Human Effects on the Hydrologic Cycle

NC Water Basin Map

​Any questions about the water (hydrologic) cycle?

• Much of the precipitation that falls on land enters the ground through the process of infiltration and becomes groundwater.

• Groundwater slowly moves through the ground (percolation), eventually returns to the surface through springs, and then flows back to the oceans (surface water).

​

• It's a material that water can pass through

• This includes soil, sand, gravel, and cracked rock

• If a rock or clay area does not let water in, it is called impermeable.

• An area underground that holds a lot of water.

• It is usually made of gravel, sand, and permeable rock.

• People often drill wells into an aquifer to get water for drinking and farming.

Another problem caused by the excessive withdrawal of groundwater is ground subsidence, the sinking of land.

• The over pumping of wells can cause the underlying salt water to rise into the wells and contaminate the freshwater aquifer

Salt water Intrusion

​Flooding is defined as: “Any high flow, overflow, or inundation by water which causes or threatens damage.

• https://youtu.be/C65iqOSCZOY

• Watch the video and be ready to answer the questions that follow regarding population increase and the impacts it has on our water