GGH1502 ASSIGNMENT 2 2020.

GGH1502 ASSIGNMENT 2 2020. World Issues: A Geographical Perspective. Discuss the various environmental impacts that are associated with big dams. In your answer, you must include the impacts of dam walls and their reservoirs, effects of the construction of a big dam on upstream and downstream areas, political impacts of big dams Give examples in your answer. Land and water are ecologically linked in what is called a “Watershed”. It is a land area that channels snowmelt as well as water to rivers, streams and creeks which eventually ends in places such as bays, reservoirs and the ocean. Water takes sediment (natural material) and other such dissolved materials that will reach its final destination – such as the ocean. There are currently a lot of large dam projects that are taking place in Africa. These projects are thusly funded by European Investors and foreign companies. One such project is the Inga Dam which is located in the western Democratic Republic of Congo. It is one of the worlds proposed hydropower scheme. The Grand Inga will generate 40, 000 MW and will be built in six phases. Another example of large dam project in Africa would be the Maguga Dam which is located in Swaziland. It is the highest dam located in South Africa. It was a joint project entered into by Eswatini and the governments of South Africa and was completed in 2001. Factors that affect the condition of the shape of a river include the slope, geology and vegetation on the banks as well as the rock formations that border the rivers and that are within the river itself. Other factors can also include the catchment land. Dams have been in construction for at least the past 5000 years so that water resources could be maintained and optimally used as a resource. Dams were built to control flood waters as well as for irrigation and consumption. Modern uses include the generation of hydroelectric power as well as the regulation of the flow of the river itself. The environmental impacts associated with dam walls and reservoirs include depriving the flow of water and sediments. The water flowing downstream will erode its channels and banks. This will ultimately threaten the river wildlife as well as the vegetation. Dams are primarily built to control hazards associated with floods as well as to store water for various uses. However, the costs can include riparian habitat loss as well as water loss due to evaporation and seepage, declined water quality and also seepage. Reservoirs can cause river line and coastal erosion, fluctuation in water temperatures and the destruction of natural ecosystems and agriculture. Other effects, beyond the reservoirs, can include the increase of disease vectors, resettlement and also greenhouse gases. Effects associated with the construction of big dams on the upstream and the downstream areas can include direct impacts to the chemical, biological as well as the physical properties of a river environment. The wall of the dam itself will block the migration of fish which results in the spawning areas and the rearing areas being separate. A dam can also trap sediments which ultimately damage the physical processes of natural habitats such as coastal wetlands and barrier lands. This study source was downloaded by from CourseH on :46:17 GMT -06:00 This study resource was shared via CourseH Another impact on the environment caused by the construction of a big dam can include the deepening of the riverbed which lowers the groundwater tables and lowers the water accessibility to plant roots which entails the alteration of the riverbed. They are significant contributors to the emission of greenhouse gas. They can serve as a carbon sink for the atmospheric greenhouse gases. Another major impact is the extinction of fish and aquatic species, loss of forests, wetland and also farmlands. Political impacts of big dams can be subdivided into two categories, namely social and environmental. Most of the environmental impacts have been discussed above, however, there are a few other notable factors. Let’s take the Maguga Dam as an active example. The reservoir resulted in the loss of approximately 800m3 of plant species which affected vegetation. Local residents depended a lot on these tree species for natural medicines and herbs. The impact on bird species showed that there was a total of 195 different species located on the reservoir. All these species habitats were threatened due to the big dam. Mammals were also affected by the construction of the dam. The fear of the loss of these mammals (some which were endangered or dangerous) were due to the beliefs and the superstitions that resulted in the use of traditional healers. Fish species was also impacted due to the construction of the big dam. The dam would also create a blockages for migration of all animals. This dam also affected the temperature of the river itself which impacted the aquatic invertebrate communities which resulted in the increase of their population. Social impacts included the visibility of archaeological sites. They became higher and as a result more graves were identified. Graves were extremely and spiritually important to the people in Swaziland and as a result, the graves were exhumed and had to be relocated to areas that were not inundated. The impact on community health was also an issue. As with any business venture, the construction of the Maguga Dam attracted a lot of people who were seeking employment. As a result, these people (generally male) leave their spouses at home and entered into affairs with other women and resulted in the increase of HIV/AIDS. This study source was downloaded by from CourseH on :46:17 GMT -06:00 This study resource was shared via CourseH Question 2 Explain ocean pollution and the impacts thereof. In your answer, you must include the sources, how coastal areas and mangroves are affected by human activities. Please provide examples. What is ocean pollution? What are the impacts of ocean pollution? First, it is important to note that the pollution of water is caused by humans. It is caused by our neglect of chemicals and particulars from industrial, residential and industrial waste as well as noise and the spread of organisms that are invasive and dangerous. Approximately 80% of all pollution comes from the land.