Question

List three ways we, as humans, have affected the water cycle.

Answer 1

Hint: The water cycle is the continuous flow of water from the earth and its surrounding atmosphere. One can elaborate on human activities which have affected the process of the water cycle and caused many harmful effects on the earth and environment.

Complete step by step answer:
1) First of all we will learn what the water cycle is, the liquid water which is present on the earth's surface evaporates into water vapor due to heat by the sun and it later condenses in the upper layer of the atmosphere to form clouds. The condensed water vapors that are cloud then precipitates back into water droplets in some specific conditions and falls back to earth in the form of rain and snow.
2) So for this process there are many factors that play an important role to initiate and complete the process. Let's see some ways through which humans have affected the water cycle.
i) Deforestation: The increased population of humans leads them to expand the boundaries of their cities which ultimately leads to cutting down the forests and to making new houses and good furniture for their houses. Trees give a cooling effect to the atmosphere as it absorbs the atmospheric carbon dioxide and releases pure oxygen. The rise in the level of carbon dioxide is the reason for global warming in the atmosphere.
ii) Water mining: Dependence on the borewell has been increased extensively in the recent century. More mining of groundwater has led to groundwater depletion and has affected the water cycle.
iii) Use of fossil fuels: Due to revolution in the industrial processes and rich resources of fossil fuels made humans very dependable on the use of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels produces many hazardous gases which lead to an increase in the atmospheric temperature which halts the process of water condensation and rain.


Note:
As humans are the most successful species on earth now they are trying to destroy the natural resources for their needs and to comfort themselves. The effect on the water cycle directly affects human civilization as water is of utmost importance for agriculture and daily human life. We must take care of our environment and earth to survive on planet earth.