Global Issues: Water PDF

Chapter Six Global Issues: Water e pl m Sa se About the Chapter lip Water is crucial for humans’ survival and for the development of their economies. I...

Chapter Six Global Issues: Water e pl m Sa se About the Chapter lip Water is crucial for humans’ survival and for the development of their economies. It is also a crucial element in the protection of Ec the environment. The availability of freshwater has already been an important concern in many parts of the world. Access to basic water supply and sanitation services are increasingly acknowledged as fundamental for health and development, and are being increasingly accepted as a fundamental human right. This chapter focuses on critical issues concerning water education. Ec lip se Sa m pl e Chapter 6 e Global Issues: Water pl m Lesson 1: Freshwater Supply Sa Lesson 2: Surface Water Lesson 3: Water Scarcity se Lesson 4: Causes of Water Scarcity lip Lesson 5: Water Scarcity in the Arab World: A Case Study Ec Lesson 6: Seawater Desalination Lesson 7: Water Recycling Lesson 1 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Freshwater Supply Class Discussion Questions: 1- What do you know about water? 2- Do you ever think about how precious water is? e pl A- Freshwater Freshwater is water generally characterized by having low m concentrations of dissolved salts and other solids. The source of almost all freshwater is perception from the atmosphere, in Sa the form of mist, rain and snow. B- Freshwater Distribution How much freshwater do you think is on Earth? The answer might se surprise you. Although Earth is called a “water planet” because over 70 percent lip of its surface is covered by water, the situation is as follows: A- About 97 percent of all water on Earth is salt water, seawater or brackish, leaving only 3 percent as freshwater. Ec B- The majority of freshwater available on Earth (2 percent) is locked away in polar icecaps and glaciers leaving only 1 percent of all Earth’s water as freshwater available for humans to access. C- World’s freshwater accessible for direct human uses (1 percent) is the water found in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and those underground sources that are shallow enough to be tapped at an affordable cost. Only this amount is regularly renewed by rain and snowfall, and is therefore available on a sustainable basis. 164 Lesson 1 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water e pl m Sa Figure 6.1: Water on Earth C- Freshwater as a Resource Freshwater is an important natural resource necessary for the se survival of all humans, animals and plants. Freshwater is used by humans for activities such as drinking, irrigation and industrial applications. lip Freshwater is a renewable and changeable, but it is a limited natural resource. It can only be renewed through the process of the water cycle, where water from seas, lakes, rivers, and dams evaporates, Ec forms clouds and returns to water sources as precipitation. D- Freshwater Supply “Freshwater Supply” refers to the sources of water that are useful and available for use. The following are the sources of freshwater. 165 Lesson 1 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water 1- Surface Freshwater Surface freshwater is water in rivers, lakes or freshwater wetlands. Freshwater lakes contain about 87 percent of this fresh surface water, including 29 percent in the African Great Lakes, 23 percent in Lake Baikal in Russia, 21 percent in the North American Great Lakes, and 14 percent in other lakes. e pl m Figure 6.2: Freshwater wetland 2- Groundwater: Sa Beneath the earth’s surface is a vast supply of freshwater that has soaked down se into the ground. We call it “groundwater”. This water soaks into lip the tiny spaces in the soil and bedrock until it becomes saturated, Ec just like a sponge. Groundwater feeds streams, rivers and supplies wells. Figure 6.3: Groundwater 166 Lesson 1 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water 3- Desalination Desalination is an artificial process by which saline water (generally seawater) is converted to freshwater. 4- Frozen water e Glacier runoff is considered to be surface water. Ten of Asia’s largest rivers flow from the Himalayan glaciers. pl m Sa se lip Ec Figure 6.4: Melting Himalayan glaciers 167 Lesson 2 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Surface Freshwater A- Rivers and Streams You have learned that only a very small percentage of Earth’s water is fresh. But this small percentage of water is vital. Liquid e freshwater flows over Earth’s surface in streams and rivers. It also forms ponds, lakes, and wetlands. pl A stream is a body of freshwater that flows downhill in a channel. The channel of a stream has a bottom, or bed, and sides called m banks. Any size body of flowing water can be called a stream. Usually, though, a large stream is called a river. Sa B- The River`s Journey A river is surface water finding its way over land from a higher point. The high point can be a mountain, hill or other elevated se area. The place where a stream or a river starts is its