Environmental Degration

One of the sight little terror the satellite subjects today, environsal humiliation is bound to take a crap kayoed breeding backbreaking for t come out of the closet ensemble the life molds, including us gentlemans gentlemans, preferably or later. Studies reveal that the deterioration of milieu is occurring at an alarming rate. In tiptop, the postgraduate Level brat exa exploit panel of the get together Nations has enlisted it as integrity of the go terrors for mercifules. This issue sh ars space with occupations like poverty, terrorism and cultivated war in the list, and this itself amply fairylikes the fact that we be purpose for a certain cataclysm. What is purlieual abjection?It is a subroutine wherein the intrinsic purlieu of the planet is degenerated to much(prenominal)(prenominal) an extent that the biodiversity and the general health of the planet is subjected to drastic decrement. In recognize words, this phenomenon mickleful be outlined as deterioration of the Earths congenital surroundings as a result of riotous exploitation of the obtainable re reference books these implicate piss, post, flora, fauna, dirty word and so on The life on the planet is interwoven to much(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) an extent that a decrease in a particular portion triggers a domino effect on each(prenominal) the an separate(prenominal) attri howeveres subject on it.How is it Ca spendd? environmental adulteration offer be attri lone(prenominal) ifed to various human activities and many inseptillable processes, with the later having an insignifi domiciliatet shargon in the same. virtually of the resources on the planet ar compromising to dep altogetherowion, and the rate at which we be exploiting them take already brought high-pricedly of them to the brink of exhaustion. Exploitation of the fossil fires is the stove tobacco pipe showcase of this phenomenon. Large-scale e xploitation has depleted the fossil fuel reserves crosswise the realness, thus s guideding us with no option still to bring an alternate source of force.former(a) human activities which start been modify to this environmental issue overwhelm urbanization, over commonwealth, de forestation, taint, hunting, etc. What Does it consider Us? Its draw be fitting much(prenominal)(prenominal) than and more obvious in form of each those environmental issues considering the planet. The hazardous do in let out by the industries scarpers to contaminate the wet bodies in the vicinity, thus leaving the body of body of irrigate unfit for swallow.Similarly, glassho exercise gases, such as CFCs and carbon dioxide, let out in the atmosphere soak up a crushing effect on the environment, thus making the planet threatened to a range of occupations, including spherical alternate and climate channelize. On atomic number 53 hand, incessant untaught activities have re sulted in adulteration of foulness, dapple excessive deforestation to accumulate the growe world has resulted in abjection of stress and pissing on the separate(a) hand. humanity have seldom sacrificed their necessities, yet deep exploitation of resources to fulfill these necessities itself is taking a bell shape on the environment.How Can we Deal With it? At single point of clipping, the damage reaches a stage wherein the environment terminatefult attain the required chemical substance equilibrium on its own. In such a situation, we humans need to look in, and en accredited that the damage is curbed and balance is attained. Simple measures, such as preservation of electricity, call of alternative energy sources, avoiding the habituate of things that begrime the environment, filthiness conservation, etc. , tramp help in saving the environment from the threat of debasement. Environmentalists, the region over, be trying their best to hold on our environ ment, and we need to do our bit to make sure that they succeed.The need of the hour is to identify the world-beaters of environmental abasement, and pass by them adept by one. We need to understand the fact that we ar a part of the interwoven life system of rules on the planet, and any problems, like environmental humiliation and environmental befoulment, atomic number 18 bound to consider us at once or in enjoinly. Though the disaster is non evaluate to happen tomorrow or a hundred years from now, that doesnt inculpate it pass on never happen at all. That being said, the cargo is on us the nigh intelligent species on the planet, to make sure that such problems atomic number 18 unplowed at bay.The principal(prenominal) ca go fors of environmental debasement argon as follow 1 industrialization 2 boorish development 3 cosmos ripening 4 poverty 5 urbanization 6 Deforestation 7 transport development 8 market failure Ca expends of Environmental Degradation thit her is no doubt that man has flummoxd environmental degradation. The ca expends of environmental degeneration ar convoluted and should be address to, before it ca personas complete breakdown of the environment.Ads by Google BSc psychology Online Study In Nigeria UK Universities. Apply Online Now For family Study www. rdi. co. k/psychology These be the eld we keep hearing to the highest degree global warming, liquescent of the glaciers, rising of the ocean levels, etc. , all of which have been linked to environmental degradation. When the congenital carry of the environment is compromised upon it leads to breakdown of the biological diversity and harms the health of the environment. The process of environmental degradation underside either be cause by nature itself or it is man-made (which is a fact). If one has to comp ar the face of earth as it was hundreds of years ago to what it is today, we leave tummyvass that environment has severely been compromised upon.When spate look at environmental degradation, the intensity of the problem is non rattling unders in any pillowcased, but it could cause destruction of the human flight itself. The causes of this problem vary a lot and it means depletion of the native resources and fretfulnesss in the innate cycle of things on the face of earth. Root Causes of Environmental Degradation The best vitrine of environmental degradation behind be seen in earthly concern degradation. There ar climatic conditions amenable on with the human activities, which have brought about(predicate) the degradation.The effect peck be seen in the dehydrated, semi arid and alter sub humid shores. One of the cause is over grazing of come to. Along with that the green grapple has depleted severely in just about all parts of the orb. The forest cover has made panache for human settlement. This has resulted in the temperatures increasing with each personnel casualty day. Since the forest covers have depl eted, it has resulted in large-scale wear, which in turn, is responsible for loss of feeds from the territory. This has led the smirch to be saluteing barren and in more or less cases in accompaniment sterile.Since the forest cover has been lost, the winds now blow the aggrandizement poop from the take, which alike leads to degradation of the environment. contamination is eating absent into the environment. Here we atomic number 18 talking about send befoulment, where oto venomous substances have made their way into the air, which has ca apply the air to nonplus unhealthy. Air defilement is caused by a number of reasons. One of the most prominent cause is vehicle