Month: January 2019

Dams

Dams Video Summary: While they are often touted as a source of “clean energy”, the negative effects of dams on overall hydrology, downstream ecosystems, and nearby human populations outweigh the benefits of energy generation. Furthermore, due to the methane released by decaying plants in flooded areas, dams actually contribute to climate change on a level …

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Oil impact on Louisiana water

Water Pollution / Urban Runoff

Agricultural pollution is not the only source of water contamination. Sewage, industrial pollution, and residues from automobile exhaust all are swept downstream into rivers and ultimately the ocean. Video Summary: Modern society has interfered with the natural water cycle for centuries. Pollution from agricultural, residential, and industrial sources has contaminated rivers and oceans, and problems …

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Agriculture and Water Use

Globally, almost 70% of the Earth’s available fresh water is used for agriculture alone.[7] The United States alone uses over 76 trillion gallons of water annually for livestock.[8] Video Summary: Water supplies stored in lakes, reservoirs, and aquifers are quickly being depleted. Approximately 80% of this water (in the U.S.) is used for agriculture. Furthermore, …

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The Water Cycle

Water supports all life on Earth, and circulates throughout the entirety of the biosphere. This cycle theoretically allows for our fresh water to be continuously renewed. However, there are still many issues in regards to how water is conserved and distributed that prevent this from happening. [1]  

Mining

Mining allows for the retrieval of buried resources like minerals, oil, and natural gas. The road construction and support facilities required for mining practices have led to a significant loss of vegetation and habitats. Video Summary: Coal has a multitude of negative effects on the environment at every stage of its journey from the ground to …

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Resource Depletion and Deforestation

Human activities have contributed to massive exploitation of ecosystems, far beyond what is sustainable. Practices such as industrial-scale agriculture, livestock grazing, logging, and mining have lead to widespread habitat loss and depletion of these resources. Video Summary: All of the resources that humanity depends on ultimately came from the land. However, conversion or degradation of this …

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Soil Erosion

The intensive use of land by monocrop agriculture removes soil-stabilizing species, resulting in rapid erosion. Globally, human activities have increased the rate at which soil erosion is occurring to as much as 40 times the natural level. One of the primary factors contributing to this erosion is the process known as tilling, where farmers break up soil …

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