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.
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/>.
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