Water+Issues

8.4 Water Issues

**Contextual Outline**

Planet Earth has been called ‘Planet Ocean’, ‘Planet Water’ or the ‘Blue Planet’, because of the abundant water on its surface. Liquid water, which is taken for granted on Earth, is a rare commodity in the cosmos. Abundant liquid water can only be found on a planet of the right mass and chemical composition and the right distance from its sun//.//Surface and groundwaters on Earth can range from essentially pure to highly saline//.// These different waters are found in different geological environments. It has taken over four thousand million years to form our current interacting subsystems comprising the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere that together form the biome of planet Earth. As water moves between these spheres it acts as an agent of change and transportation.Water is important in maintaining Australian environments. The protection of water quality against the potential effects of contamination is important in guarding the integrity of those environments.This module increases students’ understanding of the applications and uses and the implications for society and the environment of Earth and Environmental Science.

=Water Issues Unit Planner= **Assumed Knowledge** //Domain: knowledge and understanding// Refer to the //Science Years 7–10 Syllabus// for the following: 5.9.4f)explain some impacts of natural events including cyclones, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes on the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and/or biosphere 5.10a)distinguish between biotic and abiotic features of the local environment 5.10c)describe some impacts of human activities on ecosystems 5.11.2a)relate pollution to contamination by unwanted substances.


 * __Resources __**

NSW Government: Office of Water Sydney Water