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Hydrological Cycle: Human [Date]

Today I will:- Know how humans have an impact on the hydrological cycle

The Hydrological Cycle is a natural process; however, humans can have an impact on the system in various ways

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As I go through the PowerPoint

add in the relevant information to

your mind map.

Feel free to add additional

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notes or textbook when you are

finished.

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Mining

- Lakes, rivers and reservoirs ‘silt up’ leading to reduced storage capacity in these areas.

There is reduced vegetation cover which leads to:-increased run-off -lower evapo -transpiration and cloud formation altering the rainfall pattern.

Mining for gold in the Amazon

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Irrigation

- It involves taking water from a river or underground store which can:- reduce river flow- lower water tables

- It can increase evaporation/evapo-transpiration by placing water in surface stores (ditches/canals)

- Crops remove water from the cycle as they grow

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Deforestation

-Cutting down trees increases run-off

- It decreases evapo-transpiration (and therefore cloud formation)

-more extreme river flows as water is not intercepted

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Urbanisation

- The removal of natural vegetation and replacement with impermeable surfaces and drains can speed up overland flow and evaporation and can lead to higher river levels.

- It also decreases the amount of water which returns to groundwater storage, possibly reducing the water table.

- It requires taking water for use in the cities which reduces water in rivers (due to reservoirs) or groundwater (due to wells)

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