Ch. 15 and 16 Study Guide

Question 1

Where is most of the freshwater on earth located?

Answer 1

Ice Caps

Question 2

When precipitation falls on earth, where does it go?

Answer 2

Ground water, Run off’s, and Aquifers

Question 3

What is the largest use of freshwater for humans?

Answer 3

Agriculture

Question 4

What is the purpose of dams?

Answer 4

The use of hydroelectric power, creation of reservoirs, and artificial lakes that store water for human use.

Question 5

What are the benefits of damming a river?

Answer 5

>Drinking water
>Flood Control
>Electricity
>Lower Carbon emission
>Irrigation

Question 6

What are the drawbacks of damming a river?

Answer 6

>Sediment settling at behind the dams (unable to give nutrients)
>Lost of recreational opportunities 
>Disrupting flooding, building topsoil
>Habitat alteration
>Population displacement

Question 7

Define: Upwelling

Answer 7

Process where cold deep water brings nutrients to surface

Question 8

Define: Bottom Trawling

Answer 8

Caused the most damage to the cape cod population

Question 9

What is El nino

Answer 9

El Nino Southern Oscillation

Question 10

Facts: Ogallala aquifer

Answer 10

> The world’s largest known aquifer
Underlies the Great Plains of the U.S.
Water withdraw/sinkholes

Question 11

Facts: Aral Sea

Answer 11

> 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

Question 12

How is thermal pollution caused?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What substance in water is responsible for blue-baby syndrome?

Answer 13

Nitrates from fertilizers

Question 14

Facts: Colorado River

Answer 14

Diverted for human use & agriculture

Question 15

3 biggest uses of H2O and Percentages

Answer 15

Residential (10%)
Industrial (20%)
Agriculture (70%)

Question 16

What are Septic Tanks?

Answer 16

> 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

Question 17

What is the difference between primary and secondary sewage treatment?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Define: Sink Holes

Answer 18

Areas where ground gives way unexpectedly

Question 19

Define: Xeriscaping

Answer 19

Landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation.

Question 20

How are sinkholes caused?

Answer 20

Erosion
Gradual removal of slightly soluble bedrock
Human activity ( breakage of water main or collapse of sewer)

Question 21

What can happen in coastal areas when you over pump groundwater?

Answer 21

Saltwater intrusion

Question 22

What % of large bodied fish and shark were lost in the first decade of industrialized fishing?

Answer 22

90%

Question 23

What is by-catch

Answer 23

Catching fish that are not meant to be caught

Question 24

Define: Water Hardness

Answer 24

The amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water.

Question 25

How does warm water affect the dissolved oxygen levels?

Answer 25

The solubility of oxygen decreases as water temperature increases.

Question 26

Define: El nino

Answer 26

The warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation

Question 27

Define: Red Tide

Answer 27

A discoloration of seawater caused by a bloom of toxic red substance.

Question 28

Define: Distillation

Answer 28

The action of purifying a liquid by a process of heating and cooling.

Question 29

Define: Artificial Wetlands

Answer 29

They are havens for wildlife and areas for human recreation

Question 30

Define: Biosolids

Answer 30

The nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage sludge

Question 31

Define: La Nina

Answer 31

The sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3–5 °C