E: Fresh and Saltwater Systems, section 1 and 2: water quality and distribution, waves, tides, climate Flashcards
What is potable water?
Water that humans can safely drink
How much water on Earth is saltwater?
97%
How much water on the Earth is fresh water?
3%
Of all the fresh water, how much is ice?
77%
Of the fresh water on earth how much is ground water?
22%
Of the freshwater how much is in rivers, lakes, and wetlands?
1%
Where is the most fresh water on earth?
In is in ice form
What does water quality describe?
How pure water is
What does water get tested for?
Taste and odor Turbidity (cloudiness) and color Toxic substances and pollutants Bacteria Hardness and mineral content Ph level of 7 Dissolved oxygen level Suspended solids Dissolved solids
What is salinity?
The total amount of saltS dissolved in water
What is hard water?
Hard water contains a high concentration of the minerals calcium and magnesium
What does hard water do?
They leave mineral deposits in appliances
What type of organisms can be found in freshwater?
E.coli and minerals
Why don’t people who get water from a well need to get their water tested often?
Because it comes from deep underground and is protected from most pollutants
What do they do to clean water?
They filter it and treat it with chemicals
What can give a rotten egg smell in water?
Hydrogen sulphide
What are the two processes to turn saltwater to fresh water?
Distillation and reverse osmosis
Explain the process of distillation?
Saltwater gets heated until it evaporates. And only the water evaporates. Then as it goes down a tube it condenses and leaves pure water
Explain the process of reverse osmosis
It forces saltwater through a membrane that has holes not big enough for salt to pass through. So it moves from low concentration of water to high concentration
What kind of waves do boats create?
They create waves called wash.
What can was do to smaller boats?
They can sink small ones, damage moored ones and contribute to shore erosion
What are waves?
Changes in patterns that move along the waters surface. They make water move in a circular motion
What causes waves?
Wind
What causes the tops of waves to rise?
When waves near the shore the bottoms drag on the bottoming the ocean floor
What affect do waves have on a shoreline?
The forces of waves crashing against a shoreline can change the shape. But small waves move more gently and deposit sediments
What is tide?
The gradual change in water height
What is high tide?
The highest water level along a shoreline
What is low tide?
The lowest water level on the coast
What causes tides?
Tides are caused by the gravitational force of the moon. As the moon orbits the earth it pulls water with it
What are stream characteristics?
Things that describe a stream
What do stream characteristics describe?
The rate of water flow and the slope of the streams bed
How do hot springs deposit sediments?
They bring water from deep underground. And because it was from deep underground it is at a higher temperature and that means it can hold more dissolved solids. But as it comes up the earth then it cools down and can hold less minerals
How does a stream or river start?
A glacier melts and the water collects until it starts a small stream. And then other streams join together to make a river
How does a river flow in the early stage?
It flows swiftly and fairly straight
What happens when a river reaches lower levels?
It flows slower and theta causes it to move on big curves called meanders. The flat land on wait her side gets covered with water when it overflows. That area is called a flood plain.
What is a meander?
Wide curves that a river bed does when it reaches ground level.
What is a flood plain?
A flood plain is the area that water overflows onto when it slows down
What happens when a river reaches the ocean?
It slows down much more and it drops its sediment load in triangle shapes called a delta
What can cause erosion?
Chemical weathering
What causes caves?
Caves are caused when rivers or streams break down big rocks like limestone
What is watershed?
Watershed is all the area of land that drains into one main lake or river
What determines the direction of watershed?
The continental divide?
What is the continental divide?
The highest land in a continent
What is the continental divide in North America?
The Rocky Mountains
Where does water flow if it is to the west of the continental divide?
The Pacific Ocean
Where does water flow of it is to the east of the continental divide?
To the Arctic or the Atlantic Ocean
What are continental shelves?
Shallow edges around the edges of continents. Mainly made of sedimentary deposits.
Where are continental shelves largest?
On the edge of Oceans that are opening up
How do trenches form?
Trenches form when plates are moving toward each other. The thinner oceanic plate is pushed below the thicker plate
What are seamounts?
Under water volcanoes that don’t reach the ocean surface
What are mid-ocean ridges?
When molten rock pushes up from the interior of the earth. The two plates beside it are moving away from each other
What happens when plates move toward each other?
Trenches form
What happens when plates move away from each other?
Ridges and faults form
What are glaciers?
Large moving bodies of ice
What are glaciers that cover vast bodies of land called?
Continental glaciers
How do glaciers grind down and shape the land they pass over?
