Dams, hydroelectricity, and the effect apon the ecosystems Term Paper

Dams, hydroelectricity, and the effect apon the ecosystems - Term Paper ExampleHowever, the idea of constructing more dams in various places has been welcomed with broad opposition. Many economic and social arguments direct been raised against the construction of dam, but the most profound event that has overshadowed all other arguments is the major ecological effects that large dams piddle on the ecosystem. Considering hydroelectricity, hydropower is actually a renewable energy since it depends on the body of water cycle on earth for the generation of electricity. The cycle of water begins when the water evaporates to form clouds which in turn condenses and precipitates back to the earth and gets back to the water reservoirs. Despite the situation that hydropower pose no effects on the quality of air, the process of constructing and operating large hydropower dams can have significant impact on natural ecosystem such as river systems wildlife and aquatic life population. The a ssessment of how hydropower affects the purlieu can be effectively done by reviewing different cases. This paper aims at discussing the effects that hydroelectricity and dams have upon the ecosystem. Effects of Dams upon the Ecosystem Dams have significant effects on both the downstream and upstream ecosystems. Dams comprise hindrances on rivers longitudinal exchange and they alter numerous processes in the natural environment. Flooding of dams in the upstream brings around total damage to the unremarkable ecosystems via a process known as inundation. Flooding eliminates all terrestrial animals and plants inhabiting the affected areas. Water reservoirs inhibit or so aquatic species from migrating by obstructing their pathways1. On the downstream, there are explicit changes in sediment transport, water quality and temperature, and flow government. These particular changes occur gradually and they are non easy to predict. The very common effect of large dams downstream is the drop-off of annual water off this lead to an increase in low flows and a decrease in high flows. Flood peaks reduction decreases the period, degree and frequency of floodplain outpouring. A decrease in the channel-formation shrinks the chances of channel migration. Transportation of sediment in the reservoir brings about complex alterations in aggregation and deprivation on the dams surface. Regulation alters the chronological inundate prototype, an effect that desynchronizes temperature systems and yearly water flow. These particular alterations have a direct influence on some dynamic factors affecting the heterogeneity of habitats and the integrity of the river ecosystem ecology. Changes in water quality, water to land interface, and thermal regime have direct impact in primary production, which translates to long term effects on aquatic life and other members in the upper food chain. Dams whitethorn also bring about alterations in the ecosystem even at a distance far from the d am2. For instance, any alteration on the transportation of sediments may result in changes in floodplains, coastal delta and river morphology numerous of miles from the dam site. The river ecosystem responds to dams in several, complex, and diverse ways. Subsequently, era endeavouring to establish the impacts of dams on the ecosystem there is need for large bank of information relating to riparian vegetation and link up fauna quality of water rivers hydraulic features geomorphologic features aquatic animals and their environment importance of river