butler
TRANSCRIPT
Oregon’s Place in Water World
Oregon’s Place in Water World
Bob ButlerEnvironmental
SciencesUniversity of Portland
Bob ButlerEnvironmental
SciencesUniversity of Portland
H2O molecular structure H2O molecular structure
Two hydrogen (H) and
one oxygen (O) atoms
bonded by sharing
electrons.
Both H atoms on same
side of O atom.
A polar molecule:
O side has - chargeH2 side has + charge
Two hydrogen (H) and
one oxygen (O) atoms
bonded by sharing
electrons.
Both H atoms on same
side of O atom.
A polar molecule:
O side has - chargeH2 side has + charge
Water Is Weird and Wonderful
Good news:
Can carry
nutrients in
solution.
Bad news:
Carries pollutants
in solution.
Water Is a Strong SolventWater Is a Strong Solvent
Fresh water is only 2.5% of Earth’s water.Fresh water = 2/3 ice + ~1/3 groundwaterOnly 0.3 % of freshwater in lakes and rivers!
Fresh water is only 2.5% of Earth’s water.Fresh water = 2/3 ice + ~1/3 groundwaterOnly 0.3 % of freshwater in lakes and rivers!
Where Is the Water?Where Is the Water?
Pleistocene Ice SheetsPleistocene Ice Sheets
20,000 years ago, Canada was under a mile of ice.
Pacific Northwest was at the southern edge of the ice sheet.
20,000 years ago, Canada was under a mile of ice.
Pacific Northwest was at the southern edge of the ice sheet.
20,000 years ago, sea level was at ice-age coastline.If all ice melts, Memphis has beachfront properties.
20,000 years ago, sea level was at ice-age coastline.If all ice melts, Memphis has beachfront properties.
Glacial and Interglacial Coastlines
Glacial and Interglacial Coastlines
Sea level rose 20 cm during the last century.AT LEAST another 30 cm sea level rise by 2100 from warming ocean.The wild card is melting of ice sheets. (e.g. Melting all Greenland ice would raise sea level about 7 meters.)It would be wise to plan for 2 meters of sea level rise by 2100.Effects: (1) Rising sea level increases coastal erosion. (2) Lower Columbia and Willamette Rivers will also rise with sea level.
Glacial-Interglacial Changes in Sea Level Glacial-Interglacial Changes in Sea Level
The Coastal EnvironmentThe Coastal Environment
A beach is a river of sand.
You don’t own the sand on your beach. You just rent it.
A beach is a river of sand.
You don’t own the sand on your beach. You just rent it.
Input of sediment from rivers and coastal erosion.Output to deep ocean through submarine canyons.Dam building has diminished input of sediment by rivers resulting in increased coastal erosion.
Inpu
tInput
Out
put
Jump-Off Joe at Nye Beach, NewportJump-Off Joe at Nye Beach, Newport
1880188019151978
Yearly sea level oscillation is equivalent to rise in
sea level over the past century.Rise in sea level during El Niño years is
equivalent to one-half of sea level rise over the coming century.
Sea Level in Normal & El Niño YearsSea Level in Normal & El Niño Years
Average normal year
1982 - 83 El Niño
October, 1997 April, 1998
Ocean Shores, WA, west of Gray’s Harbor
Ocean Shores, WA, west of Gray’s Harbor
Cape Shoalwater, WA, north of Willapa Bay
Siletz Spit, South of Lincoln CitySiletz Spit, South of Lincoln City
Never buy a house built on sand.
Sand spits are vulnerable to erosion by sea and by river.
Never buy a house built on sand.
Sand spits are vulnerable to erosion by sea and by river.
Pacific Ocean Waves Cause Microseisms Pacific Ocean Waves Cause Microseisms
Solomon Islands M7.2 Earthquake.Low microseismic noise level.Solomon Islands M7.2 Earthquake.Low microseismic noise level.
Pacific Ocean Waves Cause Microseisms Pacific Ocean Waves Cause Microseisms
Haiti M7.0 Earthquake.High microseismic noise level.Haiti M7.0 Earthquake.High microseismic noise level.
Wave Energy in Pacific OceanWave Energy in Pacific Ocean
Explanation
Explanation
Increasing wave
energy
Before After
Some areas dropped 2 – 3 meters during the M9.2 Sumatra – Andaman Islands earthquake of December 26, 2004.
This also happened along the Washington - Oregon coast during the 1700 AD great Cascadia earthquake.
Will the next Cascadia great earthquake be the Hurricane Katrina for the Pacific Northwest?
Before After
Some areas dropped 2 – 3 meters during the M9.2 Sumatra – Andaman Islands earthquake of December 26, 2004.
This also happened along the Washington - Oregon coast during the 1700 AD great Cascadia earthquake.
Will the next Cascadia great earthquake be the Hurricane Katrina for the Pacific Northwest?
Banda Aceh, Sumatra Satellite Images Indicate Land
Subsidence
Banda Aceh, Sumatra Satellite Images Indicate Land
Subsidence
Glacial Lake Missoula FloodsGlacial Lake Missoula Floods
Humongous floods (12,000 to 16,000 years ago) imported rich glacial sediment to the Willamette Valley and Portland Basin.
