoo 2010). Studies have found that from 1980-2000, an increase in water vapor sped the rate of warming during the industrial period states Bhanoo. Methane, which can be found in many industrial companies, when oxidized it produces water vapor, therefore we get warmer weathers.
According to Louise Gray, in 1990 it was studied and shown that about 1/3 of the increase of global temperature was due to an increase in water vapor. Today all has changed and many scientist does not know why there are not alot of water vapors. Today, water vapor has slowed the rate of Earth's warming by 25% states Dr. Soloman in Bhanoo's interview.
Although its great knowing that the decrease of water vapor decreases global warming since we are already battling global warming, its a mystery to everyone why there is a shortage of water vapor in the last ten years.
Bhanoo, Sindya. "Climant Change Is Due To Water Vapor." Sweetness- elite. N.p., 01/29/2010. Web. 3 Apr 2011.
Gray, Louise. "Water vapour is a major cause of global warming and cooling find scientists." Sweetness- elite. N.p., 01/29/2010. Web. 3 Apr 2011.
Forms of Water
Earth has many resources in which water is one of them. Water is an essential to every thing that exist and lives. There is water everywhere around us whether we can see it or not. There are three forms of water which are solid, liquid, and gas that we all depend on.
Sold water are frozen water that freezes at a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, 32 degree of Fahrenheit (American Water Works Association 2002). When waters are about to freeze, the molecules moves farther apart thus expanding, and making it less dense than water. (AWWA 2002). The ice will be much lighter than the same volume of water which is why ice can float.
Liquid Water is water that flows freely. It is wet and fluid (AWWA 2002). Liquid water is the most recognizable because we see and use it everyday. We use liquid water to cook our food, wash our clothes and dishes and many more.
Water as a gas vapor is the changes from liquid to gas. If you take a warm shower you'll see steam like rising from the bottom to the ceiling and that is gas vapor. Water vapor attaches to dust in the air, and in warm temperature it forms raindrops, in cold, it freezes and forms snow or hail.
Earth provides many great resources, and water is one of the most important resource that it could provide for us humans and other living organisms.
Sold water are frozen water that freezes at a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, 32 degree of Fahrenheit (American Water Works Association 2002). When waters are about to freeze, the molecules moves farther apart thus expanding, and making it less dense than water. (AWWA 2002). The ice will be much lighter than the same volume of water which is why ice can float.
Liquid Water is water that flows freely. It is wet and fluid (AWWA 2002). Liquid water is the most recognizable because we see and use it everyday. We use liquid water to cook our food, wash our clothes and dishes and many more.
Water as a gas vapor is the changes from liquid to gas. If you take a warm shower you'll see steam like rising from the bottom to the ceiling and that is gas vapor. Water vapor attaches to dust in the air, and in warm temperature it forms raindrops, in cold, it freezes and forms snow or hail.
Earth provides many great resources, and water is one of the most important resource that it could provide for us humans and other living organisms.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Ways To Clean And Restore Our Waters
So I've been mentioning how our country and many other countries are going through a water crisis, and how the world's water are getting polluted due to Industrial agriculture, habitat modification, and hydro- modification. Now I will talk about what we humans can do to prevent further damages to our waters and hope that we can create a better future for our kids.
According to Rita Putatanda, she states that toxic products like paints, automobile oil, polishes, and cleaning products should be stored and disposed off properly. As a matter of fact, it is better to use non-toxic, products for the house as far as possible. Also, never dispose off such products by throwing them into your toilet or sink states Rita. She also states the following:
Putatunda, Rita. "Ways to Prevent Water Pollution." Buzzle. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ways-to-prevent-water-pollution.html>.
According to Rita Putatanda, she states that toxic products like paints, automobile oil, polishes, and cleaning products should be stored and disposed off properly. As a matter of fact, it is better to use non-toxic, products for the house as far as possible. Also, never dispose off such products by throwing them into your toilet or sink states Rita. She also states the following:
- Dispose off your trash in a proper manner and try and incorporate the recycling habit as far as possible. Non-degradable products like tampons, sanitary napkins, and diapers should not be flushed down the toilet, for these can end up damaging the process of sewage treatment, and usually end up as litter on beaches.
