Oregon’s Place in Water World

Oregon’s Place in Water World

Bob ButlerEnvironmental

SciencesUniversity of Portland

Bob ButlerEnvironmental

SciencesUniversity of Portland

H2O molecular structure H2O molecular structure

Two hydrogen (H) and

one oxygen (O) atoms

bonded by sharing

electrons.

Both H atoms on same

side of O atom.

A polar molecule:

O side has - chargeH2 side has + charge

Two hydrogen (H) and

one oxygen (O) atoms

bonded by sharing

electrons.

Both H atoms on same

side of O atom.

A polar molecule:

O side has - chargeH2 side has + charge

Water Is Weird and Wonderful

Good news:

Can carry

nutrients in

solution.

Bad news:

Carries pollutants

in solution.

Water Is a Strong SolventWater Is a Strong Solvent

Fresh water is only 2.5% of Earth’s water.Fresh water = 2/3 ice + ~1/3 groundwaterOnly 0.3 % of freshwater in lakes and rivers!

Fresh water is only 2.5% of Earth’s water.Fresh water = 2/3 ice + ~1/3 groundwaterOnly 0.3 % of freshwater in lakes and rivers!

Where Is the Water?Where Is the Water?

Pleistocene Ice SheetsPleistocene Ice Sheets

20,000 years ago, Canada was under a mile of ice.

Pacific Northwest was at the southern edge of the ice sheet.

20,000 years ago, Canada was under a mile of ice.

Pacific Northwest was at the southern edge of the ice sheet.

20,000 years ago, sea level was at ice-age coastline.If all ice melts, Memphis has beachfront properties.

20,000 years ago, sea level was at ice-age coastline.If all ice melts, Memphis has beachfront properties.

Glacial and Interglacial Coastlines

Glacial and Interglacial Coastlines

Sea level rose 20 cm during the last century.AT LEAST another 30 cm sea level rise by 2100 from warming ocean.The wild card is melting of ice sheets. (e.g. Melting all Greenland ice would raise sea level about 7 meters.)It would be wise to plan for 2 meters of sea level rise by 2100.Effects: (1) Rising sea level increases coastal erosion. (2) Lower Columbia and Willamette Rivers will also rise with sea level.

Glacial-Interglacial Changes in Sea Level Glacial-Interglacial Changes in Sea Level

The Coastal EnvironmentThe Coastal Environment

A beach is a river of sand.

You don’t own the sand on your beach. You just rent it.

A beach is a river of sand.

You don’t own the sand on your beach. You just rent it.

Input of sediment from rivers and coastal erosion.Output to deep ocean through submarine canyons.Dam building has diminished input of sediment by rivers resulting in increased coastal erosion.

Inpu

tInput

Out

put

Jump-Off Joe at Nye Beach, NewportJump-Off Joe at Nye Beach, Newport

1880188019151978

Yearly sea level oscillation is equivalent to rise in

sea level over the past century.Rise in sea level during El Niño years is

equivalent to one-half of sea level rise over the coming century.

Sea Level in Normal & El Niño YearsSea Level in Normal & El Niño Years

Average normal year

1982 - 83 El Niño

October, 1997 April, 1998

Ocean Shores, WA, west of Gray’s Harbor

Ocean Shores, WA, west of Gray’s Harbor

Cape Shoalwater, WA, north of Willapa Bay

Siletz Spit, South of Lincoln CitySiletz Spit, South of Lincoln City

Never buy a house built on sand.

Sand spits are vulnerable to erosion by sea and by river.

Never buy a house built on sand.

Sand spits are vulnerable to erosion by sea and by river.

Pacific Ocean Waves Cause Microseisms Pacific Ocean Waves Cause Microseisms

Solomon Islands M7.2 Earthquake.Low microseismic noise level.Solomon Islands M7.2 Earthquake.Low microseismic noise level.

Pacific Ocean Waves Cause Microseisms Pacific Ocean Waves Cause Microseisms

Haiti M7.0 Earthquake.High microseismic noise level.Haiti M7.0 Earthquake.High microseismic noise level.

Wave Energy in Pacific OceanWave Energy in Pacific Ocean

Explanation

Explanation

Increasing wave

energy

Before After

Some areas dropped 2 – 3 meters during the M9.2 Sumatra – Andaman Islands earthquake of December 26, 2004.

This also happened along the Washington - Oregon coast during the 1700 AD great Cascadia earthquake.

Will the next Cascadia great earthquake be the Hurricane Katrina for the Pacific Northwest?

Before After

Some areas dropped 2 – 3 meters during the M9.2 Sumatra – Andaman Islands earthquake of December 26, 2004.

This also happened along the Washington - Oregon coast during the 1700 AD great Cascadia earthquake.

Will the next Cascadia great earthquake be the Hurricane Katrina for the Pacific Northwest?

Banda Aceh, Sumatra Satellite Images Indicate Land

Subsidence

Banda Aceh, Sumatra Satellite Images Indicate Land

Subsidence

Glacial Lake Missoula FloodsGlacial Lake Missoula Floods

Humongous floods (12,000 to 16,000 years ago) imported rich glacial sediment to the Willamette Valley and Portland Basin.

