Spanish Plateau and Mountain Ranges: A Detailed Topography
The Southern Sub-Plateau
The southern sub-plateau is lower, with a height between 500-700m. It is divided into two plateaus separated by Toledo, which corresponds to the divide between the two rivers: the Tagus River to the north and the Guadiana River to the south. This sub-plateau is inclined toward the Atlantic.
Units Related to the Plateau
- Ancient Paleozoic base reaching the sea: León, Zamora, and Extremadura.
- Sedimentary basins with sedimentary rock materials.
- Interior plateau ranges formed during
Water, Landfills, and Environmental Impacts: Resource Analysis
Water Resources and Availability
Water resources are not fully exploitable in a watershed. Some rainwater flows to the sea or is lost through evaporation or infiltration into hard-to-reach aquifers. Total water resources are the volume of water a basin receives annually. Available water resources are the amount that can be used for industrial, agricultural, etc. purposes.
The relationship between total and available water varies by basin, mainly due to weather. Northern basins generally have more
Read MoreWater Uses, Planning, and Conservation Strategies
Water Uses
Consumptive Uses
- Industry: Raw material for chemical synthesis, refrigeration, steel production, waste transport, cleaning, and steam generation for electricity.
Non-Consumptive Uses
- Energy: Hydroelectric power generation.
- Recreation: Sports and leisure in rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and the sea. Includes primary contact (baths, spas) and secondary contact (landscape, navigation).
- Ecological and Environmental: Wetlands and lagoons as habitats for plants and animals, havens for migrating birds,
Earth’s Processes and Energy Resources: An In-Depth Look
Environmental Geology
1. Definitions:
a) Resource Reservation: Not specifically defined in the provided text. It likely refers to the practice of setting aside resources for future use or preservation.
b) Mineral Deposit: A set of separate minerals and concentrates, which consists of *mena* (ore) and gangue.
c) Non-renewable Energy: This is energy with renewability that far exceeds the period of our species on the planet.
d) Mena (Ore): The part of the deposit which is considered exploitable.
e) Lithospheric
Read MoreSurface Drainage and Road Infrastructure: Design and Maintenance
Surface Drainage and Road Infrastructure
Surface drainage is crucial for preventing flooding, platform deterioration, pavement deterioration, and ensuring traffic safety and protection. Surface drainage involves three key stages:
- Collection: Gathering rain or snowmelt from the platform and its margins using gutters, scuppers, and catch basins.
- Evacuation: Transporting collected water through a network of pipes, culverts, and ditches to natural waterways or sewage systems.
- Restitution: Restoring the
Spain’s Biogeographic Regions: Vegetation, Soil & Landscapes
Biogeographic Regions of Spain
Vegetation
Floral vegetation is the set of plant species in an area. On Earth, there are great floristic sets, called floral kingdoms, which are subdivided into regions. The Iberian Peninsula is part of the Holarctic kingdom, comprising the mainland north of the Tropic of Cancer, and has three major regions: the boreal region, the alpine floral Euro-Siberian region, and the Mediterranean region. The Macaronesian region is also represented in the Canary Islands.