ESS Unit 4.1 - 4.3

Percentage of Water is fresh

Percentage of Water is fresh

2.6% + less than 1% is surface water

the water cycle is drive by

solar radiation

advection

movement of water horizontally

transpiration

water from plants evaporate

sublimation

solid to gas + gas to liquid

percolation

water move through the cracks of the soil ==> gravity will pull the water down

groundwater

• can create springs

• wells use groundwater

• farms use groundwater ==> plants

• being withdrawn faster the replenishing rate

Aquifer

large bodies of ground water

• provides drinking water to ½ the world’

• irrigation uses ground water

• India, China, US = Highest Grain Production

Humans Impacts on H2O Cycle

• domestic water

• irrigation

• industries

• hydroelectric power

• transportation (ships on lakes + rivers)

• boundaries (states + nations)

deforestation

trees’ intersect + slow impact make the water move topsoil

==> leads to landslides + runoff

• less/ slow percolation

• soil moved to the lake which makes the lake shallow ==> flows

• less trees = less rain

urbanization

concrete floor > less groundwater > city becomes water scarce

agriculture

some products like beef need water (1500L water = 1kg beef)

• less water = increase in salinity

• fertilizer on crops are moved by rain

desertification

soil becomes in poor quality

• because of no rainfall

• or no ground water

• a result of misuse of water to some extent

Dams

A dam is a structure built across a stream or river to hold water back.

Dam Pros

• flood control: can capture flood water & reduce the risk of flooding

• supply irrigation water: used for farmers

• recreation reservoirs: water sports and aesthetic

• control of water quality filtering particles out of water flowing going downstream

Dam Cons

• risk of failure = flooding of downstream

• large loss of water ==> evaporation

• depth decreases as sand is pulled in

• disrupts migration and spawning of fish

• deprives downstream cropland of water

reserviors

natural or artificially created lakes used to collect + store water

• built by damming rivers and flooding suitable values

• aim is to store water during periods of high rainfall to provide a plentiful supply through out the year

Reservoir Pros

• flood control: can capture flood water & reduce the risk of flooding

• supply irrigation water: used for farmers

• recreation reservoirs: water sports and aesthetic

• control of water quality filtering particles out of water flowing going downstream

Reservoir Cons

• risk of failure = flooding of downstream

• large loss of water ==> evaporation

• depth decreases as sand is pulled in

• disrupts migration and spawning of fish

• deprives downstream cropland of water

• relocation of people because areas around the reservoir are flood prone

China’s Three Gorges Plan

on Yangtze river led t.3 mill displaced

Desalination

remove salt from sea water (distillation > evaporating water > capturing water vapor > cooling down

Desalination Cons

• expensive

• kills organisms

• create briny wastewater

• High numbers of desalination plants in Saudi Arabia

ocean conveyor belt

warm water is light so it goes to the top and when it cools down it goes to the bottom

• water can moderate climate

thermohaline circulation

describes the movement of ocean currents due to differences in temperature and salinity in different regions of water.

upwelling

warm water is rough up with nutrients from the bottom

• cold + warm water meeting is ideal for fishes

El nino

Southern Oscillation is a global climate phenomenon that emerges from variations in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical Pacific Ocean. Those variations have an irregular pattern but do have

• trade winds are weaker and push less warm water to Asia then usually ==> more droughts

Cape Town

• Experiencing severe drought

• Has a counter that comes closer to day 0 of easy access to water

• government announced this

• habitants by their own volition changed their water usage habits → moved the counter up

Kuwait

is poor in terms of Water per Capita

Mexico

• was built on a lake but it was drained by Spanish conquistadors and now there is more people

• has a lot of rain but can’t catch the water

• 50% of water supply come from aquifers

Mexicali

• started brewery in 2017 but can’t get water from colorado river meaning that they will run out of groundwater

• setting up water intensive industries in places w/o water

Factors contributing to Lack of access

• lack of knowledge and skills

• lack of finance

• lack of political will to make to make water priority

• poor infrastructure`+ inadequate management of water

• urban areas have more access to pipe water

• rich and poor = rich can afford to pay for water

• marginalized people groups will have less access to water

access to adequate freshwater supply varies widely

• water contamination

• water scarcity

• water degradation

water contamination

occurs when substances pollute the water and make it unusable for cooking, drinking and other uses.

• carries diseases like cholera

• leading cause of IMR in LEDC

water scarcity

lack of water

• climate change affect precipitation rates and monsoons

• agricultural practices high evaporation

• aquifers exhuasted ==> over punping

Large Scale Solutions

• Desalination

• Rainwater harvesting

• Artificially recharged aquifers

Small Scale Solutions

• More efficient domestic use (low flow applications and faucets)

• Grey water recycling

• Rainwater harvesting

• Drought resistant crops

• Drip irrigation

• Water at night

Artificial Recharge

used to increase amount of water stored in aquifers used to enhance water supplied “netherlands, germany + usa”

Artificial Recharge Methods

1. building a ditch or a trench above the aquifer zone to intercept + collect runoff. Then water seeps into the ground and percolates into aquifer

2. can be pumped from rivers and reservoirs through borhole

Artificial Recharge Cons

• acquisition of sufficient land is expensive

• borehole pumping from a river w/ high sediment ==> clogging

Rainwater harvesting

collection of water from rain

water redistribution

water is take from one river basin with a surplus to another w/ a deficiet using pipes or canals.

water redistribution cons

• very expensive

• abstraction of water may (lower water levels affecting habitats like wetlands

• disruption in the flow can affect fish + biota living in the river

North-South Transfer of China

one of the biggest redistribution schemes in the world. Takes water from the Yangtze River in South China and uses 3 canals to move water to the industrial North

greywater

water that already has been used domestically, commercially and industrially. This includes the leftover, untreated water generated from washing machines, bathtubs and bathroom sinks.

