Mindtap Environmental Science, 1 Term (6 Months) Printed Access Card For Miller/spoolman's Environmental Science
Mindtap Environmental Science, 1 Term (6 Months) Printed Access Card For Miller/spoolman's Environmental Science
15th Edition
ISBN: 9781305403109
Author: G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Question
100%
Book Icon
Chapter 11, Problem 1CR
To determine

The importance of the Colorado River basin in the United States and the way human activities are affecting this system. The term drought and the way it impacted the Colorado River system.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1CR

Colorado River basin provides water and electricity for about one of every eight people in the United States. The Colorado River system experienced drought due to human activities. A prolonged period in which precipitation is at least 70% lower and evaporation is higher than normal is known as drought. The drought condition has disrupted the Colorado River system.

Explanation of Solution

During the past 100 years, the Colorado River has been tamed by gigantic plumbing system consisting of 14 major dams and reservoirs, and canals. These dams and canals help control flooding and supply water and electricity to farmers, ranchers, industries, and cities.

The system of dams and reservoirs also provide water and electricity from hydroelectric plants at the major dams for about one of every eight people in the United States. About 15% of the nation’s crop and livestock is produced by utilizing Colorado River’s water. This system also supplies water to some of the driest and hottest cities of the nation. Colorado River provides support to the cities in the dry and desert-like climate.

The Colorado River system has experienced severe drought condition due to human activities. So much water is withdrawn from the river to grow crops and support cities that very little amount of it reaches the sea. Human activities caused degradation in the river’s aquatic ecosystems and dried up its delta.

Drought refers to a prolonged period in which precipitation is at least 70% lower, and evaporation is higher than normal. The drought condition resulted in disrupting the Colorado River system. This condition has severe implications for water supplies in the nation’s driest and hottest cities.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
Please write the final report in detail with all the components.
Provide two paragraphs on your thoughts of reforestation. Please write in first person.
1. Label the zone of saturation, the unsaturated zone, and the water table.2. Describe the shape of the water table in relationship to the shape of the land surface.3. Whenever a substantial amount of water is withdrawn from a well, the water table forms a cone of depression. Label the cone of depression on Figure 8.13. What factors might cause a cone of depression to become larger or smaller?4. Use a pencil to shade the area between the dashed lines labeled A. This zone represents an impermeable lens of clay. Describe what will happen to water that infiltrates to the depth of the clay lens at point A.5. How does the drop in the water table during a drought affect the operation of the well? The blue dashed line in Figure 8.13 represents the level of the water table during a drought.
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science ...
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134041360
Author:Greg Carbone
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science
Earth Science
ISBN:9781260153125
Author:William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134543536
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Earth Science
ISBN:9781337569613
Author:G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Physical Geology
Earth Science
ISBN:9781259916823
Author:Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, Lisa
Publisher:Mcgraw-hill Education,