Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Introduction to Rivers and the Hydrologic Cycle

Uses of Rivers by Humans



Rivers have provided important services to humans for thousands of years.



Expected Learning Outcomes-



By the end of the course a fully engaged student should be able to

- compare and contrast uses of rivers by pre-industrial and industrial societies.



Water and the Hydrologic Cycle



The chemical structure of water causes it to have unique chemical properties. The polar nature of water causes water molecules to bond to one another via hydrogen bonds. Thus, water is "sticky" (that's one of the reasons that some insects can walk on water). Water is unique in that it can be found in the gas, liquid, and solid forms at temperatures that are commonly experienced on earth. Water is constantly moving from one form to another as part of the hydrologic cycle. Rivers are an important component of the hydrologic cycle and they are an important source of fresh water for use by animals and humans.




Suggested Readings

Here are some articles from the Encyclopedia of the Earth that might be useful.

Hydrologic Cycle - http://www.eoearth.org/article/Hydrologic_cycle

Physical Properties of Water - http://www.eoearth.org/article/Physical_properties_of_water

River - http://www.eoearth.org/article/River

Water - http://www.eoearth.org/article/AP_Environmental_Science_Chapter_9-_Water

Powerpoint Presentation

Click here for the powerpoint presentation "The Rio Grande River"

http://www.slideshare.net/secret/pxAJ6acjhvdnma



Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course a fully engaged student should be able to

- diagram the chemical structure of water

- define a hydrogen bond and discuss why hydogen bonds form in water

- diagram the hydrologic cycle

- list the major reservoirs of water in the hydrologiic cycle

- list the major reservoirs of fresh water in the hydrologic cycle

- discuss how humans have attempted to alter the hydrologic cycle in order to provide more useable freshwater

- describe the movement of a molecule of water in the hydrologic cycle from the atmosphere back to the atmosphere

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