Humongous floods (12,000 to 16,000 years ago) imported rich glacial sediment to the Willamette Valley and Portland Basin.

Video:Oregon Field Guide

Glacial Lake Missoula (Humongous) Floods

Thanks to Jon Kin, OPB

Video:Oregon Field Guide

Glacial Lake Missoula (Humongous) Floods

Thanks to Jon Kin, OPB

From Jim O’Connor, USGS

Missoula Floods SedimentsMissoula Floods Sediments

High porosity and permeability = Very good aquifer.High porosity and permeability = Very good aquifer.

From Jim O’Connor, USGS

Portland Basin Glacial and Fluvial SedimentPortland Basin Glacial and Fluvial Sediment

Missoula Floods Sediment

Troutdale Gravels

From Dave Morgan, USGS

Formula for Pacific Northwest regional flood: SNOW + PINEAPPLE = FLOOD.

Pacific Northwest Regional Floods

Pacific Northwest Regional Floods

February 5-9, 1996:Above average Cascade snowpack.Subtropical humid air mass brought record rainfalls (28” at Laurel Mountain in Coast Range).High freezing level caused massive snow melt.

February 5-9, 1996:Above average Cascade snowpack.Subtropical humid air mass brought record rainfalls (28” at Laurel Mountain in Coast Range).High freezing level caused massive snow melt.

recordrecord

record

recordrecord

1996 Flooding Along Willamette River1996 Flooding Along Willamette River

The Willamette Flowing over Highway 34 east of Corvallis.Widespread flooding in Willamette Valley.OMSI building (on Water Avenue!) on waterfront flooded.Downtown Portland narrowly escaped flooding.

The Willamette Flowing over Highway 34 east of Corvallis.Widespread flooding in Willamette Valley.OMSI building (on Water Avenue!) on waterfront flooded.Downtown Portland narrowly escaped flooding.

“Local” Floods From Brief But Intense Storms

e.g. November 2006 & December 2007

“Local” Floods From Brief But Intense Storms

e.g. November 2006 & December 2007

Hwy 35 Mt Hood to Hood River

December 2007 HydrographsDecember 2007 Hydrographs

Vernonia

Newberg

Normal = 200 cfs

Peak = 13,000 cfs 65 timesnormal flow!!

Normal = 30,000 cfs

Peak = 110,000 cfs 3.7 times normal flow.

December 2007 Hydrographs

Chehalis River December 2007Chehalis River December 2007

I-5 closed for several days.

Water ResourcesWater Resources

Abundant precipitation in Pacific Northwest.Abundant precipitation in Pacific Northwest.

Variations in PrecipitationVariations in Precipitation

Monthly precipitation varies by factor of 8.Monthly precipitation varies by factor of 8.

Variations in DemandVariations in Demand

Demand varies by factor of two and is out of phase with precipitation. Watershed management is critical.

M G D

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Watershed Inputs and OutputsWatershed Inputs and Outputs

Surface water and groundwater are one resource.Surface water and groundwater are one resource.

Careful planning in late 1800s.Impressive engineering (gravity-fed system).Columbia South Shore Well Field:

Groundwater backup and summer supplement.

Portland’s Water SystemPortland’s Water System

Explanation

Explanation

Groundwater – Surface WaterGroundwater – Surface Water

CSSWF can pull water out of the Columbia River. CSSWF can pull water out of the Columbia River.

Regional Water Supply ChallengesRegional Water Supply Challenges

Longer and warmer dry periods.Longer and warmer dry periods.

Temperaturechange

1920 - 2000

Decreasing SnowpackDecreasing Snowpack

April 1 snow water equivalent (1950 – 2000)

Observations on Water and JusticeMany cultures struggling with water resource

issues.

Peace Corps workers involved in construction of

village water supply systems (Bolivia, Nepal,

Ethiopia).

Observations on Water and JusticeMany cultures struggling with water resource

issues.

Peace Corps workers involved in construction of

village water supply systems (Bolivia, Nepal,

Ethiopia).

Bob’s field locations.

Afar of EthiopiaAfar of Ethiopia

Explanation

Explanation

Observations on Water and Justice.Tribal war over dwindling water supply.

“We are water – the oceans flow through our veins, and our cells are inflated by water, our metabolic reactions mediated in aqueous solutions …… As air is a sacred gas, so is water a sacred liquid that links us to all the oceans of the world and ties us back in time to the very birthplace of all life … It is the tide of life itself, the sacred source.” David Suzuki in The Sacred Balance

“We are water – the oceans flow through our veins, and our cells are inflated by water, our metabolic reactions mediated in aqueous solutions …… As air is a sacred gas, so is water a sacred liquid that links us to all the oceans of the world and ties us back in time to the very birthplace of all life … It is the tide of life itself, the sacred source.” David Suzuki in The Sacred Balance

Confluences: Water and JusticeConfluences: Water and Justice