Reduced Demand but Needs to Change Attitudes

• Public awareness to promote

  • showers, not baths

  • buy water-efficient washing machines

• Education in schools to change behaviors

• Economic incentives ==> high-cost of water

Dead Sea

• Boarders Jordan and Israel

• provides towards the economy

• consumption of it leaves sink holes

• both countries have started conflicts over it

Cod wars

• 1950s to 1970s between Britain and Iceland over the rights to fish in Icelandic waters

India and Sri Lanka

• 2012 over 100 Indian fisherman killed and 350 seriously injured because of fishing along Sri Lankan coast

China

current day has increased their fishing fleet to over 200% creating conflict for fishing in waters of Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Korea and Russia

Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs)

are international organizations formed by countries with fishing interests in an area. Some of them manage all the fish stocks found in a specific area, while others focus on particular highly-migratory species, notably tuna, throughout vast geographical areas

UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS)

• declared the continental shelves belong to the country from which they extend

• 200 nautical mile limit from the low water mark off the shore of a country that exclusively belongs to that county for economic use

• Outside this area is international waters

The North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC)

is an inter-governmental organization established by the Convention to promote the conservation of anadromous stocks (Pacific salmon and steelhead trout) in the Convention Area

Demand for Fisheries

Increase in human population and Diet changes

Marine Aquatic Food chain

phytoplankon > zooplankton> small fish> mussels > tuna > sharks

Freshwater Food Chain

Phytoplankton (macrophytes) >zooplankton (water-fleas)> fish (smelt) + ducks > trout + large birds + mammals

technological improvements

• sonar, radar, sattlelite tech

• factory boats with ability to process preserve and freeze produce out at sea

• changes to fishing resulting in larger catches

dredging

the removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, and other water bodies.

trawling

pulling a fishing net through the water behind one or more boats. The net used for trawling is called a trawl.

Icelandic cod

• Decline of stocks, government took action

• Strict quotas of trading between fishermen

• restrictions on finishing gear and fleet sizes

• diversification of target species (variety) → reduces pressure on cod

• protecting territorial waters from foreign fishermen

• Exclusion zones (fishing isn’t allowed)

  • full on ban on nursery areas

  • seasonal closure of some areas during spawning cycles

  • temp closure of fishing areas if the fish caught is too small to conserve juvenile fish

Newfoundland Cod

• Canada

• fisherman

• 1950s modern technology = factory style fishing

• large shipping fleets with more efficient engines

• factory fishing

• freezing fish onboard

• large trawl nets that covered large area

• more efficient detection methods to find fish → sonar tracking

• Government didn’t take action due to losing jobs which lead to a collapse in the population

The Grind: Whaling

• Faroe Islands → Denmark

• Seasonly hunt whales

• Has been a vital part of their culture for generations

• Heavily documented and regulated

• No part of the whale is wasted

• Their main source of food

• Barley contributes to the endangerment of Whales

• Sea Sheperd: namely a french NGO that goes to the islands to stop whaling and stops hunters from doing so.

Seal Hunting In Canada

• a big part of Inuit culture and traditions

  • they hunt 3% of seals hunted in the world

• large number of seals killed yearly (concerns of species being threatened)

• they club/ shoot seal and use skin for pelts which is controversial

• public outcry from the world over pictures of seals being killed

• only pelts are used rest are wasted

Seal Hunting In Canada Gov Action

• Use of quotas, such as setting limits on how many seals can be hunted.

• Adoption of open and close season for hunting.

• Limit to number of catches per day.

• Limit to number of boats allowed to hunt.

• Banning hunting of new born harp seals and young hooded seals.

Aquaculture

breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants

Aquaculture Issues

• loss of habitats,

• pollution (with feed, antifouling agents, antibiotics and other medicines added to fish pens)

• spread of diseases and escaped species (some involving genetically modified organisms).

Shrimp Aquaculture

• In Thailand

  • habitat loss of clearing of mangroves to make aquafarms

  • spread diseases (yellowhead disease)

  • biodegradation of waste anoxic waste

  • high nutrients > toxic angel bloom>growth of other harmful bacteria

Tilapia

• a versatile fish

• high demand because of sweet taste

• fast growing (10 month to fully grown)

• fast and easy breading

• strong immune systems: highly resistance to disease + parasites

• viable market: omnivores so can feed them anyting (insects, algae plants, meat.