emissions. With each passing day, the number of vehicles be on the inception, which means increase in air defilement. The next cause is wrench of chemical flagellate from various factories.The pay off lotsmultiplication forms a spirit level in the atmosphere of the earth, which gain affects the environment. In environmental degradation we send packingnot forget the exploitation of fossil fuels. Since the time fossil fuels were discovered, they have been exploited. This has resulted in the fossil fuel reserves depleting all around the world, hence it has become essential to find alternate sources of energy. When the fossil fuels argon burn offt, they release toxins into the air, which make headway aggravate environmental degradation. The fundamental causes of environment going down way is over people.The shore up reserve that is for sale on earth is finite. However, the demands ar ever-increasing due to increasing people. There is except so much, that one can tangiblely extract from the earth. This has led to unspecificspread use of chemicals and new(prenominal) toxins to produce more fodder to feed the ever-increasing number of volume. This has promote caused depletion of the earth. With the use of chemicals the biological balance of earth has withal been destruct as the microorganisms have been killed. If one has to see the environmental degradation causes and make, one leave behind see that sin little(prenominal) ecosystems have been destroyed.The ecosystem is made up of all the musical accompaniment and non living elements. However, when any one of them is destroyed, it leads to the destruction of the undefiled ecosystem as the balance is lost. No doubt whole workss and animals form an important feature of the ecosystem, but the microorganisms along with piddle sources and soil cannot be forgotten either. Industrial waste is cognize to be hazardous to the environment. The waste can be in the form of unstable waste, which pollute the rivers and cause harm to the ecosystem present in the rivers.It can similarly be solid waste, which is not biodegradable and pollutes the environment and leads to its degradation. We have already spoken about the industrial waste emitted into the air. After reading about the causes of environmental decadence, we can say that if the human race has to survive on the face of this earth, it is important that blotto measures be taken up to arrest further deterioration of the environment. One allow have to go bad towards conserving air, piddle system and soil and try to restore balance in the ecosystem, which has been destroyed or is on the barrier of destruction.In separate words, one will have to extend towards restoring pictorial habitats and make sure no further harm is by means of to the environment. By Bhakti Satalkar Published 3/25/2011 * Environmental Degradation * How do mankinds Affect the Environment * Current Environmental Issues * come of Environmental Problems * Simple Ways to survive the Environment * How does Mining Affect the Environment * How to Save the Environment * Globalization and Its Impact on the Environment * What are Environmental Ethics?* Environmental Issues List * How to Save Our Environment * Sustainable Living Ideas Causes of Overpopulation * Why are Birds and Fish Dying Read more at Buzzle http//www. buzzle. com/ binds/causes-of-environmental-degradation. html Environmental degradation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia Jump to navigation, search Eighty-plus years later on the forsaking of Wallaroo Mines (Kadina, South Australia), mosses remain the only phytology at some spots of the sites grounds Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment by means of and by dint of depletion of resources such as air, pee and soil the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife.It is specify as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. 1 Environmental degradation is one of the Ten Threats formally cautioned by the High Level Threat Panel of the United Nations. The United Nations International Strategy for cataclysm Reduction defines environmental degradation as The reduction of the substance of the environment to meet socia l and ecologic objectives, and needs. 2 Environmental degradation is of many causes.When natural habitats are destroyed or natural resources are depleted, environment is degraded. This article whitethorn be confuse or unclear to readers. Please help us clarify the article suggestions whitethorn be piece on the talk page. (May 2012) Environmental Change and Human Health, a special section of World Resources 1998-99 in this overcompensate describes how preventable illnesses and premature deaths are whitewash occurring in real large numbers. If vast improvements are made in human health, millions of people will be living longer, healthier lives than ever before.In these inadequateest regions of the world an estimated 11 million children, or about one in five, will not live to see their fifth birthday, primarily because of environment- related to diseases. Child mortality is large than the combined populations of Norway and Switzer toss off, and mostly due to malaria, acute r espiratory infections or diarrhea illnesses that are largely preventable. limit hide * 1 piddle deterioration * 1. 1 humor change and temperature * 1. 2 humor change and recklessness * 1. 3 Population offset* 1. 4 floriculture * 1. weewee focal point * 2 See besides * 3 References * 4 External links edit body of piddle deterioration One major component of environmental degradation is the depletion of the resource of bracing irrigate supply on Earth. Approximately only 2. 5% of all of the pissing on Earth is unclouded pee, with the rest being salt weewee. 69% of the fresh weewee is frozen in ice caps located on Antarctica and Greenland, so only 30% of the 2. 5% of fresh wet is forthcoming for consumption. 3 Fresh wet is an exceptionally important resource, since life on Earth is at last dependent on it. body of peeing transports nutrients and chemicals within the biosphere to all forms of life, sustains twain plants and animals, and molds the come out of the Earth with transportation and deposition of corporeals. 4 The legitimate top three uses of fresh pee account for 95% of its consumption approximately 85% is used for irrigation of farmland, golf courses, and parks, 6% is used for domestic purposes such as indoor bathing uses and outdoor garden and lawn use, and 4% is used for industrial purposes such as processing, washing, and cool in manufacturing centers. 5 It is estimated that one in three people over the entire globe are already facing wet on the spur of the momentages, almost one-fifth of the worlds population live in areas of sensual irrigate system scarcity, and almost one quarter of the worlds population live in a give country that privations the demand infrastructure to use water from available rivers and aquifers. piddle scarcity is an increasing problem due to many foreseen issues in the future, including population growth, join on urbanization, high standards of living, and climate change. 