How does urbanization affect water resources?
1 Answer
Oct 31, 2016
Urban areas minimize infiltration into ground, maximize runoff
Explanation:
Urban areas (since mostly paved, asphalted) mimimize precipitation entering into the ground. In many cases, urban areas have low (percentage) green open lots. Therefore infiltration into the ground is minimize by this. Urban areas create their own microclimates, with notable differences in ambient air temperature, precipitation and wind flows. Urban surface runoff is increased due to paved areas and asphalt or concrete roads. However, runoff (in urban areas) are pretty polluted due to traffic, industry and other (such as dust and garbage) factors.
Due to urban heat island, evaporation and evapotranspiration increase in terms of their amount.
