Surface water
Surface wateriswaterlocated on top ofland,forming terrestrial (surrounding by land on all sides)waterbodies,and may also be referred to asblue water,opposed to theseawaterandwaterbodieslike theocean.
The vast majority of surface water is produced byprecipitation.As theclimatewarms in the spring,snowmeltruns off towards nearby streams and rivers contributing towards a large portion of humandrinking water.Levels of surface water lessen as a result ofevaporationas well as water moving into the ground becomingground-water.Alongside being used for drinking water, surface water is also used for irrigation,wastewater treatment,livestock,industrial uses,hydropower,and recreation.[1]For USGS water-use reports, surface water is consideredfreshwaterwhen it contains less than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids.[2]
There are three major types of surface water.Permanent(perennial) surface waters are present year round, and includeslakes,riversandwetlands(marshesandswamps).Semi-permanent(ephemeral) surface water refers to bodies of water that are only present at certain times of the year including seasonally drychannelssuch ascreeks,lagoonsandwaterholes.Human-madesurface water is water that can be continued byinfrastructuresthat humans have assembled. This would bedammedartificial lakes,canalsand artificial ponds (e.g.garden ponds) or swamps.[3]The surface water held by dams can be used forrenewable energyin the form of hydropower. Hydropower is the forcing of surface water sourced from rivers and streams to produce energy.[4]
Measurement[edit]
Surface water can be measured as annual runoff. This includes the amount of rain and snowmelt drainage left after the uptake of nature, evaporation from land, and transpiration from vegetation. In areas such asCalifornia,the California Water Science Center records the flow of surface water and annual runoff by utilizing a network of approximately 500 stream gages collecting real time data from all across the state. This then contributes to the 8,000 stream gage stations that are overseen by theUSGSnational stream gage record. This in turn has provided to date records and documents of water data over the years. Management teams that oversee the distribution of water are then able to make decisions of adequate water supply to sectors. These include municipal, industrial, agricultural, renewable energy (hydropower), and storage in reservoirs.[5]
Impacts of climate change[edit]
Due toclimate change,sea ice andglaciersare melting, contributing to the rise in sea levels. As a result, salt water from the ocean is beginning to infiltrate our freshwateraquiferscontaminating water used for urban and agricultural services. It is also affecting surroundingecosystemsas it places stress on the wildlife inhabiting those areas. It was recorded by the NOAA in the years 2012 to 2016,ice sheetsinGreenlandand theAntarcticreduced by 247 billion tons per year.[6]This number will continue to increase as global warming persists.
Climate change has a direct connection with thewater cycle.It has increased evaporation yet decreased precipitation, runoff, groundwater, and soil moisture. This has altered surface water levels. Climate change also enhances the existing challenges we face in water quality. The quality of surface water is based on the chemical inputs from the surrounding elements such as the air and the nearby landscape. When these elements are polluted due to human activity, it alters the chemistry of the water.[7]
Conjunctive use of ground and surface water[edit]
Surface andgroundwaterare two separate entities, so they must be regarded as such. However, there is an ever-increasing need for management of the two as they are part of an interrelated system that is paramount when the demand for water exceeds the available supply (Fetter 464). Depletion of surface and ground water sources for public consumption (including industrial, commercial, and residential) is caused by over-pumping.Aquifersnear river systems that are over-pumped have been known to deplete surface water sources as well. Research supporting this has been found in numerous water budgets for a multitude of cities.
Response times for anaquiferare long (Young & Bredehoeft 1972). However, a total ban on ground water usage during water recessions would allow surface water to retain better levels required for sustainableaquatic life.By reducing ground water pumping, the surface water supplies will be able to maintain their levels, as they recharge from directprecipitation,surface runoff,etc.
It is recorded by theEnvironmental Protection Agency(EPA), that approximately 68 percent of water provided to communities in the United States comes from surface water.[8]
See also[edit]
- Environmental persistent pharmaceutical pollutant
- Meltwater
- Optimum water content for tillage
- Water resources
- Surface-water hydrology
References[edit]
- ^United States Environmental Protection Agency (2017-11-02)."Fresh Surface Water".US EPA.Retrieved2020-04-06.
- ^U.S Department of the Interior."Surface-Water Use".usgs.gov.Retrieved2020-04-06.
- ^Department of Environment and Natural Resources."What is Surface Water?"(PDF).denr.nt.gov.au.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2020-09-21.Retrieved2020-04-06.
- ^U.S Energy Information Administration (2020-04-30)."Hydropower Explained".
- ^U.S Department of the Interior."Surface Water & Drought".ca.water.usgs.gov.Retrieved2020-04-21.
- ^Rebecca, Lindsey."Climate Change: Global Sea Level".climate.gov.Retrieved2020-04-21.
- ^Whitehead, P. G.; Wilby, R. L.; Battarbee, R. W.; Kernan, M.; Wade, A. J. (2009)."A review of the potential impacts of climate change on surface water quality".Hydrological Sciences Journal.54(1): 101–123.Bibcode:2009HydSJ..54..101W.doi:10.1623/hysj.54.1.101.
- ^Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (2018-10-10)."Water Sources".cdc.gov.Retrieved2020-04-06.
- Applied Hydrogeology, Fourth Edition by C.W. Fetter.
- R.A. Young andJ.D. BredehoeftDigital simulation for solving management problems with conjunctive groundwater and surface water systems from Water Resources Research 8:533-56
External links[edit]
- "Surface Water,"Iowa State University
