Worldwide Water Resources - Coursework Example

6th April Worldwide water resources Introduction Weather keeps on changing due to meteorological causes. The global climate has become a major challenge to individuals and animals. Meteorological causes may be due to the natural effects and human induced activities. Scientists have been studying the climate on how it is changing now and then causing harm to wild animals and individuals. This paper seeks to discuss worldwide water resources, the major consequences and prospects or result of it. Meteorological causes Climate keeps on changing and what happen in the atmosphere for a given duration can be termed as the weather. The climate system has to include the following factors that are major causes. These include atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Atmosphere contains the gas that is surrounding the Earth while hydrosphere depicts the climate system that has liquid water that is on the earth and the water that is on the ground for example in the lakes, rivers and the ocean. The cryosphere contains the water that is on the planet, and it is in frozen form. For instance, snow, ice and glaciers among others. On the other hand, lithosphere is classified as the upper layer that is in the earth and the ocean and is responsible for volcanic activities that are capable of influencing the water resources (Lerner 35). Biosphere has all the living organisms that are in the ecosystem, land and those in the oceans. Water resources are polluted naturally or by human-induced, for example, one of the major human cause is anthropogenic or in other terms greenhouse gases. The earth contains natural greenhouse gases. It is formed when atmosphere allows sunlight to soak up heat radiation, and the greenhouse gases are always ready to absorb heat. After absorption of the heat radiation, the average temperature that is in the surface is kept at 14 degrees. If the greenhouse gases had not taken place, the earth average temperature that is supposed to be on the surface should be around -19 degrees but due to greenhouse gases temperatures in earth surface is raised (Black and Weisel 25). Due to the industrial revolution, human practices and other activities water is absorbed in the atmosphere. The gases that are absorbed on the surface have increased due to the human activities, and thus more water has been retained on the upper surface or the atmosphere. This has resulted to a rise in global temperatures, resulting destruction of water resources due to acidic water by the atmosphere. This has led to increase of the temperature leading to change in climate where individuals cannot be able to predict the rainy season and hot season. Pollution of water resources occurs where human activities have increased, and thus environmental degradation has been conducted and thus affecting the temperatures and the water resources. Frozen water is retained in the atmosphere for a long duration. Water vapor is important to human since it results in rain after it is absorbed in the atmosphere. Frozen water when it combines with carbon dioxide (CO2) results to rise of temperature to approximately 0.6 degrees Celsius. For example, the Himalayas experience rise of temperature due to frozen water. Naturally, frozen water can be caused by volcanic eruptions and when animals respire. The gas is also released by human activities, for example, deforestation and burning of fuels. The gas spends long time in the atmosphere unlike water vapor and thus adverse effects, deforestation and industrial revolution has made concentration of carbon dioxide to be 30% (Mackenzie and Abraham 21). Methane is the other GHG that has a negative impact on the atmosphere. It is either released naturally and through human activities. Decomposition is one major effect of worldwide water resource since there is the emission of methane gas (Demirbas 54). Methane gas is stronger than carbon dioxide, and thus it absorbs heat more than carbon dioxide. Others gases that contribute to pollution of worldwide water resources is nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Source- (John 46) Significant consequences Since climate change and human activities negatively affect ground water, there is a high possibility of having effects for health. For example experiencing deadly heat waves, in 2003 heat waves were experienced in Europe resulting in 70,000 lives being lost (John 46). In France, only an approximated 15,000 individuals died after experiencing soaring temperatures for only two weeks. The temperatures rose to 104 degrees Fahrenheit resulting in 15,000 deaths. In 2006, North America experienced the same heat wave and led in 140 individuals losing their life, even though, some had air conditioners in their offices and their homes. In 1995 in Chicago, 739 individuals died in a period of one week. Another effect of worldwide water resource is clogging in rivers, oceans and lakes. It implies that the saline water that is from the atmosphere increases pollution to aquatic animals. If the animals consume the saline water and had a mix of acidic water and gets to human body. When human being consumes the aquatic animals it is poisonous and can even cause death. For instance ragweed is known to cause allergies and it increases the chances of asthma. Rise in temperatures increases smog production and finally results in threat of asthmatics (Hartman and Wendy 31). Pollution of water resources also