Analyze Groundwater Sustainability With Human Population Growth - Paper Example

If the current human development does not change, groundwater sustainability will be affected. The current human development involves land clearing and deforestation. When land clearing takes place, more flooding occurs. Deforestation for human development reduces the transpiration rate which is important for sustenance of groundwater availability. Land clearing to facilitate human development inhibits rainwater from percolating into the ground. Percolating of groundwater into the ground is important because it enables aquifers and groundwater to be recharged.

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PART 1

Time period Impact to forest Groundwater levels Saltwater intrusion Farming Industrial development Population

1880s Large forests Lots of groundwater No saltwater intrusion Small farms No cities

Limited housing

1900s Decreased by 50% Decreased by 50% Ocean moved into groundwater Farms are larger, but there are fewer Exceptional growth of cities and industrial development Substantial increase in housing

2000s Decreased by 90% Decreased by 90% Greater movement of ocean into groundwater Same number of farms, but size decreased by 20% Industrial development decreased by 10-15% Housing development decreased by 10-15%

PART 11

Purpose:

The purpose of the lab report is to analyze groundwater sustainability with human population growth.

Introduction:

Groundwater sustainability continues to be threatened by deforestation and land clearing for human development. Groundwater can only be sustained if deforestation, land clearing, human development and industrial development are controlled. It is important to assess effects that deforestation, land clearance, human development and industrial development have on groundwater sustainability (Maloszewski et al., 2013).

Hypothesis:

Deforestation, land clearance, human development and industrial development have a negative impact on groundwater sustainability.

Methods:

I assessed the impact that deforestation has on groundwater availability.

I assessed the impact that land clearance has on groundwater availability.

I assessed the impact that human development has on groundwater sustainability.

I assessed the impact industrial development has on groundwater sustainability.

Results

It was revealed that deforestation reduces the transpiration rate.

It was revealed that land clearance inhibits rainwater from percolating into the ground.

It was revealed that human development inhibits rainwater from percolating into the ground.

It was revealed that industrial development inhibits rainwater from percolating into the ground.

Discussion

Groundwaters recharge rate is hindered by deforestation, land clearance, human development and industrial development. Land clearing leads to increase in flooding. Deforestation reduces transpiration rate. Transpiration rate is important for sustenance of groundwater availability. Land clearance inhibits rainwater from percolating into the ground yet penetration of rainwater into the soil is important in allowing groundwater and aquifers to be recharged. Both human development and industrial development inhibit rainwater from percolating into the ground, disorienting sustainability of groundwater.

I have learned that for groundwater to be sustained, issues of deforestation and land clearance have to be addressed. Deforestation and land clearance have to be mitigated to increase chances of sustenance of groundwater. Deforestation and land clearance contribute to saltwater intrusion. Given that about forty percent of the worlds food is produced via irrigation, failure to sustain groundwater availability would lead to a drastic decrease in food production. It would be impossible to sustain the human population if food production drastically decreases!

Reference

Maloszewski, P., Witczak, S., Malina, G., & Association internationale des hydrogeologues. (2013). Groundwater quality sustainability. Boca Raton: CRC Press.