Environmental Awareness Essays Example

Introduction

In the concept of earth science, the pathway through, which chemical substances or materials move through abiotic or biotic process is referred as bio-geochemical cycle (Lerner, 2009). Biotic component of the bio-geochemical cycle is the biosphere, which basically supports various aspects of life. On the other hand, the abiotic component is made up of the lithosphere, hydrosphere and the atmosphere, which support life indirectly (Lerner, 2009). In addition, the bio-geochemical cycle is made of various chemical cycles which include: The water cycle, oxygen cycle, carbon cycle, phosphorous cycle, nitrogen and the sulphur cycle. These cycles are also composed of individual elements, which play varying significant roles in supporting life systems and ecosystems processes (Lerner, 2009).
Some of the most important elements of the bio-geochemical cycle or the chemical cycles are: Water (H20), Nitrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, Sulphur as well as Phosphorous. These elements play a significant role in creating a balance on the living and non-living elements of the ecosystem (Lerner, 2009). This basically, means that interference with one or more of these elements could affect the overall balance of the bio-geochemical cycle and the ecosystem balance. This research will focus on water as an element within the bio-geochemical cycle and how its usability through anthropogenic forces affects the security of the cycle as well as anticipated future effects.

Findings

Water has been considered one of the crucial elements within the bio-geochemical cycle. It also plays a crucial role in ecosystem processes (Kalman & Sjonger, 2012). However, there are certain factors that have been noted as having significant impact in the flow of water in the water cycle, thus having great impacts on the balance of the bio-geochemical cycle (Hughes, 2014). On one of the factors that affect the flow water in the water cycle, thus affecting the balance of the bio-geochemical cycle is anthropogenic forces or human activities. Research indicates that currently, anthropogenic forces interfere with the water cycle in two major ways (Hughes, 2014). To begin with, humans withdraw water from the water cycle, for domestic and industrial purposes. In a research performed by the United States Census Bureau, it is indicated that Global population stood at 6.9 billion in 2010 (Williams, 2013). However, in 2012, the population stood at 7 billion (Williams, 2013). This raised debates concerning the sustainability of global food and water supplies. Increased population has been associated with increased pressure on the available water sources. This is majorly observed in the massive withdrawal of sea water for industrial purposes and the increased rate of withdrawals of fresh water sources for both industrial and domestic use.
Massive withdrawals of water from natural water sources to meet the demands of ever increasing human population have a great impact in the water cycle. The withdrawals basically lead to reduction of water in the natural water flow cycle, creating an imbalance in the bio-geochemical cycle. Global population is expected to rise to approximately 10 billion by 2050; this means that the amount of water needed to satisfy human needs will also increase, thus creating pressure on the available water sources within the bio-geochemical cycle (Williams, 2013).
Water as an element within the bio-geochemical cycle is also affected by discharges caused by both human and natural phenomena (Hughes, 2014). Human discharges occur in the form of gases, liquids and solid. Most of these discharges are made of impurities and waste materials. The discharge of water into natural water paths i.e. rivers as well as gaseous impurities affect the quality of water thus leading to increased amounts of impurities within the bio-geochemical cycle, specifically, the water cycle (Hughes, 2014). Consequently, the absorption of water in certain pools such as soil is another factor that may affect the balance of the bio-geochemical cycle, specifically, the water cycle. Certain soils have smaller soil particles, thus high density, this leads to slower absorption of water compared to soils with larger soil particles (Hughes, 2014). An imbalance may be created on the water cycle when water is held on soil pools for long i.e. in the form of ground water.
The overall environmental conditions have had a significant impact in the flow of water within the water cycle. To begin with, global warming has been associated with the current climate change factors experienced in various parts of the world. Global warming has had a great impact on the flow of water in bio-geochemical cycle (Black & Weisel, 2010). This has occurred specifically, through increased temperatures that have facilitated certain processes within the water cycle for instance: Increased rate of melting of glaciers and ice in the Polar Regions. The consequences of these processes have been; increased sea level, increased humidity among others, thus affecting the balance of water as an element within the water cycle. Environmentalists have projected that with the current high rate of productivity in the industrial sector, involving the use of energy sources that release green-house gases, there could be increased impact in the water cycle majorly as a result of the increased rate of alteration of the global temperatures.

Conclusion

Water is an important element within the water cycle and plays a crucial role in supporting biotic and abiotic ecosystem processes. Therefore, it is environmentally and biologically appropriate for a proper balance of water to occur within the water cycle. However, from the research provided, it is evident that the balance of water as an element in the bio-geochemical cycle is affected by various dimensions of anthropogenic/ human forces such as: Withdrawal or extraction, discharge of materials into natural water sources and air leading to global warming. Anthropogenic activities are anticipated to continue affecting the balance of water in the bio-geochemical cycle owing to the rapid increase in human population.

References

Black, B., & Weisel, G. (2010). Global warming. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood.
Kalman, B., & Sjonger, R. (2012). The water cycle. New York: Crabtree Pub.
Williams, J. (2013). Artificial Neural Networks for Estimating the Atmospheric Pollutant Sources. Springer Science Business Media.
Hughes, M. (2014). Water cycle. Chicago: Heinemann Library.
Lerner, A. (2009). Climate change and the Bio-geochemical Cycle. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.