- Refrain from throwing litter into streams, lakes, rivers, or seas. If you do spot litter on beaches or in water systems, after ascertaining that it is safe, collect them and dispose off them in any nearby waste disposal system.
- Try using environmentally friendly household products like toiletries, soap-based household cleaning material, and washing powder as far as possible.
- Try using natural fertilizers and pesticides as far as possible, or if not, do not overuse them or over-water gardens and lawns. This will help in reducing the pollutants that get into water systems due to runoffs.
- Automobile oil should be re-used as far as possible. Also, it is important to keep your automobile well maintained in order to prevent leakages of toxic fluids like antifreeze and oil.
- Also, actively conserve water by turning the tap off when you do not need running water, such as while brushing teeth. Apart from preventing water shortages, it lessens the amount of water that needs to be treated.
Putatunda, Rita. "Ways to Prevent Water Pollution." Buzzle. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ways-to-prevent-water-pollution.html>.
A Great Thirst For Water
With our waters getting polluted at a accelerated rate, we need to conserve and clean them as good as we possibly can.
Water water everywhere, yet ironically only a small percentage of water are good for drinking. One of the biggest problem's in today's world is now water.What might seem like a small problem will turn out to be a big war against other countries for the need of water for their native people. Big countries such as India, and China are now experiencing water crises.
India which is the largest, fastest growing country in the world is now currently lacking access to drinking water. India currently has the world’s second largest population, which is expected to overtake China’s by 2050 when it reaches a staggering 1.6 billion, putting increase strain on water resources as the number of people grows (Brooks 2007). With the economy and agricultural sector growing rapidly, it even thins out the water supply (Brooks 2007). According to Brooks, India's water crisis is a man made problem. For example, due to the poor management, unclear laws, government corruption, and industrial and human waste, it has caused their water supply to become useless. A combination of sewage disposal, industrial effluents, chemicals from farm runoffs, arsenic and fluoride has rendered India’s rivers unfit for drinking, irrigation, and even industrial purposes states Brooks. Surprisingly every river in India is polluted to some degree.
China, which is currently the country that has the most population right now is undergoing a water crises.
According to the Chifeng's hydrological bureau, 62 percent of the city's 51 reservoirs have run dry, Xinhua said and more than 250,000 people are short on drinking water. Beijing's water shortage will soon reach 200 million to 300 million cubic meters, and while aggressively building more dams to conserve their water, countries below them are angry and desperate for water also. Across the country, China has spent tens of billions of dollars to dam rivers, build reservoirs and dig deeper wells. Beijing also has tapped underground water to meet its needs, with the water level in the plains falling to 11 meters to 24 meters below sea level over the past decade, according to Xinhua. Without any change, tens of millions of Chinese will turn into environmental refugees over the next decade states the World Bank.
With the water crises going on in the third world countries, there are many other countries that were not mentioned here that are also going through the water crises also. To know what India and China is going through, it's really important to start finding solutions before other countries such as Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam who are under China breaks out a war to fight for their rights for their water. The shortage of water will be one the biggest and hardest problem to fix.
Brooks, Nina. "Imminent Water Crisis in India." arlingtoninstitute. N.p., 08/2007. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.arlingtoninstitute.org/wbp/global-water-crisis/606>.
Brooks, Nina. "Water shortages reach crisis levels in China." CNN World. N.p., 09/13/2010. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-13/world/china.water.crisis_1_water-shortages-water-supplies-drinking-water?_s=PM:WORLD>.
Water water everywhere, yet ironically only a small percentage of water are good for drinking. One of the biggest problem's in today's world is now water.What might seem like a small problem will turn out to be a big war against other countries for the need of water for their native people. Big countries such as India, and China are now experiencing water crises.
India which is the largest, fastest growing country in the world is now currently lacking access to drinking water. India currently has the world’s second largest population, which is expected to overtake China’s by 2050 when it reaches a staggering 1.6 billion, putting increase strain on water resources as the number of people grows (Brooks 2007). With the economy and agricultural sector growing rapidly, it even thins out the water supply (Brooks 2007). According to Brooks, India's water crisis is a man made problem. For example, due to the poor management, unclear laws, government corruption, and industrial and human waste, it has caused their water supply to become useless. A combination of sewage disposal, industrial effluents, chemicals from farm runoffs, arsenic and fluoride has rendered India’s rivers unfit for drinking, irrigation, and even industrial purposes states Brooks. Surprisingly every river in India is polluted to some degree.
