9: Water and Air Flashcards
Water cycle
Evaporation —> condensation —> predipitation
Water distribution
71% - of the earth’s surface
97% - salt water in the oceans and seas
77% - freshwater is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps
small % - liquid freshwater (f.w we used are mainly from lakes and rivers)
river systems
network of streams and rivers across the land
watershed
area of land that is drained by a river
groundwater
water stored beneath the Earth’s surface in sediment and rock formations
water table
a level where rocks and soils are saturated with water. Forms the upper boundary of an aquifer
Aquifer
an underground formation that contains groundwater.
consists of materials: rock , sand, gravel
Porosity
amount of space between the particles that make up a rock
permeability
ability of rock or soil to allow water to flow through
Recharge zone
area where water percolates down into the aquifer
3 major global water use and %
- residential - 8%
- agricultural - 67%
- industrial - 19%
Industrial Water use
Used to manufacture good, dispose of water, and generate power
1,000L –> 1kg of aluminum
500,000 –> manufacture of a car
huge amount required to produce computer chips and semi-conductor
ways water loss in agri
evaporation, seepage, and runoff
Agricultural Water Use
300L –> 1 ear of corn
80% of water evaporates even b4 reaching plant roots
Water conservation in Agri
Drip Irrigation system
Drip Irrigation system
deliver small amount of water directly to plant roots by using perforated tubing
Water conservation in Industry
recycling of cooling water and wastewater
Water conservation at home
Water-saving tech: low-flow toilets and showers
Water pollution
intro of chemical, physical, and biological agents into water that degrade water quality and affect the organisms that depend on the water
2 major causes of water pollution
- industrialization and
- rapid human population growth
Point-ource pollution
pollution discharged from a single source, can often be traced to a source
Sources of point pollution
leaking septic tank system
unlined landfills
water discharged by industries
public and industrial waste water treatment plants
polluted water from abandoned and active mines
Nonpoint-source pollution
came from many different sources that often difficult to identify; enter bodies of water in diff ways- difficult to regulate and control
Nonpoint- sources pollution (ex)
chemicals added to road surfaces(salt and de-icing agents)
pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
precipitation containing air pollutants
oil and gasoline from personal watercraft
soil runoff from farms and construction sites
