Explanation The two key concepts of section 11.1 are as follows: (i) Humans are using available freshwater in an unsustainable manner, polluting it, and not valuing the natural resource. (ii) There is an imbalance in the freshwater distribution, and one of every ten people on the planet does not have adequate access to clean water. Freshwater is the water that contains a very low level of dissolved salts. Access to water is a health issue because people need water that is safe to drink. Every year, an average of about 669,000 people die from waterborne infectious diseases. Access to water is an economic issue because water plays an important role in producing food and energy and reducing poverty. Access to water is a national and global security issue because limited freshwater resources cause competition between two nations that are reluctant to share the natural resources. Access to water is an environmental issue because of the excessive withdrawal of freshwater from rivers and aquifers result in the falling of water tables, dwindling river flows, shrinking lakes, and disappearing wetlands. This condition is also responsible for the extinction of some aquatic species, and degradation of aquatic ecosystem services. Only 0.024 % of the freshwater is available to humans. The hydrologic cycle collects, purifies, and distributes the Earth’s fixed supply of water. The cycle begins with the evaporation of water from the ocean’s surface. The lifting of moist air cools and condenses the water vapor to form clouds which returns to the surface in the form of precipitation...

Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)

16th Edition

ISBN: 9781337569613

Author: G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman

Publisher: Cengage Learning

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Question

Chapter 11, Problem 2CR

To determine

The two key concepts of the given section. The term ‘fresh water.’ The manner in which access to water is a health issue, an economic issue, a national and global security issue, and an environmental issue. The percentage of freshwater available to humans. The method of water recycling by using the hydrologic cycle, and the effect of human activities on the hydrological cycle. The term groundwater, the zone of saturation, water table, surface water, surface runoff, and watershed basin.

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Chapter 11 Solutions

Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)

Ch. 11 - Prob. 1CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 2CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 3CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 4CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 5CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 6CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 7CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 8CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 9CR Ch. 11 - Prob. 10CR

Ch. 11 - Prob. 1CT Ch. 11 - Prob. 2CT Ch. 11 - Prob. 3CT Ch. 11 - Prob. 4CT Ch. 11 - Prob. 5CT Ch. 11 - Prob. 6CT Ch. 11 - Prob. 7CT Ch. 11 - Prob. 8CT

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