Hydrosphere and how we are causing harm to it?

A hydrosphere is the total amount of water on a planet. The hydrosphere

includes water that is on the surface of the planet, underground, and in the air.
A planet's hydrosphere can be liquid, vapor, or ice.
The activities of modern society are having a severe impact on the hydrologic
cycle. The dynamic steady state is being disturbed by the discharge of toxic
chemicals, radioactive substances, and other industrial wastes and by the
seepage of mineral fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides into surface and
subsurface aquatic systems. Inadvertent and deliberate discharge of petroleum,
improper sewage disposal, and thermal pollution also are seriously affecting the
quality of the hydrosphere.
 LITHOSPHERE AND IT'S COMPONENTS

Lithosphere is the outermost shell of a terrestrial-type planet, or

natural satellite, that is defined by its rigid mechanical properties.
On Earth, it is composed of the crust and the portion of the upper
mantle that behaves elastically on time scales of thousands of
years or greater. The outermost shell of a rocky planet, the crust,
is defined on the basis of its chemistry and mineralogy.
 tectonic plates and why they move?

According to the plate tectonic theory the lithosphere,

which is the rigid outermost shell of a planet is broken into
tectonic plates. The Earth's lithosphere is composed of
seven or eight major plates and many minor plates.
Tectonic plates are able to move because the Earth's
lithosphere has greater mechanical strength than the
underlying asthenosphere.
what was the Earth called when all the plates
were joined?
pangaea
 biosphere

Biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all

living beings and their relationships, including their
interaction with the elements of the lithosphere,
geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
Composition of life (95%) is Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen,
Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Sulfur.
Natural Resources
Natural resources are materials and components that can be found within the
environment. Every man-made product is composed of natural resources. A natural
resource may exist as a separate entity such as fresh water, air, and as well as a living
organism such as a fish, or it may exist in an alternate form that must be processed to
obtain the resource such as metal ores, rare earth metals, petroleum, and most forms of
energy.
Renewable Resources
A renewable resource is a resource which can be used repeatedly and replaced naturally.
Renewable energy almost never runs out, for example: solar energy is powered by heat
from the sun and never runs out. Examples include oxygen, fresh water, solar energy and
biomass etc.
Non-renewable Resource
A non-renewable resource (also called a finite resource) is a resource of economic value
that cannot be readily replaced by natural means at a quick enough pace to keep up with
consumption. An example is carbon-based fossil fuel.
 Uses or importance of hydrosphere
• Water is the most important part of living cells
• Every cell in living organism is built up of about 75% of water, hence allows the cell to function
appropriately. Cells would not able to carry out normal functions and life cannot exist without water.
• Human needs
• Humans use water in many ways. Drinking water is the most obvious use, but it is also used for
domestic purpose like washing and cleaning, and in industries. Water is also utilized in generating
electricity through hydropower.
• Water provides habitat
• Hydrosphere provides place for many plants and animals to live. Many gasses like CO2, O2,
nutrients like ammonium and nitrite(NO–2) as well as other ions are dissolved in water. The
presence of these substances is essential for life to exist in water.
• Regulate Climate
• The water’s specific heat is its unique characteristics. This indicates that water takes a lot of time
to heat up and a lot of time cool down. It helps in regulating temperatures on earth as they stay in
a range which is acceptable for life on earth to exist.
 Uses or importance of lithosphere

• The lithosphere is very important because it is a large reservoir of resources, which are
so useful to man. The majority of the material objects which man requires are supplied
by lithosphere.
• The lithosphere serves as a source of minerals. The minerals supply the basic materials
required for making a variety of commodities, which man uses daily.
• The lithosphere is also the major source of fuels such as coal, petroleum and a natural
gas. Without these fuels human life, as we know it today, would have been impossible.
• The lithosphere in combination with the hydrosphere and the atmosphere plays a vital
role in the growth of plants and animals. It provides nutrients to the plants. The plants are
the source of food for man and all other animals.
 Problems associated with natural resources

• . Climate Change -- The effects of climate change are widespread, as it will cause issues with
deforestation, water supplies, oceans and ecosystems. Each of these have widespread implications of their
own, marking climate change as the major environmental issue the planet faces today.
• Polar Ice Caps - There is strong evidence to suggest that sea levels are rising, with the Arctic ice caps
melting being a major contributor. Over time, this could lead to extensive flooding, contamination of drinking
water and major changes in ecosystems.
• Natural Resource Use - Increased resource use is linked to a number of other environmental issues,
such as air pollution and population growth. Over time, the depletion of these resources will lead to an energy
crisis, plus the chemicals emitted by many natural resources are strong contributors to climate change.

