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Hydrosphere
Hydrological Cycle: Human
[Date]
Today I will:
- Know how humans have an impact on the hydrological
cycle
The Hydrological Cycle is a natural process; however, humans can
have an impact on the system in various ways
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Hydrosphere
As I go through
the PowerPoint
add in the relevant
information to
your mind map.
Feel free to add
additional
information from
your summary
notes or textbook
when you are
finished.
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Hydrosphere
Mining
- Lakes, rivers and reservoirs ‘silt up’ leading to reduced storage capacity in
these areas.
There is reduced vegetation cover which leads to:
- increased run-off
- lower evapo -transpiration and cloud formation altering the rainfall
pattern.
Mining for gold in the Amazon
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Hydrosphere
Irrigation
- It involves taking water from a river or underground store which can:
- reduce river flow
- lower water tables
-
It can increase evaporation/evapo-transpiration by placing water in
surface stores (ditches/canals)
-
Crops remove water from the cycle as they grow
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Hydrosphere
Deforestation
-
Cutting down trees increases run-off
-
It decreases evapo-transpiration (and therefore cloud formation)
-
more extreme river flows as water is not intercepted
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Hydrosphere
Urbanisation
- The removal of natural vegetation and
replacement with impermeable surfaces and
drains can speed up overland flow and
evaporation and can lead to higher river levels.
- It also decreases the amount of water which returns to groundwater
storage, possibly reducing the water table.
- It requires taking water for use in the cities which reduces water in rivers
(due to reservoirs) or groundwater (due to wells)
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Hydrosphere
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Hydrosphere