China, which is currently the country that has the most population right now is undergoing a water crises.
According to the Chifeng's hydrological bureau, 62 percent of the city's 51 reservoirs have run dry, Xinhua said and more than 250,000 people are short on drinking water. Beijing's water shortage will soon reach 200 million to 300 million cubic meters, and while aggressively building more dams to conserve their water, countries below them are angry and desperate for water also. Across the country, China has spent tens of billions of dollars to dam rivers, build reservoirs and dig deeper wells. Beijing also has tapped underground water to meet its needs, with the water level in the plains falling to 11 meters to 24 meters below sea level over the past decade, according to Xinhua. Without any change, tens of millions of Chinese will turn into environmental refugees over the next decade states the World Bank.
With the water crises going on in the third world countries, there are many other countries that were not mentioned here that are also going through the water crises also. To know what India and China is going through, it's really important to start finding solutions before other countries such as Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam who are under China breaks out a war to fight for their rights for their water. The shortage of water will be one the biggest and hardest problem to fix.
Brooks, Nina. "Imminent Water Crisis in India." arlingtoninstitute. N.p., 08/2007. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.arlingtoninstitute.org/wbp/global-water-crisis/606>.
Brooks, Nina. "Water shortages reach crisis levels in China." CNN World. N.p., 09/13/2010. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-13/world/china.water.crisis_1_water-shortages-water-supplies-drinking-water?_s=PM:WORLD>.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
How Does Water Get Polluted
Water is the most essential to human beings, and with the population increasing there is a demand for water. But with more people there is also more water pollution.
Water is everywhere around us, and although it may look clean and clear, you'll be surprise to know that it maybe toxic or polluted. Water is an essential thing for human beings to have everyday, but if our lakes, drinking waters, rivers and lakes are polluted or not available for us to drink and use, it will also not be in good use for everything that depends on it too such as sea creatures, plants, soil, and many other things. So how does water get polluted?
Industrial agriculture is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States today. In the 2000 National Water Quality Inventory conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agricultural activity was identified as a source of pollution for 48% of stream and river water, and for 41% of lake water. According to the website Sustainable Table, most water population results from animal waste which in most industrial farms are store in large tanks call the "lagoon" that can hold up to millions of gallons of animal manure and urine. The lagoons may leak or rupture when a storm occurs, and since raw manure are 160 times more toxic than raw municipal, it'll be dangerous if it leaks into underground water states Sustainable Table. Leaking lagoons releases antibiotic residues and harmful bacteria which can make anyone who drinks the water sick or die. Another leading cause of water pollution is hydro-modification.
Hydromodification that alters the flow of water is the second leading source of damage to U.S. rivers, streams, and lakes. Examples of hydromodification are channelization, dredging, and construction of dams according to Rank. Rank states that excess sediments due to erosion caused by projects such as building dams can clog fishes gills and suffocate eggs. He goes further in details that sediments may also carry other pollutants such as mercury which can poison many living organisms that depends on the water. Next, the third leading cause of water pollution is habitat modification.
Habitat modification occurs when the vegetation along stream banks is removed, diminishing buffers that help filter runoff and provide shade for the adjacent water body states Rank. Without the vegetation that helps shade the stream banks, the water temperature are usually higher and an increase in quantity and velocity of runoff makes it harder for living organisms that lives underwater to survive. Habitat modification may also kill many animals that may depend on their natural habitat to live and survive, and with habitat modification occurring frequently these days to better the human society, it will soon affect us too.
Here I showed you three of the leading causes of water pollution. Beside these three, there are still hundreds of ways how water can get polluted. To decrease our chances of having many water pollutions in our country and other countries, we can make a difference picking up trash that floats upon the water and shores, educate people about water pollutions, and voice your thoughts and ideas to our government.
Rank, J. "Nonpoint Source Pollution ." Pollution issues. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.pollutionissues.com/Na-Ph/Nonpoint-Source-Pollution.html>.
