Question

How can the actions of people affect runoff and absorption in a positive way? How do they affect them in a negative way?

Answer 1

Runoff occurs when there is more water than land can absorbs

Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Physical Geography
PHOTOGRAPH

Runoff Ice
A trickle of water streams from a glacier in Svalbard, Norway. Runoff from glaciers is increasing as climate change heats the planet. The increasing amount of fresh water in the ocean is causing drastic changes in the saltwater habitats.

PHOTOGRAPH BY NENET SCHMID, MYSHOT

Runoff Ice
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Morgan Stanley





ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRYVOCABULARY
Runoff occurs when there is more water than land can absorb. The excess liquid flows across the surface of the land and into nearby creeks, streams, or ponds. Runoff can come from both natural processes and human activity.

The most familiar type of natural runoff is snowmelt. Mountains that cannot absorb water from heavy snowfalls produce runoff that turns into streams, rivers, and lakes. Glaciers, snow, and rain all contribute to this natural runoff.

Runoff also occurs naturally as soil is eroded and carried to various bodies of water. Even toxic chemicals enter waterways through natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions. Toxic gases released by volcanoes eventually return to the water or soil as precipitation.

Runoff from human activity comes from two places: point sources and nonpoint sources. Point source pollution is any source that empties directly into a waterway. This might include a pipe from specific sewage treatment plant, factory, or even a home. Regulations determine what type of runoff, and how much, industries are allowed to release. These regulations vary by region, state, and nation.

Nonpoint source pollution is any source where runoff does not go directly into a waterway. Nonpoint sources of runoff can be large urban, suburban, or rural areas. In these areas, rainwater and irrigation wash chemicals into local streams. Runoff from nonpoint sources includes lawn fertilizer, car exhaust, and even spilled gasoline from a car. Farms are a huge nonpoint source of runoff, as rainwater and irrigation drain fertilizers and pesticides into bodies of water.

Impervious surfaces, or surfaces that can't absorb water, increase runoff. Roads, sidewalks, and parking lots are impervious surfaces. Materials as diverse as car-washing soaps, litter, and spilled gas from a gas station all become runoff.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

Positively:

Runoff pollution can be limited by people in many ways.

If farmers and gardeners reduce the amount of fertilizes they use,

If urban areas reduce the impervious surface as soil is a natural sponge which can absorb many harmful chemicals.

Negatively:

The population increases day by day and more urbanization occurs therefore, more of the natural land is replaced by impervious surface such as roads, buildings, park, shopping malls, parking lots etc. As it covers the soil so the absorption of chemicals and filtration reduces due to which streams and ditches form.