3 edit Climate change and temperature Climate change affects the Earths water emerge in a large number of ship canal. It is predicted that the mean global temperature will get hold in the coming years due to a number of forces change the climate, the amount of atmospheric CO2 will rise, and both(prenominal)(prenominal) of these will put to work water resources evaporation depends potently on temperature and moisture availability, which can at long last affect the amount of water available to replenish groundwater supplies.Transpiration from plants can be affected by a rise in atmospheric CO2, which can decrease their use of water, but can excessively raise their use of water from viable increases of leaf area. Temperature increase can decrease the length of the snow season in the winter and increase the intensity of snowmelt in heater seasons, pencil lead to peak flood of snowmelt earlier in the season, affecting soil moisture, flood and drought risks, and remembering capaciti es depending on the area. 6 Warmer winter temperatures cause a decrease in snowpack, which can result in diminished water resources during the summer.This is especially important at mid-latitudes and in mountain regions that depend on frosty overspill to replenish their river systems and groundwater supplies, making these areas progressively vulnerable to water shortages over time an increase in temperature will initially result in a rapid rise in water liquescent from glaciers in the summer, followed by a re negotiate in glaciers and a decrease in the melt and accordingly the water deliver every year as the size of these glaciers get slenderer and smaller. 3 caloric expansion of water and change magnitude melting of oceanic glaciers from an increase in temperature gives way to a rise in sea level, which can affect the fresh water supply of coastal areas as salutary as river mouths and deltas with higher table salt get pushed further inland, an intrusion of saltwater resu lts in an increase of salinity in reservoirs and aquifers. 5 lowland rise whitethorn as well consequently be caused by a depletion of groundwater,7 as climate change can affect the hydrologic cycle in a number of ways. Uneven distributions of change magnitude temperatures and change magnitude presumption around the globe results in water surpluses and deficits,6 but a global decrease in groundwater suggests a rise in sea level, even later meltwater and thermal expansion were accounted for,7 which can provide a positive feedback to the problems sea-level rise causes to fresh-water supply.A rise in air temperature results in a rise in water temperature, which is in like manner very significant in water degradation, as the water would become more susceptible to bacterial growth. An increase in water temperature can also affect ecosystems greatly because of a species sensitivity to temperature, and also by inducing changes in a body of waters self-purification system from change magnitude amounts of dissolved atomic number 8 in the water due to rises in temperature. 3 edit Climate change and precipitationA rise in global temperatures is also predicted to correlate with an increase in global precipitation, but because of change magnitude overflow, floods, increased place of soil eroding, and mass movement of land, a mitigate in water quality is probable, bandage water will carry more nutrients, it will also carry more contaminants. 3 While most of the attention about climate change is order towards global warming and greenhouse effect, some of the most severe make of climate change are likely to be from changes in precipitation, evapotranspiration, overspill, and soil moisture.It is in the main expected that, on average, global precipitation will increase, with some areas receiving increases and some decreases. Climate exemplars show that bit some regions should expect an increase in precipitation,6 such as in the tropics and higher latitudes, other areas are expected to see a decrease, such as in the subtropics this will ultimately cause a latitudinal pas seul in water distribution. 3 The areas receiving more precipitation are also expected to receive this increase during their winter and actually become drier during their summer,6 creating even more of a variation of precipitation distribution. Naturally, the distribution of precipitation across the planet is very uneven, causing constant variations in water availability in respective locations. Changes in precipitation affect the timing and magnitude of floods and droughts, prison-breaking runoff processes, and alter groundwater recharge rates.Vegetation patterns and growth rates will be directly affected by shifts in precipitation amount and distribution, which will in turn affect agriculture as healthy as natural ecosystems. Decreased precipitation will deprive areas of water, causing water tables to decline in quality and reservoirs and wetlands, rivers, and lak es to empty,6 and whitethornbe an increase in evaporation and evapotranspiration, depending on the accompanied rise in temperature. 5 Groundwater reserves will be depleted, and the remaining water has a greater luck of being of worthless quality from saline or contaminants on the land come near. 3 edit Population growth The available fresh water being affected by climate is also being stretched across an ever-increasing global population. It is estimated that almost a quarter of the global population is living in an area that is using more than 20% of their renewable water supply water use will rise with population season the water is also being worsen by decreases in streamflow and groundwater caused by climate change.Even though some areas whitethorn see an increase in freshwater supply from an uneven distribution of precipitation increase, an increased use of water supply is expected. 8 An increased population means increased withdrawals from the water supply for domestic , unsophisticated, and industrial uses, the largest of these being agriculture,9 believed to be the major non-climate driver of environmental change and water deterioration.The next 50 years will likely be the last dot of rapid rural expansion, but the larger and wealthier population over this time will demand more agriculture. 10 Population increase over the last cardinal decades, at least in the United States, has also been accompanied by a shift to an increase in urban areas from rural areas,11 which concentrates the demand for water into certain areas, and puts stress on the fresh water supply from industrial and human contaminants. 3 urbanization causes overcrowding and progressively un salubrious living conditions, especially in evolution countries, which in turn exposes an increasingly number of people to disease. About 79% of the worlds population is in developing countries, which lack access to healthful water and sewer systems, giving rises to disease and deaths fro m polluted water and increased numbers of disease-carrying insects. 12 edit AgricultureAgriculture is dependent on available soil moisture, which is directly affected by climate dynamics, with precipitation being the input in this system and various processes being the output, such as evapotranspiration, progress runoff, waste pipe, and percolation into groundwater. Changes in climate, especially the changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration predicted by climate models, will directly affect soil moisture, come out of the closet runoff, and groundwater recharge. In areas with change magnitude precipitation as predicted by the climate models, soil moisture may be substantially educed. 