impact on ecosystems big ideas… w.e.d. ecoregions of texas catastrophic events watershed
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Impact on Ecosystems
Big Ideas…
W.E.D.
EcoRegions of Texas
Catastrophic Events
Watershed
Weathering•Breaking apart of land/rocks into sediments
• Mechanical – breaking apart rock by physically processes
• Rates of weather – hard rocks weather slower than soft rocks
• Moisture and fluctuating temperature above and below freezing increases weathering
Types of Weathering
Frost or Ice Wedging
Abrasion caused by friction or impact
of other rocks
Animals burrowing or human activity
Plant roots wedging and
growing
Types of WeatheringChemical – breaking rocks with a chemical
reaction–Oxidation, plant and natural acids, acid rain,
rusting–Promoted by moisture and high temperatures
Limestone cave
Erosion•Movement of sediments by wind, water, glaciers, gravity, humans, etc.
Deposition• Dropping off of sediments
in a new location–Results of deposition: sand
dunes, river deltas, mountains, beaches
Shape It Up
EcoRegions of Texas
1. Pineywoods 2. Oak Woods & Prairies3. Blackland Prairies4. Gulf Coast Prairies & Marshes5. Coastal Sand Plains6. South Texas Brush Country7. Edwards Plateau8. Llano Uplift9. Rolling Plains10. High Plains11. Trans Pecos
EcoRegions of Texas
What is a watershed?• the region or area drained by a river,
stream, lake, ocean, or any body of water.
What is surface water?
• Surface water consists of all the water that exists on top of the Earth’s surface.– oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams,
marshes, etc.– 1% of all freshwater
What is groundwater?
• Groundwater consists of all the water that has seeped down beneath the Earth’s surface. – 31% of all
Freshwater
Impact on water supply• Pollution – wastewater, pesticides/insecticides,
fertilizers, etc.• Climate change – increased global temperatures lead
to less surface water (evaporation) and an increase in the removal of groundwater (pumps/wells)
• Urban/Rural development – cities/farms replacing natural ecosystems will lead to collection of more waste and contamination of freshwater supplies
• Deforestation – leads to increased erosion, which could lead to an increase of waste materials that end up contaminating the freshwater supply
• Natural Disasters – extreme sudden events caused by environmental factors that injure plants, animals, and/or property. Such as: hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, etc.
• Catastrophic Events – events caused by natural or man made factors that injure plants, animals, and/or property. Such as; oil spills, 911(twin towers), atomic bombs, epidemics, and natural disasters.
Flood• Flashfloods are caused by severe rain
storms• Effects low elevation areas the most since
gravity pulls water downward• Increases runoff and adds water to the
water table
Tornado
• Strong cyclone (circle) wind• Fast rotating columns of air
associated with severe thunderstorms.
• Common in ‘tornado alley’– Texas panhandle and Oklahoma
Hurricane
• Huge tropical cyclones that form over an ocean
• Produces severe rain – can cause flooding• Only effects coastal regions – not Allen
Texas• Can also cause floods and mudslides