People build a dam to create a reservoir that supplies water to a nearby city. Describe two ways this action will likely affect the water cycle in the local environment.

A dam can impact the water cycle by preventing the natural flow of water which disrupts the natural flooding process that occurs downstream which provides nutrients to the surrounding area. Also the water cycle is disrupted in regards to fish and the flow of species downstream because the dam impedes the flow of these species in their natural habitat.

Answered by Gibbs | 2024-06-10

Building a dam affects the local water cycle by increasing evaporation due to a larger water surface area and changing sediment flow, leading to silt accumulation and potential downstream erosion. These changes can also disrupt the local ecosystem.
Building a dam to create a reservoir for supplying water to a nearby city will likely affect the water cycle in the local environment in several ways:
Evaporation: A large reservoir increases the surface area of water exposed to the sun. This elevated exposure can lead to higher rates of evaporation, especially in arid climates, which may alter local weather patterns and reduce the amount of water available downstream.
Silt Accumulation and Sediment Flow: The reservoir can trap sediment that the river would naturally carry downstream, disrupting the sediment balance and potentially leading to erosion of downstream riverbanks. The clear water released from the dam can then further contribute to downstream erosion because of its lack of sediment.
Additionally, the construction of a dam can lead to environmental changes such as altered water temperatures, chemistry, flow characteristics, and silt loads, affecting the local ecosystem and potentially causing issues for species that rely on certain conditions for migration and spawning.

Answered by AakanshaB | 2024-06-24

Building a dam creates a reservoir that alters the natural water flow, leading to decreased water reaching downstream areas, which can harm local ecosystems. Additionally, increased evaporation from the reservoir can change local humidity and temperature, affecting local water availability. These impacts disrupt the local water cycle and the environment.
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Answered by Gibbs | 2024-10-14