6 With this in mind, agriculture in most areas needs irrigation already, which depletes fresh water supplies both by the physical use of the water and the degradation agriculture causes to the water. Irrigation increases salt and nutrient content in areas that wouldnt normally be affected, and damages streams and rivers from damming and removal of water. Fertilizer enters both human and fund waste streams that eventually enter groundwater, season nitrogen, phosphorus, and other chemicals from fertilizer can acidify both soils and water.Certain countrified demands may increase more than others with an increasingly wealthier global population, and meat is one commodity expected to double global forage demand by 2050,10 which directly affects the global supply of fresh water. oxen need water to drink, more if the temperature is high and humidness is low, and more if the ware system the cow is in is extensive, since finding food takes more effort. Water is demand in processing of the meat, and also in the production of feed for the livestock.Manure can contaminate bodies of freshwater, and slaughterhouses, depending on how hearty they are managed, contribute waste such as blood, fat, hair, and other bodily contents to supplies of fresh water. 13 The off of water fro m coarse to urban and suburban use raises concerns about agricultural sustainability, rural socio economical decline, food security, an increased carbon footprint from imported food, and decreased foreign trade wind balance. 9 The depletion of fresh water, as use to more specific and populated areas, increases fresh water scarcity among the population and also makes populations susceptible to economic, social, and governmental conflict in a number of ways rising sea levels forces migration from coastal areas to other areas further inland, pushing populations closer together breaching borders and other geographic patterns, and agricultural surpluses and deficits from the availability of water induce trade problems and economies of certain areas. 8CLimate change is an important cause of involuntary migration and forced displacement14 edit Water management The issue of the depletion of fresh water can be met by increased efforts in water management. 4 While water management systems are often flexible, adaptation to new hydrologic conditions may be very costly. 6 Preventative approaches are necessary to avoid high costs of inefficiency and the need for replenishment of water supplies,4 and innovations to decrease boilersuit demand may be important in planning water sustainability. 9 Water supply systems, as they exist now, were ground on the assumptions of the current climate, and built to accommodate alert river flows and flood frequencies. Reservoirs are containd assortd on chivalric hydrologic records, and irrigation systems on historical temperature, water availability, and cast water requirements these may not be a reliable guide to the future. Re-examining engineering designs, operations, optimizations, and planning, as well as re-evaluating legal, technical, and economic approaches to manage water resources are very important for the future of water management in response to water degradation.Another approach is water privatization disrespect its economic and cultural effects, service quality and overall quality of the water can be more intimately bidled and distributed. Rationality and sustainability is appropriate, and requires limits to overexploitation and pollution, and efforts in conservation.Natural hazards are excluded as a cause, however human activities can indirectly affect phenomena such as floods and scrub fires. 8. This is considered to be an important topic of the 21st nose candy due to the implications land degradation has upon agronomic productivity, the environment, and its effects on food security. 3 It is estimated that up to 40% of the worlds agricultural land is seriously degrad Measuring drink down degradation is a broad term that can be applied differently across a wide range of scenarios. There are four main ways of looking at land degradation and its impact on the environment around it * A temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land.This can be seen by dint of a loss of biomass, a loss of actual productivity or in electric potential productivity, or a loss or change in vegetative cover and soil nutrients. A decline in the lands usefulness A loss or reduction in the lands capacity to provide resources for human livelihoods. This can be deliberate from a base line of past land use. * Loss of biodiversity A loss of range of species or ecosystem complexity as a decline in the environmental quality. * switch ecological risk increased vulnerability of the environment or people to destruction or crisis. This is measured finished and through a base line in the form of pre-existing risk of crisis or destruction. A problem with measuring land degradation is that what one group of people call degradation, others might study as a benefit or opportunity.For ensample, sinister rainfall could make a scientific group be worried about high erosion of the soil while farmers could view it as a well-grounded opportunity to plant crops. 5 edit Causes Ov ergrazing by livestock can lead to land degradation Land degradation is a global problem, largely related to agricultural use. The major causes holdcitation infallible * Land clearance, such as clearcutting and deforestation * Agricultural depletion of soil nutrients through poor farming practices * Livestock including overgrazing and overdrafting * Inappropriate irrigation6 and overdrafting * Urban sprawl and commercial development territorial dominion befoulment including * Vehicle off-roading * Quarrying of stone, sand, ore and minerals * Increase in stadium size due to economies of scale, reducing shelter for wildlife, as hedgerows and copses disappear * Exposure of naked soil after harvesting by sarcoid equipment * Monoculture, destabilizing the local ecosystem * cast aside of non-biodegradable trash, such as plastics edit Effects Soil erosion in a wheat field near Pullman, USA. The main outcome of land degradation is a substantial reduction in the productivity of the land.7 The major stresses on vulnerable land implicate * accelerate soil erosion by wind and water Soil acidification and the formation of acid sul component soil resulting in barren soil * Soil alkalinisation owing to irrigation with water restraining sodium bicarbonate leading to poor soil structure and curbd crop yields * Soil salination in irrigated land requiring soil salinity control to reclaim the land 8 * Soil waterlogging in irrigated land which calls for some form of subsurface land drainage to remediate the negative effects 8 * Destruction of soil structure including loss of thorough matter Overcutting of vegetation occurs when people cut forests, woodlands and shrublandsto obtain timber, fuelwood and other productsat a pace exceeding the rate of natural regrowth. This is frequent in semi-arid environments, where fuelwood shortages are often severe. Overgrazing is the grazing of natural pastures at stocking intensities above the livestock carrying capacity the resulti ng decrease in the vegetation cover is a leading cause of wind and water erosion. It is a significant factor in Afghanistan.Agricultural activities that can cause land degradation include shifting cultivation without adequate fallow periods, absence of soil conservation measures, fertilizer use, and a host of possible problems arising from incorrect planning or management of irrigation. They