• Lowered Biodiversity - lowered biodiversity has as pronounced an impact as climate change and
pollution on ecosystems, particularly in areas with higher amounts of species extinction.

Air Pollution , Ocean Acidification , Ozone Layer Depletion , Acid Rain are the other
problems associated with natural resources
 Use of forest resources
• Fuelwood
For the rural population, wood is an important source of energy for cooking and heating.
• Fodder
Fodder from the forest forms an important source for cattle and other grazing animals in the hilly and the arid
regions and during a drought
• Fencing
Fences created with trees and shrubs are preferred in developing countries as they are cheap to maintain yet give
protection
• Soil erosion check
Tree roots bind the soil and prevent erosion caused by wind or water. Leaf fall also provides a soil cover that
further protects the soil
• Wind breaks and shelter belts
Trees grown for wind breaks should be bushy and sturdy to withstand strong winds, both hot and cold.
• Soil improvement
Some species of trees have the ability to return nitrogen to the soil through root decomposition or fallen leaves.
DIFFERENC between deforestration and degradation
• Condensation-Condensation is the process by which water vapor in the air is
changed into liquid water.
• Precipitation- Precipitation occurs when a portion of the atmosphere becomes
saturated with water vapor, so that the water condenses and "precipitates". Thus,
fog and mist are not precipitation but suspensions, because the water vapor does
not condense sufficiently to precipitate.
• Evaporation-Evaporation is the process of a substance in a liquid state changing to
a gaseous state due to an increase in temperature and/or pressure. Evaporation is
a fundamental part of the water cycle and is constantly occurring throughout nature
 Problems related to water resources

• Floods:Floods refer to the inundation of large parts of land by water, which otherwise remain
dry for some duration of time. Flood causes heavy loss to agriculture, livestock and property.
• Water Logging:A soil is said to be water logged when it is completely saturated with water,
which is caused by water stagnation on flat land and low lying areas. It occurs due to excess
rainfall, floods, seepage high water table, obstruction to natural drainage, over irrigation, etc.
• salty water- Most parts of the arid and semi-arid regions contain high percentage of sodium
salts. Such water is dangerous for agriculture.
 How dams are usefull to us ?Discuss the problems associated with
dams.
• Not enough water for people during the
summer droughts.
• Farmers have trouble growing food without
enough irrigation water.
• During drought periods, the Birdseye River
is not deep enough for ships to cross to
bring valuable goods to Thirsty County.
• Flash floods ruin houses and stores.
• Air pollution from a nearby coal-fired power
plant makes people sick.
 How to protect the wate resources of the world
• Dispose of chemicals properly.
• Take used motor oil to a recycling center.
• Limit the amount of fertilizer used on plants.
• Take short showers.
• Shut water off while brushing teeth.
• Run full loads of dishes and laundry.
• Check for leaky faucets and have them fixed.
• Abandon all wells that are not needed.
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator.
• Get involved in water education.
 How are mineral resources useful to us?