source. The source might be a spring, where water flows out of the ground. Or it might be water from melting snow on a mountain top. lip As the water flows down, it may pick up more water from other small streams, springs or from rain or snow melt. These streams may slowly join together to form a larger stream or river. Ec When the river leaves the high elevations of the mountains and hills, it enters the flat plains where it slows down. Once the river slows down, the pieces of sediment have a chance to fall to the river bottom and be “deposited”. Most of the sediment deposition occurs in the plains. Here, the river flows slowly, making S-shaped curves which are known as meanders, as shown in figure 6.5. Eventually, a river flows into another large body of water, such as an ocean, bay, or lake. The transition between river and ocean, bay or lake is known as a delta. A famous example of a delta is 168 Lesson 2 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water the Nile Delta, where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. In the delta the river divides into many channels and its water mixes with sea or lake water and the river water reaches the end of its journey. e pl m Sa se lip Ec Figure 6.5: The River’s Journey 169 Lesson 2 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water C- Ponds and Lakes Lakes are inland bodies of water that occupy depressions in the surface of the land. These depressions are called basins. A pond is a small body of standing water. A lake is a large body of standing water. Many ponds are seasonal, lasting just a couple of months while lakes may exist for hundreds of years or more. e Most lakes have freshwater, but a few are salty. Examples of pl lakes are the Great Lakes. They lie between the U.S. and Canada, as shown in the map below. The Great Lakes hold 21 percent of m the entire world’s surface freshwater. Sa se lip Ec Figure 6.6: The Great Lakes of North America 170 Lesson 2 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water D- Water in Ponds and Lakes Ponds and lakes may get their water from several sources such as rainfall and melting snow. The water may enter a lake basin in different ways as follow: - Water enters the lake basin directly as precipitation e - Water enters the lake basin through brooks, streams, rivers, pl underground springs, and ground water m Water leaves ponds and lakes through evaporation and also as outflow. Sa E- How Lakes are Formed The lake basins themselves are formed in several ways. Many lakes occupy basins formed by glacial erosion. The Great Lakes, for example, are glacial lakes. A glacial lake is formed when se a glacier scrapes a large hole in the ground. When the glacier melts, the water fills the hole and forms a lake. Over time, water enters the lake from the sources mentioned above as well. lip Crater lakes are created by volcanoes. A lava flow may block the outlet of a valley and form a lake basin. Sometimes the crater of an extinct volcano fills with water. The Russian Lake is an example Ec of crater lake. Figure 6.7: The Russian Lake 171 Lesson 2 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Rift lakes are formed when movements of tectonic plates create low places that fill with water. The lakes of the Western or Albertine Rift, with Lake e Victoria, include the largest, deepest and oldest of the pl Rift Valley Lakes. They are also referred to as the Central African lakes. Lakes m Albert, Victoria, and Edward are part of the Nile River Sa basin. Figure 6.8: The lakes of the Western Rift Lakes can also be artificially made. When a dam is built across se a river valley, it will block the flow of water and form a lake. Lake Nasser is a vast reservoir in southern Egypt, and is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. lip Ec Figure 6.9: Lake Nasser 172 Lesson 3 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Water Scarcity Class Discussion Questions: 1- What do you think it would be like to have no fresh drinking water? e 2- In 1732, Thomas Fuller, an English historian, said: “We never pl know the worth of water till the well is dry.” What do you think of this quote? A- Introduction m Sa Not only do we need water to grow our food, generate our power and run our industries, but also we need it as a basic part of our daily lives. The availability of freshwater has already been an important concern in many parts of the world. A lack of water to se meet daily needs is a reality today for one in three people around the world. It is widely recognized that many countries of our world are entering lip an era of severe water shortage. Globally, the situation is getting worse as needs for water rise along with population growth, urbanization and increases in household and industrial uses. Ec According to the World Health Organization, water scarcity affects one in three people on every continent of the globe. Read the summary of the problem below: The population is growing rapidly, putting more pressure on our water supply (demand is increasing). The amount of water is effectively reduced by pollution and contamination (supply is decreasing). Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century. 173 Lesson 3 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water B- Water Scarcity and Water Stress What do we mean when we say that one country is facing water scarcity while another country is not? In general, people use the term “scarcity” when they describe a situation where there is insufficient water to satisfy normal requirements. However, this common-sense definition of scarcity e is not clear for policy-making purposes. There are degrees of pl scarcity: absolute, life-threatening, seasonal, temporary, cyclical, etc. m For the purposes of greater clarity concerning water scarcity, Hydrologists typically assess scarcity by looking at the population-water equation. According to them, an area is Sa experiencing water stress when annual water supplies drop below 1,700 m3 per person. When annual water supplies drop below 1,000 m3 per person, the population faces water scarcity. Water scarcity is among the main problems to be faced by many se societies. It is both a natural and a human-made phenomenon. Read the facts below: lip 1- Around 700 million people in 43 countries suffer today from water scarcity. Ec 2- It is estimated that 3 billion people will be in the water scarcity by 2025. Think: Will there be enough water to grow food for more than eight billion people expected to populate the Earth by 2025? 174 Lesson 3 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water C- Freshwater Distribution There is enough freshwater on the planet for six billion people but it is distributed unevenly and too much of it is wasted, polluted and unsustainably managed. e The uneven distribution of pl freshwater resources creates major problems of access and availability. m Figure 6.8 illustrates the quantity Sa (in cubic kilometers) and distribution of the world’s freshwater resources in glaciers and permanent ice caps, in groundwater, and in wetlands, large lakes, reservoirs se and rivers. lip Ec Figure 6.10: Global freshwater resources: quantity and distribution by region. Sources: UNESCO, WMO; ICSU; WGMS; USGS. 175 Lesson 4 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Causes of Water Scarcity The causes of water scarcity are varied. Some are natural and others are as a result of human activities. Some of the major causes of water scarcity are listed in this lesson. e A-Models and Projections pl As researchers and scientists want to know what will happen to our environment in the future, they would make a prediction, m based on the best available information they had. Scientists use computer-based simulation models to develop projections of what might happen into the future. Sa It would be very difficult to get an exact answer and it is not easy to create a scenario that accurately reflects what will happen in the future as there are many factors that need to be taken into se account. Scientists would probably just have to wait for the real answers like everyone else. lip B-Population Growth and Water Scarcity Population growth is the change in population over time. With population growth, demand for the world’s finite supply of fresh- Ec water is rising, putting strains even on the industrialized countries. Global population projections suggest that the world population will increase rapidly as shown in figure 6.9. 176 Lesson 4 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water e pl m Sa Figure 6.11: Estimated Population Growth Class Discussion Questions: 1- In Figure 6.9, what trend do you see for the global population? se 2- What would you predict the global population to be in 2060? Justify your prediction. lip As population grow and demands for water and other services expand, pollution levels will rise, which will then reduce the availability of water for human consumption. Ec Class Discussion Questions: 1- What would happen in the world if there was a population explosion? 2- What will your country’s population look like 50 years from now? 177 Lesson 4 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water C-Climate Change and Hydraulic Cycle There have been a number of important international conferences and statements on climate impacts and water resources over the past ten years. Numerous empirical observations and models of the global climate confirm the hypothesis that global warming enhances the global hydrologic cycle. e According to scientists, changes to the Earth’s climate have a pl direct effect on the global hydrological cycle and hence on water. Climate change will lead to more precipitation and more evaporation. In other words, both winter floods and summer water shortages are m expected to become more frequent and intense. This acceleration of the hydrological cycle will result in a wetter world. Sa Read the hypothesized models below: A- The increase in the global temperature by even a small rise can cause the changes in the seasons which can again lead to a decrease in the rain that falls over the whole Earth. Arid and se semi-arid regions will therefore be particularly sensitive to reduced rainfall and to increased evaporation and plant transpiration. lip B- Higher rainfall intensities cause more frequent floods, and require more expensive flood-control measures. An increase in rainfall intensity also may cause more soil erosion and less soil infiltration. Ec Class Discussion Questions: 1- Has climate change affected the country in which you live? 2- Do you believe everything scientists say about climate change? 