are a major factor in Sri Lanka and the dominant one in Bangladesh. The role of population factors in land degradation processes obviously occurs in the context of the fundamental causes. In the region, in fact, it is indeed one of the two along with land shortage, and land shortage itself ultimately is a consequence of continued population growth in the face of the finiteness of land resources. In the context of land shortage the growing population pressure, during 1980-1990, has led to decreases in the already small areas of agricultural land per person in six out of eight countries (14% for India and 22% for Pakistan).Population pressure also operates through other mechanisms. Improper agricultural practices, for instance, occur only under constraints such as the saturation of good lands under population pressure which leads settlers to cultivate too shallow or too steep soils, beach wagon fallow land before it has recovered its fertility, or attempt to obtain multiple crops by irrigating irreconcilable soils. High population density is not continuously related to land degradation. Rather, it is the practices of the human population that can cause a embellish to become degraded. Populations can be a benefit to the land and make it more productive than it is in its natural state.Land degradation is important factor of internal displacement in many African and Asian countries9 Severe land degradation affects a significant portion of the Earths arable lands, decreasing the wealth and economic development of nations. As the land resource base becomes less productive, food security is compromised and competition for dwindling resources increases, the seeds of famine and potential conflict are sewn. edit esthesia and resilience aesthesia and resilience are measures of the vulnerability of a beautify to degradation. These two factors combine to explain the degree of vulnerability. 5 Sensitivity is the degree to which a land system undergoes change due to natural forces, human intervention or a combination of both.Resilience is the ability of a landscape to absorb change, without significantly altering the relationship amid the relative importance and numbers of individuals and species that compose the community. 10 It also refers to the ability of the region to return to its original state after being changed in some way. The resilience of a landscape can be increased or decreased through human fundamental interaction based upon different methods of land-use management. Land that is degraded becomes less resilient than undegraded land, which ca n lead to even further degration through shocks to the landscape. edit Climate change Significant land degradation from seawater inundation, particularly in river deltas and on low-lying islands, is a potential hazard that was place in a 2007 IPCC report. citation needed As a result of sea-level rise from climate change, salinity levels can reach levels where agriculture becomes impossible in very low lying areas.Journal ofLand Degradation & DevelopmentVol 24 (6 Issues in 2013)Edited by Professor Artemi CerdPrint ISSN 1085-3278 Online ISSN 1099-145X * explanation Land Degradation & Development is an international ledger which seeks to promote rational study of the recognition, monitoring, control and rehabilitation of degradation in mundane environments. The journal focuses on * what land degradation is * what causes land degradation * the impacts of land degradation * the scale of land degradation * the history, current status or future trends of land degradation * avoidance, m itigation and control of land degradation * alterative actions to rehabilitate or restore degraded land * sustainable land management.Land degradation may be defined as the loss of utility or potential utility through the reduction of or damage to physical, social, cultural or economic features, and/or reduction of ecosystem diversity. There may be a single cause or a complex rumple of causes, some may be biogeophysical (&039natural&039), some socioeconomic (&039human&039) and it is quite possible that cause(s) will be indirect, perhaps cumulative and difficult to identify. A major challenge is to learn how interactions amongst development and environment can be recrudesce managed to increase prospects for ecologically and socially sustainable improvements to human well-being.Development means attempts to improve human well-being or environmental quality in rich and poor nations on a sustained basis (sustainable development). papers are invited on scientific, social, economic, political and historical aspects of terrestrial environmental degradation. Also welcome are analyses presenting forecasts of trends, case studies and discussion on management, planning and policy-making relating to the packaging of ecological sustainability and the counteraction of land degradation. In addition to original research papers, regional and thematic reviews, both invited and submitted, will be included, as will short communications, book reviews and exertions of remote sensing and computer techniques.The members of the chromatography column Board are drawn from a spatiotemporal range of disciplines and nationalities. Together with a strict officiation procedure this will ensure Land Degradation & Development maintains a high standard and presents material from a wide range of disciplines, from interdisciplinary study and with an international coverage. The subject matter will include the following topics ENVIRONMENTS Degradation of deserts, savannas, rangelands fore sts, woodlands, tundra mountain environments wetlands, floodlands farmland, irrigated land sand-dunes coastal zones, islands, urban, peri-urban environments. In polar, temperate, subtropical and tropical regions.PROCESSES 39Desertification&039, rangeland degradation soil degradation (compaction, loss of fertility, rivetd organic fertilizer matter, pollution, waterlogging, acidification, salinization, alkalinization, &039laterite&039 and hard-pan formation) erosion degradation of vegetation cover, &039deforestation&039 impoverishment of wildlife habitats, loss of species. CAUSES Climatic change sea-level variation drought storms earth processes (geomorphological, volcanicity, natural remove of soils) bushfires degradation as a consequence of industry, urban growth, agrochemicals, agricultural modernization, energy production/consumption, mining, warfare, refugees or migrants, breakdown of tralatitious landuse strategies, altered communications, legislative changes, demographic c hanges, administrative causes, institutional causes, social or economic causes. PERCEPTIONSPerception/recognition of degradation, attitudes toward degradation ethics and land degradation forefingers monitoring, surveillance appraisal of significance establishing past, present and future trends. IMPACTS Physical, biological, social, cultural and economic impacts (direct, indirect, cumulative) long-term and short-term impacts assessment of significance aesthetical impact of degradation. Water pollution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia Jump to navigation, search Raw sewer and industrial waste in the New River as it passes from Mexicali to Calexico, California. Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e. g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater).Water pollution occurs when pollutants are enterd directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate interposition to remove harmful compounds. Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water. In almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities. * 1 Introduction * 2 Categories * 2. 1 agitate sources * 2. 2 Nonpoint sources * 3 Groundwater pollution * 4 Causes * 4. 1 Pathogens * 4. 2 Chemical and other contaminants * 4. 3 thermic pollution * 5 Transport and chemical reactions of water pollutants * 6 Measurement * 6. 1 Sampling * 6. 2 Physical scrutiny * 6. Chemical examination * 6. 4 Biological testing * 7 Control of pollution * 7. 1 Domestic sewer * 7. 2 Industrial effluent * 7. 3 Agricultural wastewater * 7. 4 turn site stormwater * 7. 5 Urban runoff (stormwater) * 8 See also * 9 References * 10 External links Introduction Millions depend on the polluted Ganges river Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing paygrade and revision of water resource policy at all levels (international down to individual aquifers and wells).It has been suggest ed that it is the leading global cause of deaths and diseases,12 and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. 2 An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrheal sickness every day. 3 some 90% of Chinas cities suffer from some degree of water pollution,4 and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water. 5 In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, developed countries continue to struggle with pollution problems as well. In the most recent national report on water quality in the United States, 45 per centum of assessed stream miles, 47 percent of assessed lake acres, and 32 percent of assessed bays and estuarine square miles were class as polluted. 6Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is afflicted by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not certify a human use, such as drinking water, and/or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as seek. Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. Categories Surface water and groundwater have often been studied and managed as separate resources, although they are interrelated. 7 Surface water seeps through the soil and becomes groundwater. Conversely, groundwater can also feed surface water sources. Sources of surface water pollution are mostly grouped into two categories based on their origin. range sourcesPoint source pollution Shipyard Rio de Janeiro. Point source water pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a sewerage manipulation plant, a factory, or a city storm drain. The U. S. Clean Water operation (CWA) defines point source for regulatory enforcement purp oses. 8 The CWA definition of point source was amended in 1987 to include municipal storm sewer systems, as well as industrial stormwater, such as from construction sites. 9 Nonpoint sources Nonpoint source pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not go up from a single discrete source.NPS pollution is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. A common example is the leaching out of nitrogen compounds from fertilized agricultural lands. Nutrient runoff in stormwater from sheet flow over an agricultural field or a forest are also cited as examples of NPS pollution. Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots, roads and highways, called urban runoff, is sometimes included under the category of NPS pollution. However, this runoff is typically channeled into storm drain systems and carry through through pipes to local surface waters, and is a point source. Groundwater pollution See also Hydrogeology Interactions betwe en groundwater and surface water are complex.Consequently, groundwater pollution, sometimes referred to as groundwater contamination, is not as easily classified as surface water pollution. 7 By its very nature, groundwater aquifers are susceptible to contamination from sources that may not directly affect surface water bodies, and the distinction of point vs. non-point source may be irrelevant. A spill or ongoing releases of chemical or radionuclide contaminants into soil (located away from a surface water body) may not create point source or non-point source pollution, but can contaminate the aquifer below, defined as a toxin plume. The movement of the plume, called a plume front, may be analyzed through a hydrological transport model or groundwater model.Analysis of groundwater contamination may focus on the soil characteristics and site geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants. Causes The specific contaminants leading to pollution in water include a w ide spectrum of chemicals, pathogens, and physical or sensory changes such as elevated temperature and discoloration. While many of the chemicals and substances that are regulated may be naturally occurring (calcium, sodium, iron, manganese, etc. ) the concentration is often the key in find out what is a natural component of water, and what is a contaminant. High concentrations of naturally occurring substances can have negative impacts on aquatic flora and fauna.Oxygen-depleting substances may be natural materials, such as plant matter (e. g. leaves and grass) as well as man-made chemicals. Other natural and anthropogenic substances may cause turbidity (cloudiness) which blocks light and disrupts plant growth, and clogs the gills of some fish species. 10 umpteen of the chemical substances are toxic. Pathogens can produce waterborne diseases in either human or animal hosts. 11 transformation of waters physical chemistry includes acidity (change in pH), galvanising conductivity, temperature, and eutrophication. Eutrophication is an increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem to an extent that increases in the primary productivity of the ecosystem.Depending on the degree of eutrophication, subsequent negative environmental effects such as anoxia ( group O depletion) and severe reductions in water quality may occur, affecting fish and other animal populations. Pathogens A manhole cover unable to contain a sanitary sewer overflow. Coliform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of water pollution, although not an actual cause of disease. Other microorganisms sometimes prime in surface waters which have caused human health problems include * Burkholderia pseudomallei * Cryptosporidium parvum * Giardia lamblia * Salmonella * Novovirus and other viruses * Parasitic worms (helminths). 1213 High levels of pathogens may result from inadequately toughened sewage discharges. 14This can be caused by a sewage plant designed with les s than secondary treatment (more typical in less-developed countries). In developed countries, older cities with aging infrastructure may have leaky sewage collection systems (pipes, pumps, valves), which can cause sanitary sewer overflows. many cities also have combined sewers, which may discharge untreated sewage during rain storms. 15 Pathogen discharges may also be caused by poorly managed livestock operations. Chemical and other contaminants Muddy river polluted by sediment. Photo good manners of United States Geological Survey. Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. Organic water pollutants include* Detergents Disinfection by-products found in chemically disinfected drinking water, such as chloroform * Food processing waste, which can include oxygen-demanding substances, fats and grease * Insecticides and herbicides, a huge range of organohalides and other chemical compounds * Petroleum hydrocarbons, including fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, and f uel oil) and lubricants ( motor oil), and fuel combustion byproducts, from stormwater runoff16 * Tree and bush detritus from logging operations * Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as industrial solvents, from improper storage. * Chlorinated solvents, which are black non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), may fall to the bottom of reservoirs, since they dont mix well with water and are denser. * Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) * Trichloroethylene * Perchlorate * respective(a) chemical compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products.A garbage collection boom in an urban-area stream in Auckland, New Zealand. Inorganic water pollutants include * Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially reciprocal ohm dioxide from power plants) * Ammonia from food processing waste * Chemical waste as industrial by-products * Fertilizers containing nutrientsnitrates and phosphateswhich are found in stormwater runoff from agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use16 * Heavy metals from motor vehicles (via urban stormwater runoff)1617 and acid mine drainage * choke (sediment) in runoff from construction sites, logging, slash and burn practices or land clearing sites. Macroscopic Pollution in Parks Milwaukee, WIMacroscopic pollutionlarge patent items polluting the watermay be termed floatables in an urban stormwater context, or marine debris when found on the open seas, and can include such items as * Trash or garbage (e. g. paper, plastic, or food waste) discarded by people on the ground, along with accidental or intentional dumping of rubbish, that are washed by rainfall into storm drains and eventually discharged into surface waters * Nurdles, small present waterborne plastic pellets * Shipwrecks, large derelict ships. caloric pollution chief(prenominal) article Thermal pollution Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural body of water caused by human influence.Thermal pollution, unlike chemical pollution, resul ts in a change in the physical properties of water. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. Elevated water temperatures decreases oxygen levels (which can kill fish) and affects ecosystem composition, such as invasion by new thermophilic species. Urban runoff may also elevate temperature in surface waters. Thermal pollution can also be caused by the release of very cold water from the base of reservoirs into hummer rivers. Transport and chemical reactions of water pollutants See also Marine pollution Most water pollutants are eventually carried by rivers into the oceans.In some areas of the world the influence can be traced hundred miles from the mouth by studies using hydrology transport models. Advanced computer models such as SWMM or the DSSAM Model have been used in many locations worldwide to examine the fate of pollutants in aquatic systems. Indicator filter nourishment species such as copepods have a lso been used to study pollutant fates in the New York Bight, for example. The highest toxin loads are not directly at the mouth of the Hudson River, but 100 kilometers south, since several days are required for incorporation into planktonic tissue. The Hudson discharge flows south along the coast due to coriolis force.Further south then are areas of oxygen depletion, caused by chemicals using up oxygen and by algae blooms, caused by excess nutrients from algal cell death and corruption. Fish and shellfish kills have been reported, because toxins climb the food chain after small fish consume copepods, then large fish eat smaller fish, etc. Each attendant step up the food chain causes a stepwise concentration of pollutants such as heavy metals (e. g. mercury) and persistent organic pollutants such as DDT. This is known as biomagnification, which is occasionally used interchangeably with bioaccumulation. A polluted river draining an abandoned copper mine on Anglesey Large gyres (vor texes) in the oceans trap aimless plastic debris.The North Pacific Gyre for example has collected the so-called Great Pacific refuse Patch that is now estimated at 100 times the size of Texas. Many of these long-lasting pieces wind up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. This results in obstruction of digestive pathways which leads to reduced appetite or even starvation. Many chemicals undergo reactive decay or chemically change especially over long periods of time in groundwater reservoirs. A noteworthy class of such chemicals is the chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene (used in industrial metal degreasing and electronics manufacturing) and tetrachloroethylene used in the dry cleaning industry (note latest advances in liquid carbon dioxide in dry cleaning that avoids all use of chemicals).Both of these chemicals, which are carcinogens themselves, undergo partial decomposition reactions, leading to new hazardous chemicals (including dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride). Groundwater pollution is much more difficult to abate than surface pollution because groundwater can move great distances through unseen aquifers. Non-porous aquifers such as clays partially sublime water of bacteria by simple filtration (adsorption and absorption), dilution, and, in some cases, chemical reactions and biological activity however, in some cases, the pollutants merely transform to soil contaminants. Groundwater that moves through cracks and caverns is not filtered and can be transported as easily as surface water.In fact, this can be aggravated by the human tendency to use natural sinkholes as dumps in areas of Karst topography. There are a variety of secondary effects stemming not from the original pollutant, but a derivative condition. An example is silt-bearing surface runoff, which can inhibit the penetration of fair weather through the water column, hampering photosynthesis in aquatic plants. Water pollution may be analyzed through several broad cat egories of methods physical, chemical and biological. Most overwhelm collection of samples, followed by specialized uninflected tests. virtually methods may be conducted in situ, without sampling, such as temperature.Government agencies and research organizations have published standardized, validated uninflected test methods to facilitate the comparability of results from disparate testing events. 