"Water pollution." Sustainable Table. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/waterpollution/>.
Water is everywhere around us, and although it may look clean and clear, you'll be surprise to know that it maybe toxic or polluted. Water is an essential thing for human beings to have everyday, but if our lakes, drinking waters, rivers and lakes are polluted or not available for us to drink and use, it will also not be in good use for everything that depends on it too such as sea creatures, plants, soil, and many other things. So how does water get polluted?
Industrial agriculture is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States today. In the 2000 National Water Quality Inventory conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agricultural activity was identified as a source of pollution for 48% of stream and river water, and for 41% of lake water. According to the website Sustainable Table, most water population results from animal waste which in most industrial farms are store in large tanks call the "lagoon" that can hold up to millions of gallons of animal manure and urine. The lagoons may leak or rupture when a storm occurs, and since raw manure are 160 times more toxic than raw municipal, it'll be dangerous if it leaks into underground water states Sustainable Table. Leaking lagoons releases antibiotic residues and harmful bacteria which can make anyone who drinks the water sick or die. Another leading cause of water pollution is hydro-modification.
Hydromodification that alters the flow of water is the second leading source of damage to U.S. rivers, streams, and lakes. Examples of hydromodification are channelization, dredging, and construction of dams according to Rank. Rank states that excess sediments due to erosion caused by projects such as building dams can clog fishes gills and suffocate eggs. He goes further in details that sediments may also carry other pollutants such as mercury which can poison many living organisms that depends on the water. Next, the third leading cause of water pollution is habitat modification.
Habitat modification occurs when the vegetation along stream banks is removed, diminishing buffers that help filter runoff and provide shade for the adjacent water body states Rank. Without the vegetation that helps shade the stream banks, the water temperature are usually higher and an increase in quantity and velocity of runoff makes it harder for living organisms that lives underwater to survive. Habitat modification may also kill many animals that may depend on their natural habitat to live and survive, and with habitat modification occurring frequently these days to better the human society, it will soon affect us too.
Here I showed you three of the leading causes of water pollution. Beside these three, there are still hundreds of ways how water can get polluted. To decrease our chances of having many water pollutions in our country and other countries, we can make a difference picking up trash that floats upon the water and shores, educate people about water pollutions, and voice your thoughts and ideas to our government.
Rank, J. "Nonpoint Source Pollution ." Pollution issues. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.pollutionissues.com/Na-Ph/Nonpoint-Source-Pollution.html>.
"Water pollution." Sustainable Table. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2011. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/waterpollution/>.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Human Population Equals Shortage In Water
With people overfishing, people are also over using water from lakes, rivers, and oceans. Without sustainable water for sea creatures to live and reproduce, humans will struggle with sea food and shortage of water.
With more people added each day in our world, it means more uses of the water that the world provides for us. With our human population increasing the underdeveloped countries are hit the hardest. Countries such as Russia, Asia, and Africa are some parts of the world where it is hard to find adequate clean water due to the increase of people, water pollution, and diseases.
For the last 50 years according to the Population Reference Bureau, world population multiplied more rapidly than ever before, and more rapidly than it is projected to grow in the future. In 1950, the world had 2.5 billion people; and in 2010, the world had about 7 billion people. By 2050, this number could rise to more than 9 billion. With our population increasing so rapidly alot of people are worried if the world has enough water for everyone especially in the countries where clean water is hard to find.
According to Calvin Woo, there are about 1,385 cubic kilometers on Earth which most of it is salt. Calvin states that about 70% of the fresh edible water are locked inside polar ice caps, and .014% are available for drinking which is a very small amount compared to our oceans. With the human population still growing strong, our water resources will soon decline if we don't conserve or try to use less of it. With other countries such as Africa with little or no clean water, they suffer tremendously that affects their health.
In Africa, about 1/3 of the population has no drinking water and almost half of the population have health problems due to unsanitary water or little water according to E-Source. Some of the health problems that may occur due to little or no water are, dehydration, malnutrition, diseases, and diarrhea which all these may cause death. If the problem does not improved, 17 countries will suffer from severe water shortage by the year 2010 states E-Source.
