The Desert Sun documentary Pumped Dry: The Global Crisis of Vanishing Groundwater. The documentary explores the causes and impacts of groundwater depletion around the world. It is about 1 hour long. A link to it is provided once you enter the assignment. You may start and save the assignment to come back to at a later time, just be sure to submit it before the due date. This assignment is worth 10 extra credit points.

Instructions

Go to
to watch a video about groundwater depletion around the globe and answer the following questions. I recommend opening the video and assignment in separate browsers so you can pause the video and answer questions as you proceed through it.

1. Explain how scientists are able to observe groundwater depletion around the world without being in those locations to take measurements from wells?

2. Growing rice requires a lot of water. Why do farmers in Punjab continue to grow it if the region is suffering from groundwater depletion? If you were in the farmer’s shoes, would you grow rice or another crop? Explain.

3. Groundwater currently is not regulated in India. Do you think regulating the use of this resource would make a difference with regards to availability of groundwater? If so, in what ways? How would you propose doing this?

4. The Ogallala aquifer is the largest aquifer in the Western Hemisphere. Does it surprise you that even this groundwater source is being significantly depleted? What are the reasons for this?

5. What are some of the potential impacts as the Ogallala aquifer starts to run out (think at both small and large scales).

6. How has Morocco tried to address the issue of groundwater depletion? Do you think this solves the problem or does more need to be done? Explain.

7. Discuss how the water problem in Peru is tied to socio-economic issues.

8. Land subsidence has been occurring in California. What is land subsidence and how is this related to groundwater usage? What are some issues tied to this?

9. Discuss how the groundwater shortage is an example of the tragedy of the commons

10. At the end of the video several possible ways to address groundwater depletion were mentioned. It will take an integrative approach utilizing a number of solutions. Which two do you think would be the most important to implement? Explain.

Go to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D35YnZ7_WxM to watch a video about plastics in the ocean and answer the following questions. I recommend opening the video and assignment in separate browsers so you can pause the video and answer questions as you proceed through it.

Watching the video is part of this assignment. Do not try to just look up answers on the internet. Any assignment containing an answer from the internet will receive zero points. Watch the video and use what you learn to answer the questions.

1. Reflect on how much you utilize single-use plastic items. What could you reduce or eliminate your use of? How? Would this be fairly difficult for you or do you think this would be a manageable change to your lifestyle?

2. How have the fishermen in India been impacted by plastic pollution?

3. What are microplastics and how are they formed? Why are they a problem?

4. Describe at least two ways in which wildlife is impacted by plastics in the environment that are shown in the video

5. Reflect on the photos by artist Jeremy Carroll in this video. How do they make you feel and what message to you get from them? Do you think art like this could make a difference? Why or why not?

6. During the interview with Prof Colin Janssen, how many microparticles of plastics did he estimate are consumed by Belgians each year? How does this occur? How do you feel about this?

7. Does the amount of trash on the beach in the village in Scotland surprise you? Where did it come from and how did it get there? Reflect on this. What does this indicate to you about your choices and the waste you produce?

8. Reflect on the beach cleanup in India. What message do you get from this story?

9. Plastic has become engrained as a part of our everyday lives. Although this video has shown some of the detrimental impacts of our use of plastic products, we must acknowledge that they provide a lot of benefits and conveniences to us. Do you think we should eliminate our use of plastics, reduce our use, or continue our typical use? Why? Explain your position.