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>
Monday, April 18, 2011
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.
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