BIOL 111 Lecture 27: Energy
24 Nov 2014
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Document Summary
Biol 111 - ecology and the environment - lecture 27: energy. Continuing chapter 18: energy efficiency and renewable energy. Water helps keep us alive, moderates the climate, sculpts the land, and removes and dilutes wastes and pollutants. Aquifers are the porous, water-saturated layers of sand, gravel or bedrock through which groundwater flows. Case study: water conflicts in the middle east. Three shared river basins in the middle east nile, jordan, tigris euphrates. Water storage in each area likely to lead to regional conflicts between countries over political rights. 2nd highest per capita water use (1493 m3/year) Drought prolonged period with 70% lower precipitation and increased evaporation. Desiccation drying of exposed soil due to external activities. Water stress low per capita availability due to increased demands. Diversion of the aral sea for irrigation had large impacts on the ecology, economy and human health. Cheaper to extract than most surface waters. Aquifer depletion or sinking of land (subsidence) from overpumping.