In conclusion, the human population is starting to over populate and will still increase through out the decades. With so many people on earth, there are only a limited of water sources for each person to use and to survive. If there are too much people and little water, countries and people will start to fight and have wars with each other to have the water for themselves. Therefore it is important now to start conserving water and help clean our environment so it does not pollute the lakes, rivers, and oceans, and hopefully the future generations will have a chance of a better life.
"E-Source." Africa: one-third of Africans lack drinking water. N.p., 03/06/2006. Web. 12 Mar 2011.
Woo, Calvin. "How Much human life can planet earth sustain?." About my Planet. N.p., 09/23/2006. Web. 20 Mar 2011.
With more people added each day in our world, it means more uses of the water that the world provides for us. With our human population increasing the underdeveloped countries are hit the hardest. Countries such as Russia, Asia, and Africa are some parts of the world where it is hard to find adequate clean water due to the increase of people, water pollution, and diseases.
For the last 50 years according to the Population Reference Bureau, world population multiplied more rapidly than ever before, and more rapidly than it is projected to grow in the future. In 1950, the world had 2.5 billion people; and in 2010, the world had about 7 billion people. By 2050, this number could rise to more than 9 billion. With our population increasing so rapidly alot of people are worried if the world has enough water for everyone especially in the countries where clean water is hard to find.
According to Calvin Woo, there are about 1,385 cubic kilometers on Earth which most of it is salt. Calvin states that about 70% of the fresh edible water are locked inside polar ice caps, and .014% are available for drinking which is a very small amount compared to our oceans. With the human population still growing strong, our water resources will soon decline if we don't conserve or try to use less of it. With other countries such as Africa with little or no clean water, they suffer tremendously that affects their health.
In Africa, about 1/3 of the population has no drinking water and almost half of the population have health problems due to unsanitary water or little water according to E-Source. Some of the health problems that may occur due to little or no water are, dehydration, malnutrition, diseases, and diarrhea which all these may cause death. If the problem does not improved, 17 countries will suffer from severe water shortage by the year 2010 states E-Source.
In conclusion, the human population is starting to over populate and will still increase through out the decades. With so many people on earth, there are only a limited of water sources for each person to use and to survive. If there are too much people and little water, countries and people will start to fight and have wars with each other to have the water for themselves. Therefore it is important now to start conserving water and help clean our environment so it does not pollute the lakes, rivers, and oceans, and hopefully the future generations will have a chance of a better life.
"E-Source." Africa: one-third of Africans lack drinking water. N.p., 03/06/2006. Web. 12 Mar 2011.
Woo, Calvin. "How Much human life can planet earth sustain?." About my Planet. N.p., 09/23/2006. Web. 20 Mar 2011.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Major Decline Of Fishes In The Sea
As the Armor fishes develop over time and reproduce, we can see that humans are overfishing to the point that soon enough we will run out of food from the sea.
About the world population depends on seafood for their survival, yet sea creatures and fishes depends on us to reduce our appetite for their chance to populate. More than thousands of years ago, our ancestors had learned to fish to feed for themselves and their family. They've also taught the future generations to fish in order to live and survive. Now in the 21st century, we had gotten a lot better at fishing that we might just have declined our seafood supply.
According to Sheridan, big fishes such as tuna, cod, and groupers have declined worldwide by tho-thirds while the number of anchovies, sardines and capelin has surged in their absence, said University of British Columbia researchers (2011). Meanwhile, people around the world are fishing harder and coming up with the same or fewer numbers in their catch, indicating that humans may have maxed out the ocean's capacity to provide us with food (Sheridan 2011).
Researchers has concluded that in the past 40 years, about 54% of the population of fishes has declined tremendously, and if we keep fishing how we still are, in the next 40 years there may be no fishes to feed the world population (Sheridan 2011). About 50% of the increase in the world's fish consumption for food comes from Eastern Asia, and about 42% of the increase is coming from China itself (Sheridan 2011). To protect us from over fishing the government has to set limits on how many a fisherman can fish, and the government is depending on scientist to figure that out.
