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human factors disturbing the water cycle - Coggle Diagram
human factors disturbing the water cycle
urbanisation
loss of vegetation
impermeable surfaces
provide minimal water storage capcity
allow little to no infiltration, so less run-off
drainage systems
remove surface water rapidly, helps stop flooding, reduces groundwater stores in urban areas
high proportion of water from precipitations flows quickly into streams + rivers leading to a rapid rise in water level
encroachment on flood plains
natural storage areas for water, reduces water storage capacity in drainage basins, increased risk of flooding as it can't percolate into rock
increases river flow and flood risks
reducing land available for farming, build flood defences to stop getting flooded, flood plains get water logged, reducing soil moisture, introduction of drains
decreases rate of overland flow and throughflow
forestry
management in plantations
afforestation
farming
deforestation
STORES: higher groundwater store + surface store, since more rainfall reaches the ground via through flow and percolation
FLOWS: less rainfall intercepted and less evaporation so more run-off, higher through fall
crop cultivation
ploughing
FLOWS: furrows ploughed downwards act as drains, accelerating run-off. more gaps + space in soil when water falls, increases infiltration, only if you haven't ploughed on steep slopes. increases evaporation + surface runoff. peak flows on streams draining farmland are higher than in natural ecosystem.
FLOWS: increases evaporation and soil moisture loss, bringing soil moisture up to the surface. artificial under drainage increase the rate of water transfers to streams and rivers
irrigation
STORES: decrease in water soil storage, increase in soil moisture storage, trying to add water to soil, some seep[s down to soil moisture store.
FLOWS: diverts surface water from rivers and groundwater to cultivate land if done wrong it can increase evaporation in the atmosphere
use of machinery/compaction of soil
FLOWS: reduction of infiltration means water has been compacted, so vehciales must stay on lines to reduce compaction. reduction of water log --> bad
STORES: soil moisture store will decrease
surface extraction from river
reduce downstream flow
reduce surface water
sub-surface groundwater extraction
aquifers - permeable or porous water-bearig rocks underground such as chalk
artesian basins