As they move pieces of rock become embedded in them. It is these pieces of rock combined with he massive glaciers that shape the land it passes over
What are moraines?
Rocks that form at the edge of glaciers as they mele
What are eskers?
Eskers form when part of a glacier melts. They form when the water flow under the glacier in tunnels. The melting releases sand and gravel from the glacier. And the sediments are deposited in a river type shape
What are drumlins?
Small hills with a teardrop shape. They form when a glacier moves over a moraine.
What is climate?
The average weather measured over a long period of time
How do large bodies of water affect climate?
Because they are able to hold heat for a long time for the the temperature to change. Therefore it takes a they prevent extreme temperatures
What is a chinook?
A chinook is when warm moist air from the ocean travels to the top of a mountain and loses some of it moisture then goes back down a mountain in warm dry winds called a chinook
What are currents?
Streams of water that move within a larger body of water
What causes currents?
Wind
Temperature differences in water
Salinity differences
Earths rotation
How are currents different from waves?
Currents actually move from place to place
What is often referred to as our ‘blue planet’?
Earth
The term highlights the abundant water covering Earth’s surface.
What is the key to life on Earth?
Water
All organisms require water to survive.
What percentage of Earth’s water is salt water?
97 percent
Salt water is primarily found in oceans and seas.
What type of water is considered unfit for drinking?
Salt water
This includes ocean water and seawater.
What is fresh water?
Water such as lake water, river water, pond water, and well water
Fresh water is suitable for drinking and essential for life functions.
Fill in the blank: Life cannot exist unless there is _______.
water
This reflects the fundamental role of water in sustaining life.
How do most organisms use fresh water?
For drinking and life functions
Fresh water is crucial for survival.
True or False: Most species of organisms inhabit fresh water.
False
More species inhabit water bodies than any other places on Earth.
What percentage of your body mass is water?
About 65 percent
This highlights the essential role water plays in human physiology.
What percentage of an apple is water?
84 percent
This illustrates that water is a significant component of many foods.
What percentage of a watermelon is water?
About 98 percent
This emphasizes the high water content in certain fruits.
What happens to water when you exhale?
Gaseous water vapour is released
This is part of the respiratory process that contributes to water loss.
What is the normal body temperature in Celsius?
37°C
This temperature is crucial for maintaining bodily functions.
How do you lose water when maintaining body temperature?
Through sweat
Sweating is a mechanism to cool the body, which results in water loss.
What is one way you lose water when eliminating wastes?
Elimination of wastes
This process also contributes to daily water loss.
How much water do you need each day to remain healthy?
About 2.5 L
This is the recommended daily intake to maintain hydration.
Fill in the blank: Water is vital for _______.
survival
This underscores the fundamental importance of water for all living organisms.
True or False: The amount of water in your body is constant.
False
The body constantly loses and needs to replace water.
How does water contribute to the quality of life in Alberta?
It is vital to the way of life and quality of life
This reflects the broader importance of water in community and environmental contexts.
What would happen without the water cycle?
Earth would completely dry out in about 3000 years
This highlights the importance of the water cycle in maintaining Earth’s water supply.
What are the two common changes of state involved in the water cycle?
Evaporation and condensation
These processes continuously interact to produce the water cycle.
What is evaporation?
The change of state from a liquid to a gas
It converts liquid water from Earth’s surface into gaseous water vapour.
What is condensation?
The change of state from a gas to a liquid
This occurs when water vapour cools and forms clouds.
What falls from clouds as precipitation?
Liquid and solid water
Examples include rain and snow.
What happens to water after it rains?
It either runs off, soaks into the ground, or evaporates
This illustrates the movement of water in the water cycle.
Fill in the blank: The continuous interaction of evaporation and condensation produces the _______.
water cycle
True or False: Water can ‘vanish’ into the atmosphere during the water cycle.
True
This refers to the process of evaporation.
What is the role of groundwater in the water cycle?
It is a part of the water that soaks and seeps underground
Groundwater contributes to the overall distribution of water.
What happens to water vapour in the atmosphere?
It remains until it cools and condenses into clouds
This is a key aspect of the condensation process.
What are some visible signs of water after heavy rain?
Puddles, dripping leaves, and muddy footpaths
These indicate the immediate effects of rainfall in the environment.
What drives the water cycle?
The Sun’s energy
How much water evaporates from Earth’s surface each year?
About 520,000 km
What happens to water vapor in the atmosphere?
It condenses and falls to Earth
How long does water vapor remain in the atmosphere on average?
