Ch. 15 and 16 Study Guide Flashcards
Where is most of the freshwater on earth located?
Ice Caps
When precipitation falls on earth, where does it go?
Ground water, Run off’s, and Aquifers
What is the largest use of freshwater for humans?
Agriculture
What is the purpose of dams?
The use of hydroelectric power, creation of reservoirs, and artificial lakes that store water for human use.
What are the benefits of damming a river?
>Drinking water >Flood Control >Electricity >Lower Carbon emission >Irrigation
What are the drawbacks of damming a river?
>Sediment settling at behind the dams (unable to give nutrients) >Lost of recreational opportunities >Disrupting flooding, building topsoil >Habitat alteration >Population displacement
Define: Upwelling
Process where cold deep water brings nutrients to surface
Define: Bottom Trawling
Caused the most damage to the cape cod population
What is El nino
El Nino Southern Oscillation
Facts: Ogallala aquifer
> The world’s largest known aquifer
Underlies the Great Plains of the U.S.
Water withdraw/sinkholes
Facts: Aral Sea
> The two rivers leading into the Aral Sea were diverted to irrigate cotton fields
Pesticide-laden dust from the lake bed is blown into the air
Fast receding waters
Shrinking due to water diversion
How is thermal pollution caused?
Dissolved oxygen decreases as temperature increases
Industrial cooling heats water
Removing streamside cover raises water temperature
AND
Water at the bottom of reservoirs behind dams is colder, when released it kills aquatic organisms
What substance in water is responsible for blue-baby syndrome?
Nitrates from fertilizers
Facts: Colorado River
Diverted for human use & agriculture
3 biggest uses of H2O and Percentages
Residential (10%)
Industrial (20%)
Agriculture (70%)
What are Septic Tanks?
> The most popular method of wastewater disposal in rural areas
Tanks separate solids and oils from wastewater
The water drains into a drain field, where microbes decompose the pollutants
Solid waste is periodically pumped out and landfilled
What is the difference between primary and secondary sewage treatment?
Primary treatment = physically removes contaminants in settling tanks (clarifiers)
Secondary treatment = water is stirred and aerated
Aerobic bacteria degrade organic pollutants
Water treated with chlorine (and/or ultraviolet light) is piped into rivers or the ocean
Define: Sink Holes
Areas where ground gives way unexpectedly
Define: Xeriscaping
Landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation.
How are sinkholes caused?
Erosion
Gradual removal of slightly soluble bedrock
Human activity ( breakage of water main or collapse of sewer)
What can happen in coastal areas when you over pump groundwater?
Saltwater intrusion
What % of large bodied fish and shark were lost in the first decade of industrialized fishing?
90%
What is by-catch
Catching fish that are not meant to be caught
Define: Water Hardness
The amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water.
How does warm water affect the dissolved oxygen levels?
The solubility of oxygen decreases as water temperature increases.
Define: El nino
The warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation
Define: Red Tide
A discoloration of seawater caused by a bloom of toxic red substance.
Define: Distillation
The action of purifying a liquid by a process of heating and cooling.
Define: Artificial Wetlands
They are havens for wildlife and areas for human recreation
Define: Biosolids
The nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage sludge
Define: La Nina
The sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3–5 °C
