Lecture 5: February 4, 2010

3:00 to 3:05 lecture on water resources
3:15 to 4:10 exam

 

Introduction

Water resources by type and use

Water pollution as a decrease in available water

Useful views

Systems

• reservoirs and flows of water
• input - output = decrease, increase or steady state
• control by "valves"

Institutions

• type of problems
• ground and surface waters as common pool resource
• potential for overuse by individuals at expense of community
• water sharing institutions

 

Water Availability

• Total amount of freshwater
• different forms and availability

Loss of water due to pollution

• major human impact is to loose natural capital from degradation
• forms of pollution
• estimates of total amount lost -
• examples
  • South Africa double-bind
  • ground water polluted from industrial
  • surface water from agriculture - toxic cyanobacteria
• impacts of water pollution
  • China - 40% with liver disorders - link
  • USA - link to Parkinsons - link - link2 - map
  • Vermont - link to ALS - link

Assignments

Read the chapter from Multiple Perspective on "Institutions"

Read the Wiki and Encyclopedia of the Earth pages.

Study the vocabulary list 2