• Eutrophication

• Tsunami
• Salt water intrusion
• Quicksand
• Waterspout

Arcelie P. Maata
 Eutrophication
• An enrichment by or excess of
nutrients to the water. and
may result in an explosive growth
of algae.
• is the ecosystem response to the
addition of artificial or natural
substances, mainly phosphates,
through detergents, fertilizers, or
• Eutrophication was recognized
as a water pollution problem
in European and North
American lakes and reservoirs
in the mid-20th century. Since
then, it has become more
widespread. Surveys showed
that 54% of lakes in Asia are
eutrophic; in Europe, 53%; in
North America, 48%; in
 Cause of Eutrophication

• Domestic wastewater
• Industrial waste
• Agriculture (fertilizer
use)Atmospheric deposition
of nitrogen (livestock and
gases)
 Effects of Eutropication
• Increasing biomass of phytoplankton
resulting in 'algal blooms'.
• Hypoxia (reduced dissolved oxygen
content of a body of water).
• An increasing number of incidents of
fish kills.
• The water can have a bad taste, color
and odor which has a negative impact
on tourism. Governments have to
invest more in waste water treatment.
• Decline or loss of species biodiversity
• Some phytoplankton species produce
toxins that cause severe symptoms such
as diarrhea, memory loss, paralysis and
in severe causes death.
• Changes in macrophyte species
composition and biomass
• Decreases in water transparency
(increased turbidity)
• Colour, smell, and water treatment
problems
• Dissolved oxygen depletion
• Loss of desirable fish species
• Reductions in harvestable fish and
shellfish
• Sodium triphosphate, once a
component of many detergents, was
a major contributor to
eutrophication.
 Natural Eutrophication
• Although eutrophication is commonly
caused by human activities, it can also
be a natural process, particularly in
lakes. Eutrophy occurs in many lakes in
temperate grasslands, for instance.
Paleolimnologists now recognize that
climate change, geology, and other
external influences are critical in
regulating the natural productivity of
lakes. Some lakes also demonstrate the
reverse process (meiotrophication),
becoming less nutrient rich with time.
The main difference between natural
 Ocean waters eutrophication
• Eutrophication is a common
phenomenon in coastal waters. In
contrast to freshwater systems,
nitrogen is more commonly the key
limiting nutrient of marine waters;
thus, nitrogen levels have greater
importance to understanding
eutrophication problems in salt water.
Estuaries tend to be naturally eutrophic
because land-derived nutrients are
concentrated where run-off enters a
confined channel. Upwelling in coastal
systems also promotes increased
Terrestrial ecosystems eutrophication
• Terrestrial ecosystems are subject to similarly
adverse impacts from eutrophication. Increased
nitrates in soil are frequently undesirable for
plants. Many terrestrial plant species are
endangered as a result of soil eutrophication,
such as the majority of orchid species in
Europe. Meadows, forests, and bogs are
characterized by low nutrient content and
slowly growing species adapted to those levels,
so they can be overgrown by faster growing
and more competitive species. In meadows, tall
grasses that can take advantage of higher
nitrogen levels may change the area so that
natural species may be lost. Species-rich fens
can be overtaken by reed or reedgrass species.
 ecological impacts

• decreased biodiversity
• changes in species
composition and dominance
• toxicity effects.
• Eutrophicat
ion is
apparent as
increased
turbidity in
the
northern
part of the
Caspian Se
a
, imaged
from orbit
The eutrophication of the Potomac River
evident from the bright green water,
caused by a dense bloom of
cyanobacteria.
Eutrophication in a canal
Green algae on the beach
(Nord Finistère, Brittany-
France)
 Tsunami
• is a series of ocean waves
caused by an underwater
earthquake, landslide, or
volcanic eruption. More rarely,
a tsunami can be generated by
a giant meteor impact with the
ocean. These waves can reach
heights of over 100 ft.
• A tsunami is a series of ocean
waves with very long
wavelengths (typically
 Causes of Tsunami

• earthquakes
• landslide
• volcanic eruptions
• explosions
• meteorites
How are tsunamis measured or observed?