3- What do you think the world’s climate will be like 50 years from now? Water supplies will be heavily reduced by climate change as seen in the following figure. 178 Lesson 4 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Effects of Climate Change e pl m Sa se lip Ec 179 Lesson 4 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water C- Pollution and Water Quality Groundwater and surface water are connected in a way that pollution which enters groundwater can emerge in surface water. Equally, groundwater can be affected by polluted surface water. Since water continuously flows from one to the other, groundwater can become polluted with nutrients or chemicals when surface water e carrying these substances drains into the groundwater environment as shown in the figure below. pl m Sa se lip Ec Figure 6.12: Groundwater Pollution 180 Lesson 5 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Water Scarcity in the Arab World: A Case Study B-The A- TheDanube Current River Situation The Arab World is mostly dry except for its few major river basins and limited underground supplies of water (wells and springs). It e is ranked as one of the poorest regions in freshwater resources. The Arab World contains less than one percent of the world’s pl available surface water and receives only two percent of global annual rainfall. m Demographic growth, economic growth, urbanization, industrialization and the expansion of irrigated agricultural lands have all contributed to Sa a dramatic increase in water consumption over the past few decades. Water specialists at the meeting of the League of Arab States Conference held in Cairo in 2010 stressed the fact that 19 out of the 22 Arab states are classified as water poverty-stricken. Read se the following examples: 1- Lebanon would be one of the 15 countries (worldwide) suffering from water stress lip 2- Egypt, Morocco and Syria would be among the 9 countries suffering from water scarcity Ec 3- Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen would be among the 22 countries meeting the water barrier before 2025. 181 Lesson 5 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water B-The B- TheDanube PhysicalRiver Factors Read the facts below: 1- The Arab region has a total area of about 14 million square kilometers, of which more than 80 percent is desert, with extreme aridity and poor vegetation cover. Arab countries straddle three e of the world’s largest deserts. Read the following examples: pl A- The Sahara Desert is the largest (nonpolar) desert in the world. (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia) m B- The Arabian Desert is the second largest (nonpolar) desert in the world. (Saudi Arabia, Jordan ,Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, United Sa Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen) C- Badiyat Al-Sham is the seventh largest (nonpolar) desert in the world. (Syria , Jordan and Iraq) se 2- The Arab region has less than 1 percent of global surface water resources. Furthermore, 70 percent of the surface water originates outside the region and comes from rivers that start beyond the lip national borders of these countries. Read the following examples. A- The Tigris and the Euphrates river system originates in the Ec Anatolian plateau and passes through Turkey, Syria and Iraq. B- The River Nile runs through ten African countries. The main conflict over its waters is between Egypt, the Sudan and Ethiopia. Egypt depends on the Nile for its entire water supply. C- The relatively small Jordan River, which forms the borders between Palestine and Jordan, is 360 kilometers long. Formed from the tributaries Al-Hasbani in Lebanon and Banias in Syria, it passes through the Hula Valley after which it drops into the Sea 182 Lesson 5 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water of Tabariya (Sea of Galilee). From there, it continues southward through Al-Ghur after which it is joined by the Yarmuk, Zarqa and Jalloud tributaries and then flows into the Dead Sea. Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon are all dependent on water from the Jordan River. e Palestine pl m Sa se lip Ec Figure 6.13: Jordan River Map 183 Lesson 5 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water 3- The average amount of rain received by most Arab countries is low. Furthermore, most of the rainwater is lost through evaporation. 