Humongous floods (12,000 to 16,000 years ago) imported rich glacial sediment to the Willamette Valley and Portland Basin.
Video:Oregon Field Guide
Glacial Lake Missoula (Humongous) Floods
Thanks to Jon Kin, OPB
Video:Oregon Field Guide
Glacial Lake Missoula (Humongous) Floods
Thanks to Jon Kin, OPB
From Jim O’Connor, USGS
Missoula Floods SedimentsMissoula Floods Sediments
High porosity and permeability = Very good aquifer.High porosity and permeability = Very good aquifer.
From Jim O’Connor, USGS
Portland Basin Glacial and Fluvial SedimentPortland Basin Glacial and Fluvial Sediment
Missoula Floods Sediment
Troutdale Gravels
From Dave Morgan, USGS
Formula for Pacific Northwest regional flood: SNOW + PINEAPPLE = FLOOD.
Pacific Northwest Regional Floods
Pacific Northwest Regional Floods
February 5-9, 1996:Above average Cascade snowpack.Subtropical humid air mass brought record rainfalls (28” at Laurel Mountain in Coast Range).High freezing level caused massive snow melt.
February 5-9, 1996:Above average Cascade snowpack.Subtropical humid air mass brought record rainfalls (28” at Laurel Mountain in Coast Range).High freezing level caused massive snow melt.
recordrecord
record
recordrecord
1996 Flooding Along Willamette River1996 Flooding Along Willamette River
The Willamette Flowing over Highway 34 east of Corvallis.Widespread flooding in Willamette Valley.OMSI building (on Water Avenue!) on waterfront flooded.Downtown Portland narrowly escaped flooding.
The Willamette Flowing over Highway 34 east of Corvallis.Widespread flooding in Willamette Valley.OMSI building (on Water Avenue!) on waterfront flooded.Downtown Portland narrowly escaped flooding.
“Local” Floods From Brief But Intense Storms
e.g. November 2006 & December 2007
“Local” Floods From Brief But Intense Storms
e.g. November 2006 & December 2007
Hwy 35 Mt Hood to Hood River
December 2007 HydrographsDecember 2007 Hydrographs
Vernonia
Newberg
Normal = 200 cfs
Peak = 13,000 cfs 65 timesnormal flow!!
Normal = 30,000 cfs
Peak = 110,000 cfs 3.7 times normal flow.
December 2007 Hydrographs
Chehalis River December 2007Chehalis River December 2007
I-5 closed for several days.
Water ResourcesWater Resources
Abundant precipitation in Pacific Northwest.Abundant precipitation in Pacific Northwest.
Variations in PrecipitationVariations in Precipitation
Monthly precipitation varies by factor of 8.Monthly precipitation varies by factor of 8.
Variations in DemandVariations in Demand
Demand varies by factor of two and is out of phase with precipitation. Watershed management is critical.
M G D
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Watershed Inputs and OutputsWatershed Inputs and Outputs
Surface water and groundwater are one resource.Surface water and groundwater are one resource.
Careful planning in late 1800s.Impressive engineering (gravity-fed system).Columbia South Shore Well Field:
Groundwater backup and summer supplement.
Portland’s Water SystemPortland’s Water System
Explanation
Explanation
Groundwater – Surface WaterGroundwater – Surface Water
CSSWF can pull water out of the Columbia River. CSSWF can pull water out of the Columbia River.
Regional Water Supply ChallengesRegional Water Supply Challenges
Longer and warmer dry periods.Longer and warmer dry periods.
Temperaturechange
1920 - 2000
Decreasing SnowpackDecreasing Snowpack
April 1 snow water equivalent (1950 – 2000)
Observations on Water and JusticeMany cultures struggling with water resource
issues.
Peace Corps workers involved in construction of
village water supply systems (Bolivia, Nepal,
Ethiopia).
Observations on Water and JusticeMany cultures struggling with water resource
issues.
Peace Corps workers involved in construction of
village water supply systems (Bolivia, Nepal,
Ethiopia).
Bob’s field locations.
Afar of EthiopiaAfar of Ethiopia
Explanation
Explanation
Observations on Water and Justice.Tribal war over dwindling water supply.
“We are water – the oceans flow through our veins, and our cells are inflated by water, our metabolic reactions mediated in aqueous solutions …… As air is a sacred gas, so is water a sacred liquid that links us to all the oceans of the world and ties us back in time to the very birthplace of all life … It is the tide of life itself, the sacred source.” David Suzuki in The Sacred Balance
“We are water – the oceans flow through our veins, and our cells are inflated by water, our metabolic reactions mediated in aqueous solutions …… As air is a sacred gas, so is water a sacred liquid that links us to all the oceans of the world and ties us back in time to the very birthplace of all life … It is the tide of life itself, the sacred source.” David Suzuki in The Sacred Balance
Confluences: Water and JusticeConfluences: Water and Justice