what are the implications of the water and carbon cycle for the health of the planet?
Water Cycle
vital for life (water security)
water intergrates land,ocean and atmospheric systems
water vapour is a green house gas
key climate regulator
key resource with uneven distribution (poorly understood)
source of poverty
source of conflict
key agent of natural hazards
Typhoons, hurricanes, cyclones
countries dont have enough access, Farmers dont have enough water to grow crops - cant earn money or eat- can get sick- loose out on education- vicious cycle of poverty- low life expectancy
Ethiopia and Egypt conflict over water in the River Nile. Ethiopia have a dam which stops flowing water in Egypt, which need water for energy, sanitation and drinking
humans need water to survive - supply cant reach the demand- population could affect it. some countries cant afford enough water for basic human needs.
water cycle moderates climate- can cool or heat the earth
goes into atmosphere, absorbs solar radiation and therefore heats the earth
linked by a cycle, water is circulated in a closed cycle between land, ocean and atmosphere
water balance, sanitation, drinking, plants- countries can afford it but dont have it
Carbon Cycle
essential for life
exists in all life forms( carbon based life forms 12% of human atoms)
present in lithosphere, soils, atmosphere
over 10 million carbon compounds
regulator of temperature and climate through controlling carbon dioxide concentrations
component fossil fuels