For only a ten-day supply of precipitation worldwide
What percentage of Earth’s precipitation falls into the Oceans?
About 78 percent
True or False: The overall amount of water on Earth changes significantly over time.
False
What has not changed for billions of years regarding the Earth’s water?
The total amount of water on our planet and in the atmosphere
Fill in the blank: A glass of water that you drink today may include some of the same water particles that _______ millions of years ago.
cleaned and cooled a dinosaur’s skin
What are the three main processes of water movement mentioned?
- Flowing
- Evaporating
- Condensing
What percentage of Earth’s water is salt water?
About 97 percent.
What percentage of Earth’s water is fresh water?
Barely 3 percent.
Is salt water drinkable for land-living organisms?
No.
Where is most of the fresh water on Earth found?
In glaciers and ice sheets.
What forms of water cover about 10 percent of Earth’s land area?
Compressed sheets of snow and ice.
What percentage of the planet’s fresh water supply is locked up in solid state?
About three-quarters.
Fill in the blank: The amount of groundwater on Earth is _______.
0.63%.
Fill in the blank: The amount of water in rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. is _______.
0.02%.
Fill in the blank: The amount of water in glaciers and ice sheets is _______.
2.15%.
True or False: Glaciers spread over as much as 28 percent of the land during colder periods in Earth’s history.
True.
What are the two main forms of frozen water on Earth?
- Ice sheets at the North and South poles
- Glaciers in high mountaintops
What is the significance of the global water distribution for survival?
Fresh water is in very short supply.
What percentage of Earth’s water is found as liquid fresh water?
Little more than 0.5 percent.
Where does nearly all of Earth’s liquid fresh water occur?
Below the surface as groundwater.
What accounts for the tiny remainder of Earth’s fresh water?
All the water on the land surface in rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and freshwater wetlands.
How much fresh water in volume is considered a tiny remainder?
About 270,000 km of fresh water.
What major concern does the water cycle address?
Ensures that the total quantity of Earth’s water stays the same.
What varies greatly from one part of the planet to another regarding water?
The distribution of fresh, usable water.
What activities do we use water resources for?
- Drinking
- Cooking
- Eating
- Washing
- Farming
- Manufacturing
- Many other activities.
What is an equally important concern regarding water besides quantity?
Water quality.
What does water quality refer to?
The characteristics of a water resource that make it suitable or unsuitable for various uses.
How much water is there on Earth in total?
About 1.35 billion km.
What would be the radius of a stomach needed to drink all the water on Earth?
About 680 km.
How long would it take to drink all the water on Earth at 4L per second, 24 hours a day?
About 7900 years just to gulp down the first cubic kilometer.
What countries hold nearly half of Earth’s renewable supply of fresh water?
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- United States
- Other countries.
What should you draw to represent the percentages of water distribution?
A circle graph.
What percentage of Earth’s fresh water is found in Canada?
Nine percent
This highlights Canada’s significant fresh water resources.
What is water management?
Balancing the water needs of people, industries, wildlife, and the environment with the ability of fresh water systems to remain plentiful and clean
Water management is crucial for sustainability.
What do we need to know for proper water management?
How much water we have, where it comes from, how it is used, and how it can be negatively affected by pollution and overuse
Understanding these factors is essential for effective water management.
True or False: All drinking water is recycled.
True
This includes water from taps, wells, and bottled spring water.
Fill in the blank: Water management involves balancing the water needs of _______.
people, industries, wildlife, and the environment
What is the significance of gathering information about water management?
To ensure water will be plentiful and safe forever
Professionals in Canada help gather this information.
What are some potential negative effects on water resources?
Pollution and overuse
These factors can threaten the availability and quality of fresh water.
What creative activity is suggested to express the idea of the water cycle?
Write a paragraph or poem, or make a drawing
This activity encourages reflection on the continuous movement of water.
What is the next largest amount of water on Earth after ocean water?
Frozen water
This includes ice sheets at the North and South poles and in high mountaintops.
What percentage of Earth’s land area is covered by large areas of frozen water?
About 10 percent
These areas lock up about three quarters of the planet’s fresh water supply in solid state.
What is a glacier?
A moving mass of ice and snow
Formed from accumulated snow that compresses into ice.
What happens to snow in areas where it does not melt?
It begins piling up and compresses into ice
This process can lead to the formation of glaciers.
What is an ice cap?
A glacier that forms on an extensive area of relatively level land
Ice caps flow outwards from their center.
Which mountains in Canada are among the snowiest places on Earth?
