GEOG M107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Water Pollution, Rachel Carson
Document Summary
Water principal component of living organisms, serves as filler and transportation service for living cells temperature, pressure, ph, ionic concentrations in water must be within certain limits to sustain life. Water that circulates or cycles is generally of most interest to humans. Cycling process can purify water by leaving pollutants behind when it evaporates, but some parts of the cycle allow water to transport pollutants as it flows from one place to another. All plants and animals require water to sustain life. Keeping aquatic environments pollution free helps aquatic organisms, up food chain. Effect of algae, other plants on water bodies. Sources replenished by rainfall, runoff, and seepage. Effects of pollution on water quality add complications to water rights. Small water bodies easily polluted bc smaller amount of pollution required. Ocean can be polluted by point sources like oil spills, sewage, and landfills near coastlines (like lower manhattan, which was built on top of a landfill)