4- Population and demographic pressures increase demand for water. B-The C- TheDanube Population River Growth e Population growth is at the heart of the problem of water scarcity in pl the Arab region. Population and demographic pressures increase demand for water. m For example, Egypt is an extremely arid country with limited land and water resources. Egypt is almost completely dependent on the waters of the Nile. The river provides more than 95 percent of Sa the total water used in Egypt each year. With Egypt’s population jumping by one million every nine months, the demand for water for basic human needs is rising proportionately. se lip Ec 184 Lesson 6 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Seawater Desalination Think: How can saline water be made into freshwater? e A- Introduction pl You have learned that the scarcity of freshwater resources and the need for additional water supplies is critical in many arid regions m of the world and will be increasingly important in the future. As natural freshwater resources are limited, seawater plays an Sa important part as a source for drinking water. Technology now exists where seawater can be changed to freshwater. Desalination (removing the salt from ocean or seawater) is a technology that is gaining momentum as a practical solution to the global water shortage. se Seawater is pure water plus dissolved solids and gases. A 1 kg sample of saltwater typically contains 35 grams of dissolved compounds, including inorganic salts, organic compounds from living organisms, lip and dissolved gasses. In order to use seawater for human consumption and irrigation, it has to be desalinated. Ec Desalination refers to the several processes of removing some amount of salt and other minerals from seawater. Desalination has been around for centuries, and was first developed when salt, not water, was precious. In ancient times, many civilizations used this process on their ships to convert seawater into drinking water. The world’s first land-based desalination plant that had a capacity of 60 m3/day of freshwater was installed in the Netherlands in 1928. 185 Lesson 6 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water In 2002 there were about 12,500 desalination plants around the world in 120 countries. They produce some 14 million m3/day of freshwater, which is less than 1 percent of total world consumption. The most important users of desalinated water are in the Middle East, (mainly Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain), and in North Africa (mainly Libya and Algeria). Among industrialized countries, the United States is one of the e most important users of desalinated water, especially in California and parts of Florida. pl Although desalination is a realistic option for increasing water supplies, large-scale desalination typically uses extremely large m amounts of energy as well as specialized, expensive infrastructure, making it very costly compared to the use of freshwater from Sa conventional sources such as rivers, lakes or groundwater. The figure below shows the global desalination spending. se lip Ec Figure 6.14: Global desalination spending 186 Lesson 6 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water B- Examples of Seawater Desalination in the Arab World 1- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is endowed with a variety of natural abundance, such as natural gas, oil, and sun; but it has to deal e with the scarcity of water. However, with the aid of technology, pl the country is able to convert seawater into potable water through desalination. About 27 desalination plants to extract salt and other minerals from seawater have now been constructed in the Kingdom m of Saudi Arabia, supplying about 70 percent of the country’s drinking water as well as more than 28 million megawatts of electricity. Sa se lip Ec Figure 6.15: Desalination plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The construction of the world’s largest environmentally friendly water desalination plant is now in progress in the kingdom in the city of AlKhafji near the border with Kuwait. 187 Lesson 6 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water This project aims towards saving the Earth from further environmental degeneration by a tremendous cut on the country’s cost to generate energy that powers the country and reduces the cost of producing desalinated water. Furthermore, the project will help stabilize future power supply inside the kingdom. 2- United Arab Emirates e The Jebel Ali Desalination Plant (Phase 2) in the United Arab pl Emirates is one of the world’s largest desalination plants. This facility is capable of producing 300 million cubic meters of water per year. 3- The Kingdom of Bahrain m Sa Al Hidd Desalination Plant on Muharraq Island in Bahrain, which was completed in 2000, treats seawater through a multistage flash process, and produces 30 million US gallons (110,000 m3) per day. se 4- Qatar lip Ras Laffan B power plant in Qatar has a seawater desalination plant that produces around 27,500 cubic meters of drinking water per day. Project construction began in September 2005 and the Ec plant was officially opened in March 2008. Figure 6.16: Ras Laffan power and Desalination Plant 188 Lesson 7 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Water Recycling Class Discussion Questions: 1- What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘recycling’? 2- What things do you throw away that you think should be e recycled? pl 3- What are some of the ways that a government may apply to reduce water usage? m Not only aluminum cans, glass bottles, and newspapers can be recycled, but water can also be recycled. Water recycling is the Sa use of treated and processed wastewater for useful non potable (not for drinking) purposes. Treatment of wastewater is the process that utilizes basic physical, biological, and chemical principles to remove contaminants from water. se Water recycling is also called water reusing and water reclamation. The use of reclaimed water for non potable purposes offers the potential for exploiting a “new” resource that can be substituted lip for existing potable sources. Water recycling can be used in the following areas: Ec 189 Lesson 7 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water 1- Agricultural Areas Read the example below. Some of the primary uses for recycled water in Australia are irrigated horticulture, pastures and tree plantations as well as a variety of other agricultural uses. Without the use of recycled e water many of Australia’s urban and rural irrigation schemes would not be sustainable. pl 2- Industrial Areas m Providing recycled water for use by industry is an excellent way of saving drinking water. Recycled water can be used as process Sa water for cooling towers and boilers in various industries including chemical production, manufacturing, mining, mineral processing and power generation. It can also be used in carpet dyers, concrete mixing and construction activities, which may otherwise use drinking water for these purposes. se 3- Residential Areas Some countries use ‘dual pipe’ recycled water supplies to residential lip areas in major cities. This water can be used in toilet flushing, washing machines, and dust control. This recycled water cannot be used for drinking, swimming pools, showers or baths. The recycled Ec water tap, pipes and plumbing are colored purple to make sure that recycled water is not confused with drinking water. 190 Lesson 7 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water You don’t need a degree in hydrology to conserve water. Below are some simple ways that you can use at home to recycle water and help your environment. 1- When you run the water until it warms up before getting into the shower, get a bucket and catch the water and use it for cooking or for washing dishes, clothes or the floor. e pl 2- Save the water in your sink after dishwashing and use it to pour into your toilet bowl tank for flushing. m Critical Thinking: Think of some other ways that you can use to recycle water and help your environment. Sa Benefits of Water Recycling Critical Thinking: How does water recycling benefit the planet? se Water recycling has numerous benefits including: lip - Water recycling provides an additional source of water for various purposes Ec - Water recycling replaces existing drinking water supplies for non potable uses and is generally available at much lower prices as compared to potable water - Water recycling reduces pollution by leaving damaging pollutants at the treatment plant - Recycled water contains more nutrients than potable water and can be beneficial when used as a supply for wetland habitats. This can conserve natural habitat 191 Lesson 7 Chapter 6: Global Issues: Water Challenge Facing Water Recycling According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, water recycling is a sustainable approach that can be cost-effective in the long term. But the treatment of waste water for reuse and the installation of distribution systems can be initially expensive. e pl m Sa se lip Ec 192  TERMS AND VOCABULARY Empirical: Originating in or based on observation or experience. Epidemics: Spreading rapidly and extensively by infection and affecting many individuals in an area. Horticulture: The cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants. e Household water consumption: domestic water consumption by the members of a family who live together. pl Hydroelectric: Production of electricity by waterpower. m Hydrologic cycle: Water cycle. Hydrologists: Specialists who examine the physical characteristics, Sa distribution, and circulation of water above and below the Earth’s surface. Ice sheets: The layer of ice covering extensive regions of the world. Nile basin: The land area that is drained by the Nile River and its se tributaries. Runoff: Portion of rainfall that run into streams as surface water rather than being absorbed into ground water or evaporating. lip Salinization: The accumulation of soluble salts by the evaporation of the waters that bore them to the soil zone. Ec Salt water intrusion: The process of mixing of salt water with freshwater. Transpiration: Process by which water is absorbed by plants, usually through the roots, is evaporated into the atmosphere from the plant surface, such as leaf pores. Urbanization: The physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. Vegetation cover: The percentage of soil is covered by green plants. Ec lip se Sa m pl e