Slide 1Slide 2Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7waterThe Global Water CycleWATER IN THE BIOSPHEREWATER IN THE BIOSPHERE %% Renewal timeRenewal time OceansOceans97.6197.61 3,1003,100 years yearsPolar ice, glaciersPolar ice, glaciers 2.082.08 16,00016,000 years yearsGround waterGround water 0.2950.295 300300 years yearsFreshwater lakesFreshwater lakes 0.009 0.3%0.009 0.3% 1-1001-100 yearsyearsRiversRivers 0.000090.00009 12-20 days12-20 days With effective utilization of existing finite supplies, water will be used and reused by: • agriculture • industry • residential The real freshwater supply depends upon: • rainfall • consumption • degradationSEVERITY OF STRESS (Modified from Wetzel 2001) 190019502000ECONOMY DISEASE ENERGY FRESH WATER FOOD STRESSAnthropogenic (Nr) fixation exceeded natural (Nr) fixation => intensive food production•There will be a shortage of clean freshwater in next 20-30 years… •Many countries have a deficit of clean freshwater… (Southwestern and Western US included…)•The proposed strategy of desalination of ocean water is expensive and ultimately will lead to deterioration of the oceans, waste product from desalination will increase ocean salinity - increasing salinity will cause other pollution components to be more aggressive and toxic in a synergistic reaction…Freshwater
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