18 Sampling Sampling of water for physical or chemical testing can be done by several methods, depending on the accuracy needed and the characteristics of the contaminant. Many contamination events are sharply restrict in time, most commonly in tie-up with rain events. For this reason grab samples are often inadequate for fully quantifying contaminant levels. Scientists gathering this type of data often engagement auto-sampler devices that pump increments of water at either time or discharge intervals.Sampling for biological testing involves collection of plants and/or animals from the surface water body. Depending on the type of assessment, the organisms may be identified for biosurveys (population counts) and returned to the water body, or they may be dissected for bioassays to determine toxicity. Further information Water qualitySampling and Measurement Physical testing Common physical tests of water include temperature, solids concentrations (e. g. , check suspended solids (TSS)) and turbidity. Chemical testing See also water chemistry analysis and environmental chemistry Water samples may be examined using the principles of analytical chemistry. Many published test methods are available for both organic and inorganic compounds.Frequently used methods include pH, biochemical oxygen demand ( variety),19102 chemical oxygen demand (COD),19104 nutrients (nitrate and phosphorus compounds), metals (including copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and mercury), oil and grease, score petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and chapicides. Biological testing Main article Bioindicat or Biological testing involves the use of plant, animal, and/or microbial indicators to monitor the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Control of pollution Domestic sewage Main article sewer treatment Deer Island Waste Water intervention Plant serving Boston, Massachusetts and vicinity. Domestic sewage is 99. 9 percent pure water, while the other 0. 1 percent are pollutants.Although found in low concentrations, these pollutants pose risk on a large scale. 20 In urban areas, domestic sewage is typically treated by centralized sewage treatment plants. In the U. S. , most of these plants are operated by local government agencies, frequently referred to as publically owned treatment works (POTW). Municipal treatment plants are designed to control conventional pollutants BOD and suspended solids. Well-designed and operated systems (i. e. , secondary treatment or better) can remove 90 percent or more of these pollutants. virtually plants have additional sub-systems to treat nutrients and pathogens. Most municipal plants are not designed to treat toxic pollutants found in industrial wastewater. 21Cities with sanitary sewer overflows or combined sewer overflows employ one or more engineering approaches to reduce discharges of untreated sewage, including * utilizing a green infrastructure approach to improve stormwater management capacity throughout the system, and reduce the hydraulic overloading of the treatment plant22 * repair and replacement of leaking and go bad equipment15 * increasing overall hydraulic capacity of the sewage collection system (often a very expensive option). A household or business not served by a municipal treatment plant may have an individual septic tank, which treats the wastewater on site and discharges into the soil.Alternatively, domestic wastewater may be sent to a nearby in camera owned treatment system (e. g. in a rural community). Some industrial facilities generate medium domestic sewage that can be treated by municipal faciliti es. Industries that generate wastewater with high concentrations of conventional pollutants (e. g. oil and grease), toxic pollutants (e. g. heavy metals, volatilizable organic compounds) or other nonconventional pollutants such as ammonia, need specialized treatment systems. Some of these facilities can install a pre-treatment system to remove the toxic components, and then send the partially treated wastewater to the municipal system.Industries generating large volumes of wastewater typically operate their own complete on-site treatment systems. Some industries have been successful at redesigning their manufacturing processes to reduce or eliminate pollutants, through a process called pollution prevention. Heated water generated by power plants or manufacturing plants may be controlled with * change ponds, man-made bodies of water designed for cooling by evaporation, convection, and radiation * cooling towers, which transfer waste heat to the atmosphere through evaporation and/or heat transfer * cogeneration, a process where waste heat is recycled for domestic and/or industrial heating purposes. 23 Agricultural wastewaterMain article Agricultural wastewater treatment Riparian buffer lining a creek in Iowa Nonpoint source controls situate (loose soil) washed off fields is the largest source of agricultural pollution in the United States. 10 Farmers may utilize erosion controls to reduce runoff flows and retain soil on their fields. Common techniques include contour plowing, crop mulching, crop rotation, planting perennial crops and installing riparian buffers. 2425pp. 4-954-96 Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) are typically applied to farmland as commercial fertilizer animal manure or nebulizering of municipal or industrial wastewater (effluent) or sludge.Nutrients may also enter runoff from crop residues, irrigation water, wildlife, and atmospheric deposition. 25p. 2-9 Farmers can develop and follow through nutrient management plans to reduce excess application of nutrients. 2425pp. 4-374-38 To minimize pesticide impacts, farmers may use Integrated pestis Management (IPM) techniques (which can include biological pest control) to maintain control over pests, reduce doctrine on chemical pesticides, and protect water quality. 26 Feedlot in the United States Point source wastewater treatment Farms with large livestock and poultry operations, such as factory farms, are called concentrated animal eating operations or feedlots in the US and are being subject to increasing government regulation. 2728 animal(prenominal) slurries are usually treated by containment in anaerobic lagoons before disposal by spray or trickle application to grassland.Constructed wetlands are sometimes used to facilitate treatment of animal wastes. Some animal slurries are treated by mix with straw and composted at high temperature to produce a bacteriologically sterile and friable manure for soil improvement. Construction site stormwater Silt fence instal led on a construction site. Sediment from construction sites is managed by induction of * erosion controls, such as mulching and hydroseeding, and * sediment controls, such as sediment basins and silt fences. 29 Discharge of toxic chemicals such as motor fuels and concrete laundry is prevented by use of * spill prevention and control plans, and specially designed containers (e. g. for concrete washout) and structures such as overflow controls and diversion berms. 30 Urban runoff (stormwater) Main article Urban runoff See also Green infrastructure Retention basin for positive urban runoff Effective control of urban runoff involves reducing the velocity and flow of stormwater, as well as reducing pollutant discharges. Local governments use a variety of stormwater management techniques to reduce the effects of urban runoff.These techniques, called best management practices (BMPs) in the U. S. , may focus on water quantity control, while others focus on improving water quality, and s ome perform both functions. 31 Pollution prevention practices include low-impact development techniques, installation of green roofs and improved chemical handling (e. g. management of motor fuels & oil, fertilizers and pesticides). 32 Runoff mitigation systems include infiltration basins, bioretention systems, constructed wetlands, retention basins and similar devices. 3334 Thermal pollution from runoff can be controlled by stormwater management facilities that absorb the runoff or direct it into groundwater, such as bioretention systems and infiltration basins. Retention basins tend to be less effective at reducing temperature, as the water may be heat by the sun before being discharged to a receiving stream. 31p. 5-58 *