Excreta Disposal and Wastewater Treatment: A Comprehensive Guide
Excreta Disposal and Wastewater
Indicators of Civilization
The level of civilization of a community can be measured by different indicators, one of which is the quantity and quality of sewage collection systems.
Satisfactory sewage removal involves:
- An annual volume of half a ton per person.
- Treatment for transporting waste harmlessly or at least to avoid ingestion or food contamination.
- Household facilities and sewage disposal systems that meet established technical requirements.
Excreta Disposal Systems
Urban
Sewage
This
Read MoreGlossary of Geography and Environmental Terms
Vocabulary
A
Aquaculture
The farming of aquatic plant and animal species, marine or freshwater. Spain excels in raising trout in freshwater and mussels, clams, and other species in seawater.
Aquifer
An underground water reservoir that forms when rainwater infiltrates, encounters a waterproof layer, and accumulates on it. In Spain, aquifers are common in sedimentary basins of the Meseta Central.
Alluvial Deposits
Deposits left by flowing water (boulders, sand, etc.) when the water flow is not strong enough
Read MoreClimate and Geography of Spain: A Comprehensive Overview
Geography of Spain
Latitude and Climate Zones
Spain’s location in the Northern Hemisphere’s temperate zone influences its climate, resulting in diverse weather patterns. The Canary Islands, closer to the intertropical zone, experience less contrast. The peninsula’s position between two large bodies of water and two continents makes it a crossroads of varied air masses.
Influence of the Sea and Relief
The sea’s influence on the peninsula is limited due to its narrowness, indented coastline, and mountain
Read MoreEarth’s Interior: Structure, Composition, and Processes
Earth’s Interior
Characteristics
Density, Internal Heat, and Magnetism
Density increases with depth, as does internal heat. Terrestrial magnetism is also a key characteristic.
Structure and Chemical Composition
The Earth’s structure consists of concentric layers:
- Crust: The outermost layer.
- Mohorovičić Discontinuity: Boundary between crust and mantle.
- Mantle: Extends to the Gutenberg discontinuity.
- Gutenberg Discontinuity: Boundary between mantle and core.
- Core: Composed of an outer liquid layer and an
Plate Tectonics: A Comprehensive Guide
Plate Tectonics
The Dorsal and Oceanic Crust
The dorsal is an undersea rise, 2 to 3 km above the abyssal plain, periodically interrupted by transform faults. It features a central groove called a rift. All rocks on the ocean floor are younger than 185 million years old. The Earth is 4.5 billion years old and continents started developing around 3.8 billion years ago.
Three important data highlights about the dorsal:
- Rocks Present: Basalts younger than a million years old are present.
- Aging Oceanic Crust:
Water in Nature: Oceans, Rivers, and the Water Cycle
Water in Nature
Saltwater: Oceans and Seas
Most of the planet’s water (97.21%) is saltwater found in seas and oceans.
- An ocean is a vast body of water separating continents. The major oceans are the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Together, they form the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. The Pacific and North Atlantic connect to form the Arctic Ocean.
- Seas are extensions of the oceans closer to continents, like the Cantabrian Sea or the Caribbean Sea, which are part of the Atlantic Ocean.