• In the deep ocean, a tsunami has

a small amplitude (less than 1
metre) but very long wavelength
(hundreds of kilometres). This
means that the slope, or
steepness of the wave is very
small, so it is practically
undetectable to the human eye.
However, there are ocean
observing instruments that are
 facts About Tsunamis
• If caught by a tsunami wave, it is
better not to swim, but rather to grab a
floating object and allow the current to
carry you.
• Tsunamis retain their energy, meaning
they can travel across entire oceans
with limited energy loss.
• Tsunami means “harbor wave” in
Japanese (tsu = harbor + nami =
wave), reflecting Japan’s tsunami-prone
history.
• Tsunamis can travel at speeds of about
• Hawaii is always at great risk for a
tsunami – they get about 1 per year
and a severe one every 7 years. The
biggest tsunami that occurred Hawaii
happened in 1946, the coast of Hilo
Island was hit with 30 ft waves at
500 mph.
• In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami
was caused by an earthquake with
the energy of 23,000 atomic bombs.
After the earthquake, killer waves
radiating from the epicenter
slammed into the coastline of 11
• The first wave of a tsunami is usually
not the strongest, successive waves
get bigger and stronger.
• Scientists can accurately estimate
the time when a tsunami will arrive
almost anywhere around the world
based on calculations using the
depth of the water, distances from
one place to another, and the time
that the earthquake or other event
occurred.
• The states in the U.S. at greatest risk
for tsunamis are Hawaii, Alaska,
 Earthquakes under the ocean can cause giant waves called
tsunamis. Here, a tsunami heads toward shore after a small
earthquake off the coast of Indonesia.
 Salt water intrusion
• Salt water intrusion occurs in
coastal freshwater aquifers when
the different densities of both the
saltwater and freshwater allow
the ocean water to intrude into
the freshwater aquifer.
• Saltwater intrusion is the
movement of saline water into
freshwater aquifers, which can
lead to contamination of drinking
 What causes saltwater intrusion?
When groundwater levels in aquifers
are depleted faster than they can
recharge. This is directly related to the
position of the interface and
determines the amount of saltwater
that can intrude into the freshwater
aquifer system. Since saltwater
intrusion is directly related to the
recharge rate of the groundwater, this
allows for other factors that may
contribute to the encroachment of
seawater into the freshwater aquifers.
Climatic variables, such as
With lower precipitation amounts
and warmer temperatures, the
recharge rate will be much less due
to lack of groundwater present and
increased evaporation. other factors
may influence the groundwater
recharge rate indirectly. An example
of this would be the rising carbon
dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.
Increasing carbon dioxide levels can
lead directly to an increase in
average surface temperatures,
indirectly increasing the evaporation
 Effect on water supply
• Many coastal communities around the
United States are experiencing saltwater
contamination of water supply wells, and
this problem has been seen for decades.
The consequences of saltwater intrusion
for supply wells vary widely, depending
on extent of the intrusion, the intended
use of the water, and whether the salinity
exceeds standards for the intended use.
In some areas such as Washington State,
intrusion only reaches portions of the
aquifer, affecting only certain water
supply wells. Other aquifers have faced
more widespread salinity contamination,
 Catfish Point
control
structure (lock)
on the
Mermentau
River in coastal
Louisiana

