Environmental Science: Natural Disasters and Agriculture

Natural Resources

• Natural resources are naturally occurring substances with economic value like metals, non-metals, and energy resources.
• They're found in the Earth's crust and can be mined and processed for various uses.

Over-Utilization of Water

• Population and industrial growth significantly increase demand for water resources.
• Both surface water and groundwater are overexploited to meet agricultural, domestic, and industrial needs.

Effects of Over-Utilization of Water

• Groundwater depletion leads to reduced water levels in underground aquifers.
• Land subsidence (ground sinking) occurs due to excessive groundwater extraction.
• Water shortages can result from over-extraction.
• Poor water quality can arise from contamination and overuse.
• Over-utilization negatively affects nature and animals.

Important Uses of Water

• Industrial use: manufacturing, cooling, processing
• Domestic use: drinking, cooking, cleaning, sanitation
• Energy production: hydropower plants generate electricity.
• Agriculture: crucial for irrigation and livestock care
• Transportation: rivers and lakes serve as natural water-based transportation routes.

Floods

• A flood occurs when water covers land that typically isn't submerged.
• This is often caused by heavy rainfall or overflowing rivers.
• Floods damage homes, roads, farms, and can be life-threatening for people and animals.
• Floods also damage natural ecosystems.

Causes of Floods

• Heavy Rainfall: excessive rainfall that overwhelms the ground's absorption capacity.
• Overflowing Rivers: rivers exceed their capacity when they're filled with water from rainfall and/or melting snow.
• Dam Failure: a sudden release of water from a breached dam.
• Urbanization: the presence of buildings and roads making water less likely to soak into the ground.
• Snowmelt: rapid melting of snow in spring causing rivers and streams to overflow.

Effects of Floods

• Destruction of property (homes, roads, infrastructure)
• Loss of life (drowning, other fatalities)
• Soil erosion, harming agricultural lands and ecosystems.
• Water contamination, making water unsafe to drink.
• Economic losses (damage to businesses, crops, infrastructure).

Flood Management

• Early warnings systems to predict and warn people about potential flooding events.
• Flood barriers (walls or levees) to prevent water entry to homes and cities.
• Improved drainage systems to quickly move excess water from urban areas.
• Planning land use to avoid building in flood-prone areas.
• Flood-safe education for individuals living in flood-prone areas.

Drought

• A period of time with less than usual rainfall.
• This leads to dry rivers, lakes, and underground water sources.
• Crops struggle to grow, animals and humans may not have enough water to drink.

Types of Drought

• Meteorological drought: less rainfall than usual for a given period.
• Agricultural drought: lack of enough water for crop growth, impacting food production.
• Hydrological drought: reduced surface and groundwater availability.
• Socioeconomic drought: effects of water scarcity on the economy (food prices, industrial production, water for human use).

Causes of Drought

• Lack of rainfall
• High temperatures (evaporation increases)
• Climate change (altered precipitation patterns)
• Deforestation, reducing water absorption
• Overuse of water (excessive water withdrawal)

Effects of Drought

• Water shortages: impacting individuals, animals, and ecosystems.
• Crop failure: higher food prices and shortages.
• Animal deaths or migration as water resources deplete.
• Economic hardships, impacting farmers and related industries.
• Health problems from lack of clean water (dehydration, malnutrition, disease).

Drought Management

• Water conservation measures (efficient irrigation, fixing leaks in homes and farms).
• Rainwater harvesting (collecting and storing rainwater for later use).
• Planting more trees, aiding water retention in the soil.
• Efficient irrigation techniques to save water.
• Drought-resistant crops to survive periods of low rainfall.

Conflicts Over Water

• Disputes between two or more groups over water use, control, or access.
• Occur between countries, states, or communities with scarce or unevenly distributed water resources.

Causes of Water Conflicts

• Water scarcity: when demand exceeds the available supply.
• Unequal distribution: unequal access to water resources resulting in tensions.
• Pollution of water sources: decreased quality and quantity, making access unsafe and contested.
• Overuse of water resources: sectors using more than their sustainable volume.
• Climate Change: altering precipitation patterns, leading to more drought or floods.

Management of Conflicts Over Water

• International agreements to establish fair use and protect shared water resources.
• Water-sharing agreements to ensure equitable access across regions.
• Water conservation strategies and efficient techniques to reduce overall use.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution mechanisms to resolve disputes peacefully.
• Public education promoting water conservation.

Big Dams

• Large, human-made structures built across rivers or streams to control water flow.
• Used for various purposes, including water storage, flood control, irrigation, and electricity generation.

Benefits of Big Dams

• Water storage: provides a reliable water supply.
• Electricity generation: sustainable hydroelectric power.
• Flood control: reduces the risk of severe flooding.
• Agricultural development: supports irrigation and crop production.
• Recreation and tourism: creates reservoirs for boating, fishing, and other activities.

Problems of Constructing Big Dams

• Displacement of communities due to flooding.
• Environmental damage disrupting ecosystems like wildlife and fish migration.
• High construction and maintenance costs.
• Sedimentation reduces water storage capacity over time.
• Risk of dam failure leading to catastrophic flooding.
• Negative impact on agricultural, fishing, and other local livelihoods.
• Seismic activity: heavy water reservoirs can trigger earthquakes.

