Environment
Plate Tectonics:
The country of Italy is not just located on one tectonic plate. Parts of Italy are on the Eurasian Plate, the African Plate, and the eastern Italian peninsula is located on Adriatic Plate. Both the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate are subducting underneath the Adriatic Plate. This subduction has affected the country and created the formation of volcanoes in southern Italy. Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano on mainland Europe and has created some of Europe's largest volcanic eruptions. It is located outside the Italian city of Naples and is still a major source of danger for the people living there. Mount Vesuvius last erupted in 1944, but was responsible for the volcanic eruption that destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii. This volcano was formed between the convergence of the African and Eurasian plates, and the subduction zone between the two stretches the length of the Italian peninsula and has created other volcanoes such as Mount Etna and Mount Stromboli. (www.geology.com) Plate Tectonics have also created frequent earthquakes throughout Italy, which are caused by the convergence of the plates. Plate Tectonics also has had an effect on the climate of Italy, because they change ocean currents which in turn affects the climate. (www.brighthub.com)
The country of Italy is not just located on one tectonic plate. Parts of Italy are on the Eurasian Plate, the African Plate, and the eastern Italian peninsula is located on Adriatic Plate. Both the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate are subducting underneath the Adriatic Plate. This subduction has affected the country and created the formation of volcanoes in southern Italy. Mount Vesuvius is the only active volcano on mainland Europe and has created some of Europe's largest volcanic eruptions. It is located outside the Italian city of Naples and is still a major source of danger for the people living there. Mount Vesuvius last erupted in 1944, but was responsible for the volcanic eruption that destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii. This volcano was formed between the convergence of the African and Eurasian plates, and the subduction zone between the two stretches the length of the Italian peninsula and has created other volcanoes such as Mount Etna and Mount Stromboli. (www.geology.com) Plate Tectonics have also created frequent earthquakes throughout Italy, which are caused by the convergence of the plates. Plate Tectonics also has had an effect on the climate of Italy, because they change ocean currents which in turn affects the climate. (www.brighthub.com)
Water Cycle:
The are multiple different water resources in Italy. Italy has multiple different rivers, but the two largest rivers are the Po River and the Adige River. These rivers flow though many of Italy's major cities. (www.lifeinitaly.com) Also in Italy are fiver major lakes. These lakes are the Como, the Maggiore, the Lugano, the Iseo, and Garda. (www.insightguides.com) These water sources are important because they provide water to the people, are a good way of transportation, and they are large tourist destinations. Italy also borders with the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. In Italy, close to 100% of the population has access to water. The water of Italy is publicly owned after water privatization was fought against by the citizens. The climate has affected the water of Italy. The recent climate changes have created issues such as desertification, and droughts and a higher demand of water. (www.climateadaption.eu)
The people of Italy have affected the water sources in a couple of ways. First, they are using more of the water resources than can be replenished so the availability of clean water is decreasing. Also because of the major industrial waste in Italy the rivers and lakes have become polluted.
