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17 - Hydrologic Cycle

from Part VI - Water

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

Chadwick Dearing Oliver and
Fatma Arf Oliver
Chadwick Dearing Oliver
Affiliation:
Yale University, Connecticut
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Summary

Water has thermal, chemical, and physical properties that make it versatile and necessary for nearly all life. Its high specific heat, high latent heat, and turbulent and conductive thermal properties make it capable of stabilizing temperatures and transporting energy efficiently. Its polarized nature allows many ionic substances to dissolve in it. It’s physical expansion when freezing enables it to weather rocks and float as ice, so it melts faster when weather warms. Water circulates among oceans, the atmosphere, land, plants and animals, soil, aquifers, rivers, and glaciers in a “hydrologic cycle.” Over 96% of the water is salty in oceans, and another 2% is ice. The remaining 2% is fresh water. A concern is the cleanliness and volume of water. Aquifers can be drawn down, polluted, or made salty and usable without care. Surface water travels between countries and agreements are needed on who uses the water. Forests help prevent flash floods by maintaining soil infiltration with their roots, and may reduce or increase total stream flow, depending on many factors. When water doesn’t infiltrate soils, it flows rapidly overland, scours stream channels, and lowers the water table.

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Global Resources and the Environment , pp. 265 - 282
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2018

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