Global hydrology and water resources Flashcards
why is water a unique compound?
- low melting point
- low boiling point
- high heat capacity/latent heat
- denser as liquid than a solid (max 4 degrees Celsius)
(In percentage) what is the global coverage of water?
70% oceans
why is water important?
- global coverage
- near universal solvent
- role in life
- universal
- energy balance and heat transport
What percentage of water is in the ocean?
97%
what is the hierarchy of freshwater stocks (from biggest to smallest)?
glaciers and permanent snow cover > groundwater > lakes and rivers
what are the steps in the water cycle?
- water storage in oceans
- water storage in freshwater
- water storage in the atmosphere
- water storage in ice and snow
- groundwater storage
- evaporation
- condensation
- precipitation
- sublimation
- surface runoff
- snowmelt runoff to streams
- infiltration
- groundwater discharge
how much renewable water/river flow do we have?
45,500 km^3
how many liters in a m^3?
1000 L
How much water do we need/we withdrawal?
3,600 km^3, ~10% of our renewable water stock
what characteristics do we look for in a region to tap into its water?
surface runoff
what are water withdrawals?
water that is taken from surface water and groundwater resources
what are the main water use sectors?
- agriculture
- industry
- domestic
how much has water use increased in the last 50 years? and why?
fourfold, due to population increase and higher income leading to more consumption