• Saltwater is also an issue where a lock separates saltwater

from freshwater (for example the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
in Washington). In this case a collection basin was built from
which the saltwater can be pumped back to the sea. Some of
the intruding saltwater is also pumped to the fish ladder to
make it more attractive to migrating fish.
Water Ways (
St. Johns River Water Management District, 2008)
 Quicksand
• Quicksand is a colloid
hydrogel consisting of fine
granular material (such as
sand or silt), clay, and water.
• Quicksand forms in saturated
loose sand when the sand is
suddenly agitated. When
water in the sand cannot
escape, it creates a liquefied
Quicksand can form in
standing water or in upwards
flowing water (as from an
artesian spring). In the case of
upwards flowing water,
seepage forces oppose the
force of gravity and suspend
Quicksand may be found inland
the
(on soil particles.
riverbanks, near lakes, or in
marshes), or near the coast.
The saturated sediment may
appear quite solid until a sudden
change in pressure or shock
initiates liquefaction. This causes
the sand to form a suspension and
lose strength. The cushioning of
water gives quicksand, and other
liquefied sediments, a spongy,
fluidlike texture. Objects in
liquefied sand sink to the level at
which the weight of the object is
equal to the weight of the displaced
Liquefaction is a special case of
quicksand. In this case, sudden
earthquake forces immediately increase
the pore pressure of shallow
groundwater. The saturated liquefied
soil loses strength, causing buildings or
other objects
To move onthe
within that surface toasink
quicksand, or
person
fall.
or object must apply sufficient pressure
on the compacted sand to re-introduce
enough water to liquefy it. The forces
required to do this are quite large: to
remove a foot from quicksand at a
speed of .01 m/s would require the
same amount of force as "that needed
 Properties
• Quicksand is a shear thinning
non-Newtonian fluid: when
undisturbed, it often appears to be
solid ("gel" form), but a minor (less
than 1%) change in the stress on the
quicksand will cause a sudden
decrease in its viscosity. After an initial
disturbance—such as a person
attempting to walk on it—the water
and sand in the quicksand separate
and dense regions of sand sediment
form; it is because of the formation of
these high volume fraction regions that
Quicksand itself is harmless; a human or
animal is unlikely to sink entirely into
quicksand due to the higher density of the
fluid (assuming the quicksand is on dry
ground and not under water). Continued
or panicked movement may cause the
victim to sink deeper, leading to belief
that quicksand is dangerous. Because it
increasingly impairs human locomotion, it
allows harsher elements such as sunlight,
dehydration, carnivores, omnivores,
hypothermia or tides to harm a trapped
person. Quicksand may be escaped by
slow movement of the legs in order to
 waterspout
• A waterspout is a whirling
column of air and water mist
• A waterspout is an intense
columnar vortex (usually
appearing as a funnel-shaped
cloud) that occurs over a
body of water. They are
connected to a towering
cumuliform cloud or a
cumulonimbus cloud.In the
 Waterspouts fall into two
categories
Tornadic waterspouts.
• tornadic waterspouts develop
downward in a thunderstorm.
• Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes
that form over water, or move from
land to water. They have the same
characteristics as a land tornado.
They are associated with severe
thunderstorms, and are often
accompanied by high winds and
seas, large hail, and frequent
Tornadic waterspout on 15 July 2005
off the coast of Punta Gorda, Florida,
caused by a severe thunderstorm.
 fair weather waterspouts
• Fair weather waterspouts usually
form along the dark flat base of a
line of developing cumulus clouds.
This type of waterspout is generally
not associated with thunderstorms.
• a fair weather waterspout develops
on the surface of the water and
works its way upward. By the time
the funnel is visible, a fair weather
waterspout is near maturity.
• Fair weather waterspouts form in
Non-tornadic waterspouts seen from
the beach at Kijkduin near The Hague,
the Netherlands on 27 August 2006.
Waterspouts have a five-part
life cycle:

•formation of a dark spot on the

water surface.
•spiral pattern on the water
surface.
•formation of a spray ring.
•development of the visible
condensation funnel.
•ultimately decay.
A family of four waterspouts
seen on the Great Lakes (
Lake Huron) on 9 September
1999.
Four waterspouts seen in
the Florida Keys on 5 June
2009.
If a waterspout moves onshore,
the National Weather Service
issues a tornado warning, as
some of them can cause
significant damage and injuries
to people. Typically, fair
weather waterspouts dissipate
rapidly when they make
landfall, and rarely penetrate
far inland.
According to NOAA's
National Weather Service,
the best way to avoid a
waterspout is to move at a
90-degree angle to its
apparent movement.
Never move closer to
investigate a waterspout.
Some can be just as
 THANK YOU
for listening !!
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