So basically what the scientist do is they catch a few fishes and put a tag on them. Than in a week they go back to the same area and catch a few more fishes and tag them like they did the other ones. The following week they go back to the same area and observe how many fishes that they have tagged. So if there were 200 fishes and there were at least 10 that had been tagged, they'll assume that if there were another 200 fishes there would be another 10 fishes that will have tags on them.
They can then estimate that there are about four hundred fish living in that habitat according to the website
"Counting the fish in the sea."
By using up our supply of fishes, in the next 40 years or so, there will not be enough fishes for the next generation to feed for themselves and their families. Its also important to keep in mind that when there is a decline or shortage of certain fishes in the sea, it may also affect other fishes or sea creatures who depends and feed off them too. So if one species of fish disappear, many fishes and sea creatures will surely disappear afterward too.
Sheridan, Kerry. "Fewer big fish in the sea, scientists say ." dailytelegraph.com. N.p., 02/19/2011. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/fewer-big-fish-in-the-sea-scientists-say/story-e6freuyi-1226008507172>.
"Counting the fish in the sea." www.neaq.org. New England Aquariam, 02/19/2011. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/games_and_activities/activities/counting_the_fish_in_the_sea.php>.
About the world population depends on seafood for their survival, yet sea creatures and fishes depends on us to reduce our appetite for their chance to populate. More than thousands of years ago, our ancestors had learned to fish to feed for themselves and their family. They've also taught the future generations to fish in order to live and survive. Now in the 21st century, we had gotten a lot better at fishing that we might just have declined our seafood supply.
According to Sheridan, big fishes such as tuna, cod, and groupers have declined worldwide by tho-thirds while the number of anchovies, sardines and capelin has surged in their absence, said University of British Columbia researchers (2011). Meanwhile, people around the world are fishing harder and coming up with the same or fewer numbers in their catch, indicating that humans may have maxed out the ocean's capacity to provide us with food (Sheridan 2011).
Researchers has concluded that in the past 40 years, about 54% of the population of fishes has declined tremendously, and if we keep fishing how we still are, in the next 40 years there may be no fishes to feed the world population (Sheridan 2011). About 50% of the increase in the world's fish consumption for food comes from Eastern Asia, and about 42% of the increase is coming from China itself (Sheridan 2011). To protect us from over fishing the government has to set limits on how many a fisherman can fish, and the government is depending on scientist to figure that out.
So basically what the scientist do is they catch a few fishes and put a tag on them. Than in a week they go back to the same area and catch a few more fishes and tag them like they did the other ones. The following week they go back to the same area and observe how many fishes that they have tagged. So if there were 200 fishes and there were at least 10 that had been tagged, they'll assume that if there were another 200 fishes there would be another 10 fishes that will have tags on them.
They can then estimate that there are about four hundred fish living in that habitat according to the website
"Counting the fish in the sea."
By using up our supply of fishes, in the next 40 years or so, there will not be enough fishes for the next generation to feed for themselves and their families. Its also important to keep in mind that when there is a decline or shortage of certain fishes in the sea, it may also affect other fishes or sea creatures who depends and feed off them too. So if one species of fish disappear, many fishes and sea creatures will surely disappear afterward too.
Sheridan, Kerry. "Fewer big fish in the sea, scientists say ." dailytelegraph.com. N.p., 02/19/2011. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/fewer-big-fish-in-the-sea-scientists-say/story-e6freuyi-1226008507172>.
"Counting the fish in the sea." www.neaq.org. New England Aquariam, 02/19/2011. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/games_and_activities/activities/counting_the_fish_in_the_sea.php>.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Evolution of Armored Fish
Water as you can see, has been around for thousands and thousands of years. Not only do living organisms need water for their survival, but also for their transformation to adapt to their environment. For example the Armored fishes.
Armored fishes has been around for many centuries and goes way back to the Paleozoic Period. Throughout centuries, armored fishes had evolutionary transform to adapt to their environment for their need of survival due to movements and placement of the continents and changes in sea temperature. According to Freddie (2005), Most of the world was covered in water during the Paleozoic Period, and much of the shallow seas left preserved fossils for us to study the evolution of armored fishes. With the fossils left for us to observe and analyze, we can tell how armored fishes had evolved and changed throughout centuries. The first of the armored fish appeared during the Ordovician 150 million years ago states Freddie (2005). They are actually specifically named ostracoderms due to the time period in which they existed and from their physical features.
