LA 1201 Chapter : Water
Document Summary
8/28/2015 9:47:00 pm: 97. 25% of total volume of water on earth is in he oceans and seas, <1% of water is drinkable, water has the highest measure of heat capacity (available to absorb thermal energy) Disruptions: solar radiation goes up (lack of h2o, significant temperature changes, increase air currents (moves water vapor to another location, decrease in light, frequent precipitation, increase less frequent precipitation, higher erosion & washes nutrients into the sea. Runoff rates: natural ground cover <1-10% runoff; 50% infiltration, 10-20% impervious; 20% runoff 42% infiltration, 35-50% impervious; 30% runoff 35% infiltration, 75-100% impervious; 55% runoff 15% infiltration. Part of the problem: topsoil & vegetation and results in estimated 90% less storm water storage. 1% increase in organic matter in soil available water capacity by 3. 7% (hudson 1994) Results of problem: flooding begins to happen, runoff increases, environmental damage- less base flow; channel instability, ecological impacts-lose species, urban heat island effect, water quality, pollutants, peak flow timing, temperature, pathogens.