• Minerals are naturally occurring chemical compounds found on the surface of the earth.
they are not produced or excreted by living organisms. they can be crystalline or
amorphous in nature.
• Usefulness
• Minerals are extracted from the surface, purified and processed for use.
• Calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium, potassium, aluminum, titanium oxide etc are used in
health care.
• Iron is essential to the human body to maintain the balance of hemoglobin in blood.
• Necessity of calcium is found in the bones.
• Graphite is a form of carbon, a mineral and a conductor of electricity. it is used for
electrical purposes and also for making pencils.
 Explain four stages of mining activities
• The stages in the life cycle of a mine are: 1) Prospecting and Exploration, 2) Development; 3)
Extraction, and 4) Closure/Reclamation
• Prospecting is the process of searching the region for mineral deposits.In mining exploration,
experts use additional techniques to determine the possible size and value of the mineral deposit
discovered during prospecting.
• Development involves extensive pre-development planning and paperwork. Budget and financial
reports are prepared and permits are requested.Plans are assessed regarding the: 1) the mining
process/technology that will be used, 2) building of access roads for transportation, 3) identification
of resources such as power and water sources, and 4) construction of ore processing facilities and
disposal areas for waste.
• In the extraction stage the mineral is removed from the earth in large quantities as the mine begins
producing. This stage is typically what we envision when we think of mining. Some exploration and
development may continue at this stage, as well.
• The mining organization begins planning for mine closure and reclamation early on; even before a
mine is allowed to open, a reclamation plan must be set in place for its closure. In these
reclamation plans the mining operator describes the processes it will use to attempt to restore or
redevelop the land that has been mined to a more natural or economically usable state. This can
include removing buildings and roads as well as covering up and re-vegetating rock piles.
 Discuss the consiquenses of mining activities
• Erosion
• Erosion of exposed hillsides, mine dumps, tailings dams and resultant siltation of drainages, creeks and rivers can significantly impact the surrounding areas, a prime example being the giant Ok Tedi Mine in
Papua New Guinea. In wilderness areas mining may cause destruction and disturbance of ecosystems and habitats, and in areas of farming it may disturb or destroy productive grazing and croplands. In
urbanized environments mining may produce noise pollution, dust pollution and visual pollution.
• Sinkholes
• Subsidence
• Salt mining and salt dome collapsing in Assumption Parish, Louisiana caused the Bayou Corne sinkhole in 2012. As of August 2013, the sinkhole continues to expand.
• Water pollution
• Mining can have harmful effects on surrounding surface and groundwater. If proper precautions are not taken, unnaturally high concentrations of chemicals, such as arsenic, sulfuric acid, and mercury over a
significant area of surface or subsurface water.[4] With large amounts of water used for mine drainage, mine cooling, aqueous extraction and other mining processes, increases the potential for these chemicals
to contaminate ground and surface water. As mining produces copious amounts of waste water, disposal methods are limited do to contaminates within the waste water. Runoff containing these chemicals can
lead to the devastation of the surrounding vegetation. The dumping of the runoff in surface waters or in a lot of forests is the worst option. Therefore, submarine tailings disposal are regarded as a better option (if
the waste is pumped to great depth).[5] Land storage and refilling of the mine after it has been depleted is even better, if no forests need to be cleared for the storage of debris. The contamination of watersheds
resulting from the leakage of chemicals also has an effect on the health of the local population.
• In well-regulated mines, hydrologists and geologists take careful measurements of water to take precaution to exclude any type of water contamination that could be caused by the mine's operations. The
minimization of environmental degradation is enforced in American mining practices by federal and state law, by restricting operators to meet standards for the protection of surface and groundwater from
contamination.[6] This is best done through the use of non-toxic extraction processes as bioleaching.[7]
• Acid rock drainage
• Main article: Acid mine drainage
• Sub-surface mining often progresses below the water table, so water must be constantly pumped out of the mine in order to prevent flooding. When a mine is abandoned, the pumping ceases, and water floods
the mine. This introduction of water is the initial step in most acid rock drainage situations.
• Acid mine drainage in Portugal
• Acid rock drainage occurs naturally within some environments as part of the rock weathering process but is exacerbated by large-scale earth disturbances characteristic of mining and other large construction
activities, usually within rocks containing an abundance of sulfide minerals. Areas where the earth has been disturbed (e.g. construction sites, subdivisions, and transportation corridors) may create acid rock
drainage. In many localities, the liquid that drains from coal stocks, coal handling facilities, coal washeries, and coal waste tips can be highly acidic, and in such cases it is treated as acid mine drainage (AMD).
The same type of chemical reactions and processes may occur through the disturbance of acid sulfate soils formed under coastal or estuarine conditions after the last major sea level rise, and constitutes a
similar environmental hazard.
• The five principal technologies used to monitor and control water flow at mine sites are diversion systems, containment ponds, groundwater pumping systems, subsurface drainage systems, and subsurface
barriers. In the case of AMD, contaminated water is generally pumped to a treatment facility that neutralizes the contaminants.[8] A 2006 review of environmental impact statements found that "water quality
predictions made after considering the effects of mitigation largely underestimated actual impacts to groundwater, seeps, and surface water".[9]
• Heavy metals
• Dissolution and transport of metals and heavy metals by run-off and ground water is another example of environmental problems with mining, such as the Britannia Mine, a former copper mine near Vancouver,
British Columbia. Tar Creek, an abandoned mining area in Picher, Oklahoma that is now an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site, also suffers from heavy metal contamination. Water in the mine
containing dissolved heavy metals such as lead and cadmium leaked into local groundwater, contaminating it.[10] Long-term storage of tailings and dust can lead to additional problems, as they can be easily
blown off site by wind, as occurred at Skouriotissa, an abandoned copper mine in Cyprus.
Discuss the food problems that the developing countries are
facing today
 What is genetic diversity? How it is lost today?
• Genetic diversity is the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a
species. It is distinguished from genetic variability, which describes the tendency of
genetic characteristics to vary.
• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:
• Over-exploitation for Commercialization:
• Invasive Species:
• Pollution:
• Global Climate Change:
• Population Growth and Over-consumption:
• Illegal Wildlife Trade:
• Species extinction:
 pros and cons of hydro electricity power
• advantages -
• Producing electricity using hydropower has some advantages over other power-producing methods:
• Hydroelectricity is a renewable energy source. Hydroelectricity uses the energy of running water, without reducing its quantity, to produce electricity.
• Hydroelectricity makes it possible to utilize other renewable sources. The flexibility and storage capacity of hydroelectric power plants make them
more economical in supporting the use of intermittent sources of renewable energy, such as solar energy.
• Hydroelectricity promotes guaranteed energy and price stability. River water is a domestic resource which, unlike fuel or natural gas, is not subject to
market fluctuations.
• Hydroelectricity helps fight climate changes. The hydroelectric life cycle produces very small amounts of greenhouse gasses.
• Hydroelectricity improves the air we breathe. The power plants don’t release pollutants into the air, and hydroelectric developments don’t generate
toxic by-products.
• disadvantages -
• Hydroelectric power is not perfect, however, and does have some significant disadvantages:
• Hydropower is non-polluting, but does have environmental impacts. Hydropower facilities can affect land use, homes, and natural habitats in the
dam area. Reservoirs may cover people’s homes, important natural areas, agricultural land, and archaeological sites.
• Reservoir construction is “drying up” in the U.S. The construction of surface reservoirs has slowed considerably in recent years. Building a dam and
reservoir to support hydroelectric power takes a lot of money, time, and construction, and most of the suitable sports to locate hydro plants have
already been taken.
• Hydroelectricity is hydrology dependent. The system depends on precipitation levels, which can fluctuate from year to year, causing instability.
• In some cases, hydroelectricity can disrupt wildlife habitat. Hydroelectric power plants can cause a loss or modification of fish habitat, and lead to the
entrapment of fish and the restriction of their passages.
• In some cases, hydroelectricity can cause changes in reservoir and stream water quality. Operating a hydroelectric power plant may alter the water
temperature and the river’s flow. These changes may harm native plants and animals in the river and on land.
• Solar energy is used today in a number of ways:

