Understanding Eutrophication, Aquifers, and Groundwater Contamination
Eutrophication of Surface Water
Eutrophication occurs when a river, lake, or reservoir becomes enriched with nutrients. This can be a natural process or caused by human activities (anthropogenic). An excess of nutrients leads to abundant plant growth, which, upon dying and decaying, reduces water quality. This decomposition process consumes large amounts of oxygen, making the water unsuitable for most living organisms and severely damaging the ecosystem.
Natural Water Purification: Water has a capacity
Read MoreWaste Management: Types, Technologies, and Best Practices
Waste Management: A Comprehensive Overview
Technological advancements have driven economic development and improved social well-being. However, these advancements have also led to increased pollution, originating from economic, technological, and social factors. Key pollution types include water, air, noise, and waste.
Plasma Technology for Waste Disintegration
Plasma technology offers an industrial and scientifically controlled method for disintegrating non-recyclable waste by breaking down its molecular
Read MoreChile’s Geomorphology and Natural Hazards
Regional Geomorphology of Chile
Chile’s regional geomorphology can be broadly categorized into five main units:
- Andes Mountains
- Precordillera (Foothills)
- Intermediate Depression
- Cordillera de la Costa (Coastal Range)
- Coastal Plains
- Andes Mountains:
- Average height generally does not exceed 2000 meters.
- Some volcanic peaks reach 3000 meters, including Chillán and Antuco volcanoes.
- Characterized by bulky and plateau-like forms, with some acute or prominent low-profile features.
- Features valleys formed by the
Almohad Mosque of Seville: History & Architecture
Almohad Mosque of Seville: A 12th-Century Legacy
This mosque replaced an earlier one from the Caliphate period (9th century), located at the site of the present Church of the Savior. Little remains of the original structure, as it was destroyed in the 15th century to make way for a Gothic cathedral. The current riwaqs (porticos) corresponding to the orange trees are remnants of the earlier mosque.
Construction Phases and Architects
Construction of the Almohad Mosque began between 1172 and 1176 under
Read MoreUnderstanding Weathering, Diagenesis, and Sedimentary Rocks
Weathering: Alteration of Surface Rocks
Weathering is the alteration of surface rocks in contact with air and water.
Physics of Weathering
The physical aspect of weathering involves the disintegration or division of rocks into fragments without modifying their chemical and mineralogical composition. Living organisms also play a role.
Gelifraction (Freeze-Thaw)
Gelifraction occurs when water penetrates cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, increasing its volume and causing fractures.
Haloclastia (Salt
Read MoreArgentina’s River Systems: A Comprehensive Look
Argentina’s River Systems
Types of River Systems
Argentina has three main types of river systems:
- Exoreic: Rivers flow into the ocean through a main collector.
- Endorheic: Rivers flow into inland lakes or lagoons.
- Arreic: Water is lost through evaporation or seepage.
Rivers Flowing to the Atlantic
The rivers flowing to the Atlantic Ocean are extensive and form the most important basin, the Plata Basin. Its principal collectors are the Paraná, Uruguay, and Paraguay rivers, which converge to form the Río
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