In Italy there are a couple of water projects that are currently happening. First, they have waste management projects to try and limit the amount of waste released into the water. They also have water management projects to try and control the amounts of water used. The last major water project in Italy is try and protect the city of Venice which is in the water, and is called The MOSE Project. Venice is at risk due to the rise in sea level and the subduction of the city under the Adriatic Plate. They are building three inlets to separate the city from the sea and to try any keep the city from flooding. They started construction in 2003 and said to finish by 2014 or 2015. (www.water-technology.net)
Climate:
The climate throughout Italy varies depending on the location and elevation. Italy is in the temperate mediterranean climate zone, so it has dry, hot summers and cool, wet winters. (www.weatheronline.co.uk) In the far north, the temperature strays from the Mediterranean climate and becomes an Alpine climate due to the higher elevation. During the winter in the northern region, temperatures can be below freezing, and during the summer, spring, and fall, thunderstorms and rainfall are frequent. In central Italy, the climate is mild and the difference between summer and winter temperatures are small. The coastal regions of Italy have the dry, hot summers and the mild winters. The far southern areas of Italy, such as the peninsula, Sardinia, and Sicily have the hottest climate and have the longest summer seasons. This southern area has long amounts of sunshine throughout the day and has the least amount of rainfall.(www.understandingitaly.com)
The climate of Italy has an impact on the environment and the type of ecosystem, which in turn has affected the people. Italy is in the chaparral biome (mediterranean forest biome) and has grasslands and scrubland. In this ecosystem there is a large variety of plants and animals. (www.wildclassroom.com) The northern part of Italy is colder and in turn has a different types of vegetation, for example, it has coniferous trees. The people of Italy have adapted to the climate by the different types of clothing they wear and the types of buildings built. The climate and the chaparral ecosystem create problems such as fires, erosion, and storm runoff. (www.eHow.com)
The climate throughout Italy varies depending on the location and elevation. Italy is in the temperate mediterranean climate zone, so it has dry, hot summers and cool, wet winters. (www.weatheronline.co.uk) In the far north, the temperature strays from the Mediterranean climate and becomes an Alpine climate due to the higher elevation. During the winter in the northern region, temperatures can be below freezing, and during the summer, spring, and fall, thunderstorms and rainfall are frequent. In central Italy, the climate is mild and the difference between summer and winter temperatures are small. The coastal regions of Italy have the dry, hot summers and the mild winters. The far southern areas of Italy, such as the peninsula, Sardinia, and Sicily have the hottest climate and have the longest summer seasons. This southern area has long amounts of sunshine throughout the day and has the least amount of rainfall.(www.understandingitaly.com)
The climate of Italy has an impact on the environment and the type of ecosystem, which in turn has affected the people. Italy is in the chaparral biome (mediterranean forest biome) and has grasslands and scrubland. In this ecosystem there is a large variety of plants and animals. (www.wildclassroom.com) The northern part of Italy is colder and in turn has a different types of vegetation, for example, it has coniferous trees. The people of Italy have adapted to the climate by the different types of clothing they wear and the types of buildings built. The climate and the chaparral ecosystem create problems such as fires, erosion, and storm runoff. (www.eHow.com)
Natural Resources:
Italy has few natural resources and much of the land throughout the country is unsuitable for agriculture because of the mountains and the unfavorable climate. Italy's natural resources include: coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, and arable land. Italy's source of coal is small so most of the coal used for energy has to be imported. Many of these mineral deposits are found on the southern islands of Sardinia and Sicily, but the amount is small because they have been majorly depleted over time. The resources that Italy has larger amounts of are the marble and the fish. Along Italy's coast there many types of fish such as sardines, anchovies, and tuna. (www.countriesquest.com) The crops they are able to grow in Italy, mainly the south, are wheat, tobacco, olives, tomatoes, and grapes used for the cultivation of wine. In the north, the amount of agriculture is even smaller because of the colder climate. The north is known for pig and cattle breeding. (www.zainoo.com)
Italy has 1/5 of the world's feldspar reserves making it the largest feldspar producer. Italy has a large amount of natural gas located in the Po Valley, but the nation consumes more natural gas than it produces so it also has to import natural gas. Most of the natural resources found in the country, Italy trades with other countries. Overall, Italy imports more than 80% of its needed energy reserves and materials for manufacturing. (www.eHow.com)
Italy has few natural resources and much of the land throughout the country is unsuitable for agriculture because of the mountains and the unfavorable climate. Italy's natural resources include: coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, and arable land. Italy's source of coal is small so most of the coal used for energy has to be imported. Many of these mineral deposits are found on the southern islands of Sardinia and Sicily, but the amount is small because they have been majorly depleted over time. The resources that Italy has larger amounts of are the marble and the fish. Along Italy's coast there many types of fish such as sardines, anchovies, and tuna. (www.countriesquest.com) The crops they are able to grow in Italy, mainly the south, are wheat, tobacco, olives, tomatoes, and grapes used for the cultivation of wine. In the north, the amount of agriculture is even smaller because of the colder climate. The north is known for pig and cattle breeding. (www.zainoo.com)
Italy has 1/5 of the world's feldspar reserves making it the largest feldspar producer. Italy has a large amount of natural gas located in the Po Valley, but the nation consumes more natural gas than it produces so it also has to import natural gas. Most of the natural resources found in the country, Italy trades with other countries. Overall, Italy imports more than 80% of its needed energy reserves and materials for manufacturing. (www.eHow.com)
Environmental Issues and Solutions:
Italy has a couple of different environmental issues. There is air pollution throughout the country from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide, and Italy also has pollution in its inland and coastal rivers from agricultural and industrial waste. (www.cia.gov)
Italy has passed laws and formed organizations and companies to try and limit pollution. An example of this is the National Waste Observatory that was created by the Ministry for the Environment to help the limit the amount of waste. (www.europa.eu)
Water Security Letter:
Environment Concept Map:
Works Cited:
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"How Does the Movement of Plate Tectonics Affect Climate Change?"Bright Hub. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/74098.aspx>.
