Hydrosere

Hydrosere

1. Properties of Water

   • Changes of State
     • Solid, Liquid & Gas
     • Evaporation / Condensation / Melting / Solidification
   • Anomalous Expansion
     • Unusual Expansion
     • Applied to water, which expands as it's cooled below 4C
   • Heat Capacity
     • Water heats up and cools slowly
     • Maintains stability by moderation temperature
   • Solvent Properties
     • Dissolved Substances

2. Hydrological Cycle

   • Sources of Energy
     • Solar: Providing energy for evaporation
     • Gravitational: Downward movement of precipitation
   • Residence Time
     • Average length of time water stays in a resevoir
     • Volume in Resevoir / Rate of Transfer from/to a resevoir
   • Processes & (Human Impacts)
     • Inputs
       • Precipitation (Global Climate Change)
     • Throughflow
       • Interception (Deforestation)
       • Infiltration (Soil Compaction)
       • Percolation (Soil Compaction)
       • Ground Water Flow (Actions reducing Infiltration)
     • Outputs
       • Evaporation (Increased Temperature)
       • Transpiration (Vegetation Changes)

3. Water as a Resource

   • Uses
     • Abstractive
       • Remove Water
       • Domestic - Washing, Industrial - Cooling, Agricultural - Irrigation
     • Non-Abstractive
       • Recreation, Energy (HEP), Transport
   • Water Quality Requirements
     • Turbidity (Removal of suspended solids)
     • pH (Water too acidic, dissolves copper pipes)
     • Calcium ('Harder' Water > Reduces Tooth Decay > Increases Scum
     • Pesticides (Can be toxic)
     • Dissolved Oxygen (Low levels make water smell)
     • Chlorine (Added to sterilise)
     • Metals (Damage Nervous System)
     • Ecoli Abundance (Pathogens cause Disease)