Provide at least three freshwater and three ocean water resource challenges.
Check these sites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_resources
http://marinebio.org/Oceans/OceanResources.asp
Three freshwater resource challenges include:
1. Water scarcity: This refers to the inadequate availability of freshwater resources to meet the demands of a population or region. This can be caused by various factors such as climate change, overpopulation, unsustainable water usage, and pollution. To determine regions facing water scarcity, you can refer to reports published by organizations like the World Resources Institute or the United Nations.
2. Water pollution: Freshwater bodies can be polluted through various sources such as industrial waste, agricultural runoff, improper disposal of sewage, and improper use of chemicals. The impacts of pollution can harm ecosystems, contaminate drinking water sources, and disrupt aquatic life. Environmental protection agencies and water monitoring organizations provide data on water quality, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Water Data and Tools website.
3. Droughts and desertification: Droughts are prolonged periods of abnormally low rainfall or water availability, leading to water shortages and drying up of freshwater sources. Desertification is the degradation of arable land, typically occurring in semi-arid or arid regions, resulting in the loss of freshwater sources. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and meteorological organizations provide information on regions affected by droughts and desertification.
Three ocean water resource challenges include:
1. Overfishing: Overfishing occurs when fish and other marine species are harvested at a rate that exceeds their natural reproduction capabilities, resulting in the depletion of fish stocks. To obtain information on overfishing, you can refer to reports from organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) or the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
2. Ocean acidification: This is the ongoing decrease in the pH levels of ocean water due to increased absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Ocean acidification harms marine organisms such as corals, shellfish, and certain species of plankton, disrupting the ocean's food chains and ecosystems. Scientific research institutions and organizations involved in climate change, like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), provide studies and reports on ocean acidification.
3. Marine pollution: Ocean water can be polluted by various sources, including oil spills, plastic waste, chemical runoff, and sewage disposal. This pollution negatively impacts marine ecosystems, leading to the death of marine life, the destruction of coral reefs, and the degradation of coastal habitats. Reports and data on marine pollution can be obtained from organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on ocean conservation, such as Ocean Conservancy.