results in infectious diseases and water-borne outbreaks. Since there is an experience of alternating period’s droughts and tsunamis, there is the disruption of the ecosystem. It results in outbreak of infectious diseases like malaria, fever and diarrheal illness among others. Mosquitoes survive in areas where temperatures and climate change with time thus allowing infection of malaria and fever (Casper 30). Heavy rainfall results in contamination of water and soil in the farm leading to outbreak diarrheal illness. Other effects of global warming are dangerous weather events for example Hurricane Katrina that made more than 1.7 individuals to be evacuated in 2005. It resulted in long-term health challenges to Orleans citizens. Climate change results to changes in the weather patterns, for example, emergence of dangerous hurricanes that are destructive. Flooding and erosions have increased due to human activities. For example, the deadliest hurricanes that were experienced in U.S. caused an economic loss of $125 billion. The weather pattern has caused drought and wildfire. It implies that when the dry spell is experienced for a longer duration it increases the chances of wildfire (Weart 23). When wildfire is experienced destruction on land is caused since wild animals are destroyed and cause deforestation. Intense rainstorms are experienced resulting in heavier rainfall that is likely to cause devastation and pollution to the water resources. Pollution of worldwide water resources results into negative effects on the ecosystem shifts and species dying, the increased high temperatures that are experienced disrupt the ecosystem. For example species that are found in the oceans and rivers are likely to be affected due to salt water that is as a result of acidic rain. It kills the aquatic animals and if it gets access to human being it lead to death of the human being. Wildlife is tourist attraction scenery and should be considered since it is a major source of revenue for countries. Prospects / Results For individuals to survive in those areas that climate keep on changing, for example experiencing deadly heat waves, houses must be conditioned. The houses should be well conditioned earlier to survive in those areas since they are unpredictable (Aques and Neitzert 66). Diseases like malaria and water-borne diseases should be curbed by making sure that individuals can get immunization of the same. The reason behind this is based on the fact that when unpredictable rainfalls there will be no effects. The dangerous hurricanes that are destructive, for example, flooding and erosion, are supposed to be dwelt with. For example, individuals who live in flat areas or where erosion is likely to occur should be evacuated to areas where risk of flooding and erosion is low. Building should be constructed in the way they can withstand rainstorms that are destructive (Gore 41). Drought and Wildfire that destroy lands by burning vegetations and other creatures should be curbed. The solution for this is to make sure that water is sprinkled in the drought-stricken areas so that the wild animals that are in those areas can survive. It is a measure that is important since wild animals are the source of tourist attraction and source of revenue. If they are considered, wildfire can be reduced that is experienced in many countries. Individuals who look for daily foods in the forest, for example, honey and hunters should be restricted from hunting since they result to wildfire. Electric fence should surround the forest to make sure that wild animals and human being are not going to interact. Conclusion Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) among others should not be released into the atmosphere. The gases result into worldwide water resources being destroyed. Industries that release gases in the atmosphere should ensure that the gases released in the atmosphere are controlled in the way that they are not going to be harmful to the environment. Individuals who are in areas that flooding and erosion are likely to occur should be evacuated. Human activities that result in atmosphere damage should be curbed so that pollution of water resources can be reduced with it effects. The reason for this is based on the fact that if the trend of industries releasing gases in the atmosphere continues it will make it worse to the climate. Works Cited Aques, A. ,and Neitzert, F. Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Ottawa: Air Pollution Prevention Directorate, Pollution Data Branch, Environment Canada, 2012. Print. Black, B. and Weisel, J. Global Warming. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood, 2010. Print. Casper, J. Changing Ecosystems: Effects of Global Warming. New York: Facts on File, 2010. Print. Demirbas, A. Methane Gas Hydrate. Dordrecht: Springer, 2010. Print. Gore, A. An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do about It. New York: Rodale, 2006. Print. Hartman, E. & Wendy, M. Climate Change. Chicago, Ill: Raintree, 2010. Print. John, A. An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do about It. New York: Rodale, 2006. Print. Lerner, W. Climate Change. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven, 2009. Print. Mackenzie, T., and Abraham, L. Carbon in the Geobiosphere Earths Outer Shell. Dordrecht: Springer, 2006. Print. Weart, R. The Discovery of Global Warming. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard UP, 2003. Print. Read More