Ostracoderms as Freddie describes, has a bony plate on the outside of their cartilaginous body, and their mouth is located either on the bottom or the front of their head (2005). Some ostracoderms such as the sacabambpis does not have front fins, and like an eel, they have a rear fin in which they move in a "S" motion rather that using their fins to move (Freddie 2005). But during the Silurian period, a bony vertebrate started to appear in fishes. Fishes also started to have complicated structures such as more fins and spikes on them. They were now able to swim and have more control of their motion than swimming in a "S" motion. This evolution was due to the movements and placements of the continents in which cause them to adapt to their surroundings and environment.
During the Silurian period, a bony vertebral colum began to appear in fishes states Fredding (2005). This was when fishes started to have bones, structures, and spikes on their body. The cause of the evolution was due to the shifts of continents and salty water. Placoderms (armored fishes) which appeared during the Silurian replaced the armored fishes in the Devonian period. The fishes had jaws which derived from gills that took on a function like a jaw (Freddie 2005). Unlike the previous armored fishes the Placoderm fishes were able to control and swim in the directions they want to.
Now compare these fishes to the fishes that the world has today. Fishes had evolved dramatically from when they existed to the year 2011. Fishes now has the ability to adapt in certain areas to survive and have better physical traits that can help them. Now the only thing that can stop these fishes from evolving to their best self, is to have their environment (sea) kill or change their genetic form.
Freddie, Arreola. "The Evolution of Armored Fish." skywalker. N.p., 01/26/2010. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/students/armored-fish/armored-fish.htm>.
Armored fishes has been around for many centuries and goes way back to the Paleozoic Period. Throughout centuries, armored fishes had evolutionary transform to adapt to their environment for their need of survival due to movements and placement of the continents and changes in sea temperature. According to Freddie (2005), Most of the world was covered in water during the Paleozoic Period, and much of the shallow seas left preserved fossils for us to study the evolution of armored fishes. With the fossils left for us to observe and analyze, we can tell how armored fishes had evolved and changed throughout centuries. The first of the armored fish appeared during the Ordovician 150 million years ago states Freddie (2005). They are actually specifically named ostracoderms due to the time period in which they existed and from their physical features.
Ostracoderms as Freddie describes, has a bony plate on the outside of their cartilaginous body, and their mouth is located either on the bottom or the front of their head (2005). Some ostracoderms such as the sacabambpis does not have front fins, and like an eel, they have a rear fin in which they move in a "S" motion rather that using their fins to move (Freddie 2005). But during the Silurian period, a bony vertebrate started to appear in fishes. Fishes also started to have complicated structures such as more fins and spikes on them. They were now able to swim and have more control of their motion than swimming in a "S" motion. This evolution was due to the movements and placements of the continents in which cause them to adapt to their surroundings and environment.
During the Silurian period, a bony vertebral colum began to appear in fishes states Fredding (2005). This was when fishes started to have bones, structures, and spikes on their body. The cause of the evolution was due to the shifts of continents and salty water. Placoderms (armored fishes) which appeared during the Silurian replaced the armored fishes in the Devonian period. The fishes had jaws which derived from gills that took on a function like a jaw (Freddie 2005). Unlike the previous armored fishes the Placoderm fishes were able to control and swim in the directions they want to.
Now compare these fishes to the fishes that the world has today. Fishes had evolved dramatically from when they existed to the year 2011. Fishes now has the ability to adapt in certain areas to survive and have better physical traits that can help them. Now the only thing that can stop these fishes from evolving to their best self, is to have their environment (sea) kill or change their genetic form.
Freddie, Arreola. "The Evolution of Armored Fish." skywalker. N.p., 01/26/2010. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/students/armored-fish/armored-fish.htm>.
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Circle Of Life
Everything relies on each other for most to survive whether its a living or non-living organism. Whether it's the sun, plants, animals, water, or human beings, we all depend on each other for our existence and life here on Earth. Like the circle of life, to balance things out, we must need food and water for survival, whereas our food, such as cows and pigs needs plants and water for their survival. This creates what we call a food chain.The food chain consist of producers, herbivores, carnivores, decomposers, then back to producers.