"Top 10 Rivers of Italy." Top 10 Rivers of Italy. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tours/top-10-rivers>.
"The Italian Lakes Travel Guide." The Italian Lakes Travel Guide. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.insightguides.com/destinations/europe/italy/the-lakes/overview>.
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"MOSE Project: Venice, Italy." MOSE Project. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.water-technology.net/projects/mose-project/>.
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"Chaparral (Mediterranean) Biome." Chaparral (Mediterranean) Biome. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/chaparral.html>.
Collins, Pete. "Environmental Problems in the Chaparral Biomes." EHow. Demand Media, 17 Nov. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ehow.com/list_7516571_environmental-problems-chaparral-biomes.html>.
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"Economy in Italy." Economy Italy. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.zainoo.com/en/italy/economy>.
Redsteer, Andrine. "List of Italy's Natural Resources." EHow. Demand Media, 8 Dec. 2010. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ehow.com/list_7619561_list-italys-natural-resources.html>.
"Europe: Italy." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 21 Nov. 11 2014. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/it.html>.
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"Mount Vesuvius - Italy." Mount Vesuvius, Italy: Map, Facts, Eruption Pictures, Pompeii. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://geology.com/volcanoes/vesuvius/>.
"How Does the Movement of Plate Tectonics Affect Climate Change?"Bright Hub. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/74098.aspx>.
"Top 10 Rivers of Italy." Top 10 Rivers of Italy. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tours/top-10-rivers>.
"The Italian Lakes Travel Guide." The Italian Lakes Travel Guide. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.insightguides.com/destinations/europe/italy/the-lakes/overview>.
"Fresh Water Resources Italy." Fresh Water Resources. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.climateadaptation.eu/italy/fresh-water-resources/>
"MOSE Project: Venice, Italy." MOSE Project. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.water-technology.net/projects/mose-project/>.
"Italy." Climate of the World. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/climate/Italy.htm>.
"The Climate of Italy." Understanding Italy. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.understandingitaly.com/profile-content/climate.html>.
"Chaparral (Mediterranean) Biome." Chaparral (Mediterranean) Biome. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/chaparral.html>.
Collins, Pete. "Environmental Problems in the Chaparral Biomes." EHow. Demand Media, 17 Nov. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ehow.com/list_7516571_environmental-problems-chaparral-biomes.html>.
"Land and Resources, Natural Resources of Italy." Natural Resources. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.countriesquest.com/europe/italy/land_and_resources/natural_resources.htm>.
"Economy in Italy." Economy Italy. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.zainoo.com/en/italy/economy>.
Redsteer, Andrine. "List of Italy's Natural Resources." EHow. Demand Media, 8 Dec. 2010. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ehow.com/list_7619561_list-italys-natural-resources.html>.
"Europe: Italy." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 21 Nov. 11 2014. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/it.html>.
"Italy Environment Rules." EUROPA. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://europa.eu/youreurope/business/product/chemicals-packaging-labelling-classification/index_en.htm#italy_en_keeping-to-environmental-rules>.