1 / 23

The Water Cycle/ Water Resources: Global to Local

The Water Cycle/ Water Resources: Global to Local. Ellen Metzger BAESI: California’s Resources July 2010. Water in the Earth System. What are some reservoirs for water in the Earth system? What are some processes that move water through the Earth system?

cade
Download Presentation

The Water Cycle/ Water Resources: Global to Local

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Water Cycle/Water Resources: Global to Local Ellen Metzger BAESI: California’s Resources July 2010

  2. Water in the Earth System • What are some reservoirs for water in the Earth system? • What are some processes that move water through the Earth system? • What is the source of energy for the water cycle?

  3. Distributionof Earth’s Water Source: USGS

  4. Water Cycle Reservoirs:Residence times

  5. Groundwater Source: USGS Terms: Water table Aquifer

  6. Overuse of Ground Water:Cone of Depression http://web.arc.losrios.edu/~borougt/ConeOfDepression.gif

  7. Subsidence in Santa Clara Valley Source: USGS

  8. San Joaquin Valley: Subsidence 1925-1977" From USGS Professional Paper 1401-A/ Photo by Dick Ireland, USGS, 1977

  9. Climate Change = Hydrologic Change http://www.fs.fed.us/emphasis/products/water-climate-brochure.pdf

  10. Climate Change and Water • Future effect of climate change on global water resources depends on both • Climatic factors AND • Non-climatic factors • Population growth • Changes in economy • Development of new technology • Changes in watershed characteristics • Watershed management http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/water/index.html

  11. Impacts of Climate Change • Changes in Water Availability • Quantity • Quality • Timing • Distribution

  12. Climate Change and Water in California http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/062807factsheet.pdf

  13. Climate Change Impacts to California’s Water Resources • By 2050: loss of at least 25 percent of the Sierra snowpack • More variable weather patterns • More flooding and longer, more severe droughts • Rising water temperatures and changes in runoff patterns may adversely impact salmon and other species. • Sea level rise will threaten many coastal communities as well as the sustainability of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. • Salt water intrusion http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/062807factsheet.pdf

  14. http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/062807factsheet.pdfhttp://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/062807factsheet.pdf

  15. Potential reduction in hydropower Increased population and greater demand for energy Decreased snow melt flowing through = decreased potential for hydropower production However, future precipitation projections are uncertain. Shasta dam (USGS) http://www.climatechoices.org/ca/site/ca/site/our-changing-climate.html

  16. Sea Level Rise

  17. On-line Resources for Teaching About Water Resources • Water Footprint Calculator – H20 Conserve • The Hidden Water We Use (National Geographic) • Where Does My Water Come From? (Water Education Foundation) • Water Science for Schools (USGS) http://www.h2oconserve.org/img/wc.png

  18. Water Footprint • A measure of water use • Can be calculated for individuals, businesses, cities, countries, and products. • Measures both • Direct water use (such as for drinking and cleaning) and • Indirect water use (the water required to produce goods and services). • Described as “embedded or “virtual’ water” water • Average annual water footprints (m3 per person) • China: 950 • UK: 1,695 • US: 2,900 Source: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/water/

  19. The Word Water Crisis • Access to clean water is a basic human need • Drinking • Washing • Sanitation • Agriculture • Despite apparent abundance of water in developed nations, billions pf people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water http://www.unwater.org/img/sec2.jpg

  20. The World Water Crisis http://maps.grida.no/library/files/increased-global-water-stress_003.jpg

  21. http://www.unep.org/dewa/vitalwater/jpg/0221-waterstress-EN.jpghttp://www.unep.org/dewa/vitalwater/jpg/0221-waterstress-EN.jpg

  22. Is this sustainable? • Limited fresh water resources • Uneven distribution of water resources • Regional conflict/warfare • Water pollution • water-borne diseases • Growing population • Impact of climate change on water resources http://www.unwater.org/img/usepercentage.jpg

More Related