Water Resource Management

• The planning, development, distribution, and management of the optimal utilization of water resources.
• This involves balancing demands from different sectors (drinking, agriculture, industry) and environmental protection.

Organizations Involved in Water Resource Management

• United Nations Water (UN-Water)
• World Water Council (WWC)
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Others focused on specific aspects of water management and usage

Mineral Resources

• Naturally occurring substances in the Earth's crust that hold economic value.
• The value of these resources can be exploited, processed, and put to various uses.

Types of Mineral Resources

• Metallic Minerals: Gold, Silver, Iron, Copper, Aluminum
• Non-Metallic Minerals: Limestone, Clay, Salt
• Energy Minerals: Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Uranium

Food Resources

• Food resources are derived from plants, animals, and other organisms that provide essential nutrients for humans.
• These are crucial for survival and form the basis of agriculture, fishing, and livestock farming.

Examples of Food Supply

• Agricultural supply (wheat, rice, corn)
• Livestock supply (cattle, poultry, sheep)
• Fishing supply (fish, shrimp, crabs)
• Aquaculture supply (salmon, tilapia)
• Wild food supply (wild berries, mushrooms)

World Food Problems

• Hunger and malnutrition
• Food insecurity
• Overpopulation
• Unequal distribution
• Food waste
• Climate Change (affects food production)

Agriculture

• The practice of growing crops and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products.
• It involves various activities such as planting, cultivating, harvesting, and managing land, as well as breeding animals.

Types of Agriculture

• Traditional agriculture (relies on manual labor and natural resources).
• Modern agriculture (uses technology, machinery, and chemicals for high production).

Problems Related to Modern Agricultural Practices

• Problems related to fertilizer overuse: soil degradation, nutrient imbalances, water contamination.
• Problems related to pesticide overuse: harming beneficial insects, leading to resistance in pests, and contaminating water & soil.
• Water logging due to over-irrigation: decreased oxygen for plant roots, harming crop growth.

Energy Resources

• The ability to do work, existing in various forms (mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, nuclear energy).
• Essential for human activities and industrial processes.

Development of Energy

• Historical progression from wood to coal, oil, and now alternative energy sources.

Renewable Resources

• Resources that can be naturally replenished in a short period of time.

Non-Renewable Resources

• Resources with limited quantities that take millions of years to replenish.

Renewable Energy Resources

• Solar energy (electricity generation, heating water)
• Wind energy (electricity generation)
• Hydropower (electricity generation from flowing water)
• Biomass energy (cooking, heating, electricity generation; uses organic materials)
• Geothermal energy (heating buildings; generating electricity; using Earth's internal heat)

Non-Renewable Energy Resources

• Coal
• Petroleum
• LPG
• Natural Gas

Nuclear Energy

• Energy produced by nuclear fission (splitting of heavy atoms) or nuclear fusion (combining lighter atoms).

Land Resources

• Natural land available for agriculture, forestry, human settlements, and industrial activities.
• Crucial for food production, biodiversity, and ecological balance.

Important Uses of Land Resources

• Food and raw materials (crops, wood, minerals)
• Habitat and ecosystem support (for plants and animals)
• Water storage (watersheds, reservoirs)

Desertification

• The process where fertile land loses its moisture and becomes a desert.
• Causes include deforestation, overgrazing, drought, and climate change.
• Impacts agriculture, biodiversity, and human livelihoods.

Causes of Desertification

• Deforestation (loss of root systems holding the soil)
• Overgrazing (overuse of land by animals)
• Farming overuse/poor practices
• Climate change (less rain, more extreme temperatures)
• Poor water use practices (over-extraction from aquifers)

Harmful Effects of Desertification

• Dry land (inability of soil to support vegetation)
• Loss of topsoil
• Reduced water availability
• Loss of plants and animals due to lack of food and habitat
• Disruption to human livelihoods (loss of farming land and resources)

Landslides

• The sudden movement of rocks and soil down a slope due to gravity.
• Often caused by heavy rainfall, earthquakes, deforestation, or human activities like construction and mining.
• Can lead to property damage and loss of life.

Harmful Effects of Landslides

• Destruction of property: burying homes, roads, and buildings
• Loss of life: trapping or injuring people in affected areas
• Soil erosion: making land susceptible to further damage
• Disruption of infrastructure: blocking transportation routes, power lines, water supplies
• Agricultural loss: burying or damaging farmland

Causes of Landslides

• Heavy rainfall weakening the soil
• Earthquakes triggering movements of rocks and soil
• Deforestation reducing soil stability
• Mining activities and construction weakening the land
• Volcanic eruptions loosening soil and rocks

Role of an Individual in Conserving Natural Resources

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: minimizing waste by repurposing items and recycling materials.
• Save water and energy: using less water and energy by turning off taps and lights.
• Sustainable Consumption: purchasing environmentally friendly products and supporting sustainable companies.
• Plant trees: contributing to soil and water conservation and clean air production.