According to Cunningham (2010), producers are organisms that photosynthesize, mainly green plants and algae. Producers such as green plants are very important and are highly needed by the herbivores for survival. Some of the Herbivores who depends on producers are animals such as horses, cows, and pandas. Herbivores are plant eaters (Cunningham 2010). With herbivores depending on plants and algae, carnivores depends on herbivores for their survival.
Carnivores are predators which eat and hunt other animals (NatureWorks 2010). A short list of carnivores are tigers, lions, and sharks.While many would think a human being is a carnivore they are consider as an omnivore along with many other creatures and animals like bats, bears, and cougars. Omnivores eat both plant and animal matter (Cunningham 2010). Where there is a beginning and life, there comes an ending and death. So with herbivores and carnivores, when they no longer live, they will decompose on the Earth's ground and enrich the soil in which becomes producers.
In conclusion, producers, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers all depend and revolve around each other for survival. When one dies, the other lives, and therefore creates the circle of life.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010. 62-63. Print.
"NatureWorks." Carnivores. New Hampshire Public Television, 2010. Web. 7 Feb 2011. <http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep10a.htm>.
According to Cunningham (2010), producers are organisms that photosynthesize, mainly green plants and algae. Producers such as green plants are very important and are highly needed by the herbivores for survival. Some of the Herbivores who depends on producers are animals such as horses, cows, and pandas. Herbivores are plant eaters (Cunningham 2010). With herbivores depending on plants and algae, carnivores depends on herbivores for their survival.
Carnivores are predators which eat and hunt other animals (NatureWorks 2010). A short list of carnivores are tigers, lions, and sharks.While many would think a human being is a carnivore they are consider as an omnivore along with many other creatures and animals like bats, bears, and cougars. Omnivores eat both plant and animal matter (Cunningham 2010). Where there is a beginning and life, there comes an ending and death. So with herbivores and carnivores, when they no longer live, they will decompose on the Earth's ground and enrich the soil in which becomes producers.
In conclusion, producers, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers all depend and revolve around each other for survival. When one dies, the other lives, and therefore creates the circle of life.
Cunningham, William P., and Mary Ann Cunningham. Environmental Science. 11. New York: The McGraw-Hill, 2010. 62-63. Print.
"NatureWorks." Carnivores. New Hampshire Public Television, 2010. Web. 7 Feb 2011. <http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep10a.htm>.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Water Shortage Alert
Water is one of the most essential things to our ever day life which includes our survival on this planet. It gives us what we need to clean ourselves, quench our thirst, grow our foods, and many other uses that benefits us. Water has always been good for us, and in return we take advantage by over using the source, polluting our lakes, rivers, and oceans with garbage, waste, and harmful chemicals.
In many overpopulated countries such as China, there are barely enough water for everyone to use. According to the Chinese Statistical Yearbook 2007, Beijing consumes more water annually than its water resources combined. With water decreasing within the last ten years, fishes are unable to swim upstream, therefore creating food shortages of fishes states Daniel Enking.
With no where to put our sewage, waste and left over chemicals from factories, it all goes out to the rivers, lakes, and oceans. With the pollutions that comes from us, we are hurting animals, plants, and ourselves who are depending on water for our survival.
Enking, Daniel. "China grows thirstier." globalpost. N.p., 01/26/2010. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/study-abroad/100114/china-water-shortage>.
In many overpopulated countries such as China, there are barely enough water for everyone to use. According to the Chinese Statistical Yearbook 2007, Beijing consumes more water annually than its water resources combined. With water decreasing within the last ten years, fishes are unable to swim upstream, therefore creating food shortages of fishes states Daniel Enking.
With no where to put our sewage, waste and left over chemicals from factories, it all goes out to the rivers, lakes, and oceans. With the pollutions that comes from us, we are hurting animals, plants, and ourselves who are depending on water for our survival.
Enking, Daniel. "China grows thirstier." globalpost. N.p., 01/26/2010. Web. 5 May 2011. <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/study-abroad/100114/china-water-shortage>.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)