• As heat for making hot water, heating buildings, and

cooking
• To generate electricity with solar cells or heat engines
• To take the salt away from sea water.
• To use sun rays for drying clothes and towels.
• It is used by plants for the process of photosynthesis.
• To use cooking (solar cookers)
• Ecological footprint - The Ecological Footprint measures the amount of biologically productive land and sea area
an individual, a region, all of humanity, or a human activity that compete for biologically productive space. The
Footprint then can be compared to how much land and sea area is available.
• Earth Overshoot Day - Earth Overshoot Day (EOD), previously known as Ecological Debt Day (EDD), is the
calculated illustrative calendar date on which humanity's resource consumption for the year exceeds Earth's
capacity to regenerate those resources that year.
• Biogas - Biogas is a type of biofuel that is naturally produced from the decomposition of organic waste. When
organic matter, such as food scraps and animal waste, break down in an anaerobic environment (an environment
absent of oxygen) they release a blend of gases, primarily methane and carbon dioxide.
• Windpower - Wind power or wind energy is the use of air flow through wind turbines to provide the mechanical
power to turn electric generators and traditionally to do other work, like milling or pumping. Wind power is a
sustainable and renewable alternative to burning fossil fuels, and has a much smaller impact on the environment.
• Tidal and Wave power - Tidal energy is energy produced by the tides of the ocean. ... There is a lot of energy in
the movement of that much water. Renewable Energy. Wave and tidal power is considered renewable energy
because we don't "use up" anything when we convert their energy to something usable like electricity.
• Geothermal energy - Geothermal energy (from the Greek roots geo, meaning earth, and from thermos, meaning
heat) is energy made by heat inside the Earth's crust. Although the Sun does heat the surface of the Earth, the heat
from inside the Earth is not caused by the Sun.
• Nuclear energy - Nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms – a process called fission. This
generates heat to produce steam, which is used by a turbine generator to generate electricity. Because nuclear
power plants do not burn fuel, they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Fisheries - fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a
fishery.Close to 90% of the world's fishery catches come from oceans and seas, as opposed to inland waters.