Environmental Resources
You have already started to explore environmental resources. We have discovered the three types of environmental resources. They include:
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Water is a renewable resource. Renewable resources will replace themselves if we do not use them too quickly. So, where does our water come from?
Watch this video about the Water Cycle and read the information that follows. You will then need to download the sheet from this site (bottom left corner) and complete the questions. |
THE WATER CYCLE
The water cycle is made up of five stages; evaporation, condensation, precipitation, run off and infiltration. Each of these stages are vital to the way we get our water and to the continuation of the water cycle.The water cycle starts when water is taken from the oceans and lakes when it is heated up by the sun, this process is known as evaporation. The water that is evaporated rises as vapour, which is like steam, it continues to rise until it reaches a cooler part of our atmosphere. As the water rises in the form of vapour it leaves behind all the salt, dirt and impurities that exist in the ocean. The cold air cannot hold the warm moisture in its air form so the vapour turns into clouds through the process of condensation. These clouds, which are filled with water, are then pushed along by winds, when the winds blow the clouds of condensation into a patch of warm air the moisture in the clouds it begins to fall (precipitation) in the form of droplets, or rainfall.
Water that falls over land can be caught in catchments (dams) where it is stored for drinking water, water that does not fall into catchment slowly begins to make its way back to the lakes, rivers and oceans through the process of runoff and the cycle begins all over again. In this period of run off the water becomes salty again as it takes salt from the rocks and soil it passes over and through to get back to the ocean. During runoff water can change the landscape of an area over time as the water slowly carves out tracks by eroding rocks and soil away and transporting them away.
The other way in which water can return to the ocean or rivers it came from in called infiltration. Infiltration occurs when water on the ground seeps through the rock and soil, continuing down until it pools, here it can be stored as massive pools of groundwater or flow back to a large body of water. Groundwater can be access by wells or drilling. Groundwater is used by farmers and people in remote areas where rainfall is rare, it is used to water livestock, crops and even as drinking water. Australia's largest source of groundwater is found in the Great Artesian Basin which spread over Queensland, New South Wales and even into South Australia.
Water that falls over land can be caught in catchments (dams) where it is stored for drinking water, water that does not fall into catchment slowly begins to make its way back to the lakes, rivers and oceans through the process of runoff and the cycle begins all over again. In this period of run off the water becomes salty again as it takes salt from the rocks and soil it passes over and through to get back to the ocean. During runoff water can change the landscape of an area over time as the water slowly carves out tracks by eroding rocks and soil away and transporting them away.
The other way in which water can return to the ocean or rivers it came from in called infiltration. Infiltration occurs when water on the ground seeps through the rock and soil, continuing down until it pools, here it can be stored as massive pools of groundwater or flow back to a large body of water. Groundwater can be access by wells or drilling. Groundwater is used by farmers and people in remote areas where rainfall is rare, it is used to water livestock, crops and even as drinking water. Australia's largest source of groundwater is found in the Great Artesian Basin which spread over Queensland, New South Wales and even into South Australia.
Convectional rainfall:
Temperatures during the day warm the ground and causes warm air to rise rapidly and begin the condensation process at a high altitude. This process causes heavy rain and thunderstorms. |
Frontal rainfall:
This occurs when two air masses meet each other and the cool air mass becomes wedged under the warm air mass. The warm air is forced to rise and cool quickly causing rain to fall along a distinct line. |
Orographic (relief) rainfall:
In this process the air is forced to rise due to the height of landmasses, such as mountains and hills. When the air cools the condensation begins to fall, producing rain. As the air passes over the landmass it warms up which creates a dry region. |
water_cycle_sheet.docx | |
File Size: | 69 kb |
File Type: | docx |