As the world becomes more concerned on the environment, the study on water sources and reservation is now evident. There are often reports regarding water supply and quality, especially when supporting aquatic life. Water is generally classified into two groups; ground and surface water. Understanding the interaction of the two forms is essential for both the water scientist and managers.
The Hydrologic Cycle
The hydrologic cycle is used to describe the interaction of both ground and surface water in that it outlines the continuous flow of water from above and below the earth surface. To be able to understand the cycle, one must view the process as a great deal of variation in line with both time and space. First, there is evaporation of water from the surfaces of the oceans, and depending on the climatic conditions, the water vapors condense in the atmosphere. According to Fick et al. (2014), the moisture is distributed across the globe atmosphere before precipitation occurs. The distribution is highly variable and leads to the formation of the freshwater bodies (pp. 2522-2527). On reaching the ground, the water might either penetrate the surface to form groundwater or evaporates back into the atmosphere. The groundwater then seeps into the oceans and rivers where it is released back to the environment, and the cycle continues. The water cycle is essential in that it provides the earth with continuous water supply. The living and non-living creatures depend on the flow where the water bodies cover approximately seventy percent of the earth. The energy from the sun is a primary factor for the cycle in that the cooling and rising of moisture is dependent on the atmosphere condition.
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Types of Rivers and How They Form
The streams and watercourses-rivers make up the smallest amount of water on earth. The formation of rivers is dependent on the hydrologic cycle which facilitates the alternation of groundwater and vapor. Streams can form when the altitudes on the water tables are higher than the altitudes on the stream surface. As a result, the groundwater reservoir discharge into small streams. Additionally, rainwater can fall on already existing rivers hence influencing their flow.
How Groundwater is Stored
The groundwater is still moving but possibly very slow (Smith & Weinberg, 2018, pp.3). It is mainly stored in the saturated and unsaturated surfaces of the ground where the top surface is referred to as the water table. In most case, it must be drilled to be able to reach the sources. Other areas of location include the soil pore spaces, cracks of sand and beneath rocks. The rate at which the water flows depends on the sizes of spaces between these soil particles.
Uses of Ground and Surface Water
Groundwater can be trapped and made available in the form of wells and springs when needed. Through these outlets, it can then be used for domestic consumption and industrial processes (Polubarinova-Koch, 2015, pp. 13-22). However, when still beneath the rocks, it is used as a natural resource in supporting agriculture. It is also a recharge for lakes, rivers, and wetlands. On the other hand, surface water is used for drinking, irrigation, public supply, and industrial processes.
Effects of Climate Change
There is a significant relationship between water, human activities, energy, and the climatic conditions. Increase in temperatures means that the rate of evaporation is high hence more water is lost into the atmosphere. As a result, rivers and small water bodies might end up drying leading to droughts (Rind, 2014, pp. 73-91). Similarly, the melting of glacial ice due to high temperatures contributes to the disappearing of glaciers. If there is competition for water sources, the water available for human activities such as farming might be reduced. To be able to control much water loss, human beings should work towards conserving water and the environment at large.
Conclusion
For many decades, the study on the interaction of both ground and surface water has been directed towards water management and conservation of the environment. The human activities determine how effectively the interaction will occur as well as the continuity of the hydrologic cycle. Therefore, the world should work towards water quality by controlling the rate of contamination.
References
Fick, J., Söderström, H., Lindberg, R. H., Phan, C., Tysklind, M., & Larsson, D. J. (2014). Contamination of surface, ground, and drinking water from pharmaceutical production. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry , 28 (12), 2522-2527.
Polubarinova-Koch, P. I. (2015). Theory of ground water movement . Princeton University Press, 13-22.
Rind, D. (2014). The influence of vegetation on the hydrologic cycle in a global climate model. Climate Processes and Climate Sensitivity , 29 , 73-91.
Smith, K., & Weinberg, M. (2018). Measuring the success of conservation programs. Aquaculture , 3 .
Taylor, R. G., Scanlon, B., Döll, P., Rodell, M., Van Beek, R., Wada, Y., & Konikow, L. (2013). Ground water and climate change. Nature Climate Change , 3 (4), 322.
