Coastal Ecosystems: Characteristics, Resources, Impacts, and Hazards
Coastal Ecosystems
Coastal ecosystems share abiotic elements of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, resulting in a complex and unique environment. Three key coastal ecosystems stand out:
Mangroves
Mangrove forests are characteristic of inter-tropical coastal areas influenced by tides and sheltered from the open ocean, such as estuaries, bays, and lagoons. They thrive in shallow waters with silt and clay sediments. Mangroves play a crucial role in coastal protection against wind and wave erosion,
Read MoreBuilding Regulations: Plot Occupation, Usage, and Height
BUILDING IN THE PLOT
TERMS OF POSITION AND OCCUPATION
Almost always, the freedom of building positioning on a plot is limited by planning regulations. These regulations are based on parameters such as planimetric and altimetric references, the building’s elevation, and its relationship to other buildings.
Planimetric References
- Boundaries: These define the plot’s limits.
- Alignment (Public): A line established by urban planning to separate land for highways or public spaces from private plots. It often
Layers of the Earth: Structure, Composition, and Study Methods
Layers of the Earth
Lithosphere
The lithosphere is the Earth’s rigid outer layer, composed of the crust and uppermost mantle. It extends to a depth of about 100 km in continental areas and 50 km in oceanic areas. There are two types of lithosphere:
- Continental Lithosphere: Made up of the continental crust and upper mantle, reaching a thickness of up to 300 km under mountain ranges.
- Oceanic Lithosphere: Composed of the oceanic crust and upper mantle, with a thickness ranging from less than 20 km in younger
Human Impact on the Earth’s Ecosystems: Pollution and Climate Change
Land as an Ecosystem
Except for energy from the sun, Earth is a closed system with unchanging components. These components continuously readjust in their situation and location, leading to global biogeochemical cycles. Living organisms play a vital role in these cycles, interacting with chemical and geological elements, thereby altering planetary conditions.
Environmental Impact of the Human Population (Anthropocene)
The large human population and the disproportionate growth in resource demand and
Read MoreChilean Industrial Project Development & Economic Outlook (2009-2012)
World Economic Crisis and Chile
The global financial crisis, estimated to have begun in 2007, reached a critical point in March 2009. World economic growth declined, and many powerful economies, including Chile, experienced contractions. While many countries entered recession, Chile, according to economists, had not yet entered one by November 2023.
Global economic recovery was anticipated for the second half of 2009 or early 2010, with a new economic era beginning in 2011. Economic crises are
Read MoreBottled Water Guide: Types, Regulations, and Labeling
Bottled Water
Types of Bottled Water
Natural Mineral Water
Sourced from underground springs and distinguished by their mineral content and purity due to the protected aquifer. Variations based on carbonation include:
- Naturally Carbonated Natural Mineral Water: Contains natural carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Natural Mineral Water Fortified with Gas from the Same Source: CO2 content increased with gas from the same source.
- Natural Mineral Water with Added Carbon Gas: CO2 added from a different source.
- Fully Carbonated