Ch. 14 Flashcards
Aral Sea
Sea in former Soviet Union that had its feeder rivers diverted, making its water levels drop salinity levels increase and biodiversity decrease. Without it, the climate buffer it provided is now gone
Aquifer
Underground caverns through whcih groundwater flows
California Water Project
Transport water from north to south California. Not sustainable
Center pivot low pressure sprinklers
This brings water precisely to crops, sprayed with mobile boom with sprinklers.
Channelization
Straightening and deepening streams that reduces upstream flooding.
Consumptive water use
Does not return water to its original source like evaporation seepage into ground transport to another area or contamination.
Distillation
Heating saltwater until it evaporates, leaves behind salts in solid form and condenses as freshwater.
Drip / micro irrigation
Most effective, Tubes or pipes are brought to plant roots.
Flood irrigation
Loses most water, floods strips between crops, and is one of the most common.
Natural recharge
Replaces aquifers by precipitation that percolates downwards through soil and rock.
Nonconsumptive use
Does not remove water, Power plants for example return water back even if some is lost to the atmosphere.
Ogallala aquifer
Large aquifer in US from North Dakota to Texas.
Rainwater harvesting
Capturing rainwater and storing it for use in the dry season. Useful in India’s monsoon season.
Reliable runoff
Surface runoff that is sure to be a source of freshwater from year to year.
Reverse osmosis / Microfiltration
Uses high pressure to force saltwater through a membrane filter to only leave freshwater.
Sinkholes
When the roof of an underground cavern collapses after being drained of the groundwater that supports it and creates a large surface crater.
Soil moisture detectors
Helps farmers cut irrigation water use.
Gray water
Dirtied water from the home that can be used for irrigation.
Land subsidence
When withdrawing water causes the land above it to collapse.
Lateral recharge
Aquifers recharged by nearby streams
Low energy precision application (LEPA)
A type of center pivot irrigation that is 90% efficient by being closer to the ground and in larger droplets.
Three Gorges Dam
Largest Hydroelectric dam that produces a lot of electricity and has a lot of sediment buildup.
tiered water pricing system
First tier counts nothing for the poor, and increases as use increase, and be higher in the summer when the demand is higher.
User pays approach
Each house gets a set amount, and price increases as water use increases.
Water table
Top of zone of saturation that falls in dry weather and when groundwater is withdrawn quickly.
Xeriscaping
Replacing green lawns with rocks or native vegetation that reduces water use.