Coast, Columbia, and Rocky Mountains
These mountains have conditions ideal for the formation of icefields and glaciers.
What is an icefield?
An upland area of ice that feeds two or more glaciers
Icefields are crucial for glacier formation.
What is significant about the Columbia Icefield?
It is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies
It feeds six major glaciers and three of Canada’s largest rivers.
How deep is the ice at the center of the Columbia Icefield?
As deep as the CN Tower in Toronto (553 m)
This depth contributes to the creation of its own winds and weather.
True or False: Most of the fresh water on Earth is locked in glaciers.
True
This highlights the importance of glaciers in the global water supply.
What is the initial form of all glaciers?
Snow
All glaciers begin as snowflakes that accumulate over time.
What is the process through which snow changes into glacial ice?
Snowflakes accumulate, become grains, then ice crystals, and finally ice
The process involves compaction and rearrangement of snow crystals.
What must happen for snow to turn into glacial ice in the mountains?
At least 30 m of snow must accumulate in one place
This accumulation creates sufficient pressure to transform snow into ice.
What is a valley glacier?
A glacier that forms in a mountain range
Valley glaciers grow and creep along due to low temperatures preventing summer melting.
What is the Athabasca Glacier known for?
It is the best-known glacier in the Columbia Icefield and is accessible by road
The Athabasca Glacier covers about 6 km².
Which glacier is nearly twice the size of the Athabasca Glacier?
Saskatchewan Glacier
The Saskatchewan Glacier is less accessible and about 7 km long.
How do valley glaciers behave in high mountains during summer?
They do not melt
The low average temperature in high mountains prevents melting, allowing glaciers to grow.
Fill in the blank: Snow crystals have a natural tendency to rearrange themselves into a _______.
circular form
This rearrangement contributes to the formation of grains.
What happens to air as snow gradually becomes ice?
Air is slowly squeezed out of the snow mass
This process aids in the transformation from snow to glacial ice.
True or False: The Athabasca Glacier is the largest glacier in the Columbia Icefield.
False
Although well-known, it is not the largest; the Saskatchewan Glacier is larger.
What is the significance of the weight of snow in glacier formation?
It creates pressure that changes snow crystals into glacial ice
This pressure is essential for the transformation process.
What is the initial form of all glaciers?
Snow
All glaciers begin as snowflakes that accumulate over time.
What is the process through which snow changes into glacial ice?
Snowflakes accumulate, become grains, then ice crystals, and finally ice
The process involves compaction and rearrangement of snow crystals.
What must happen for snow to turn into glacial ice in the mountains?
At least 30 m of snow must accumulate in one place
This accumulation creates sufficient pressure to transform snow into ice.
What is a valley glacier?
A glacier that forms in a mountain range
Valley glaciers grow and creep along due to low temperatures preventing summer melting.
What is the Athabasca Glacier known for?
It is the best-known glacier in the Columbia Icefield and is accessible by road
The Athabasca Glacier covers about 6 km².
Which glacier is nearly twice the size of the Athabasca Glacier?
Saskatchewan Glacier
The Saskatchewan Glacier is less accessible and about 7 km long.
How do valley glaciers behave in high mountains during summer?
They do not melt
The low average temperature in high mountains prevents melting, allowing glaciers to grow.
Fill in the blank: Snow crystals have a natural tendency to rearrange themselves into a _______.
circular form
This rearrangement contributes to the formation of grains.
What happens to air as snow gradually becomes ice?
Air is slowly squeezed out of the snow mass
This process aids in the transformation from snow to glacial ice.
True or False: The Athabasca Glacier is the largest glacier in the Columbia Icefield.
False
Although well-known, it is not the largest; the Saskatchewan Glacier is larger.
What is the significance of the weight of snow in glacier formation?
It creates pressure that changes snow crystals into glacial ice
This pressure is essential for the transformation process.
What is a continental glacier?
A huge mass of ice and snow that occurs mostly near the North and South poles.
Where do continental glaciers primarily occur?
In Greenland and Antarctica.
What is the area of Antarctica covered by a continental glacier?
About 932,000 km².
How does the area of Antarctica compare to Alberta?
It is about one and one third times the area of Alberta.
What are icefalls?
Features that result when a glacier flows over a steep cliff and breaks up.
What are crevasses?
Fissures or cracks in the ice.
What happens to glacial ice when it stretches too much?
It cracks and crevasses form.
What is the length of the Athabasca Glacier?
6 km long.
What is the average width of the Athabasca Glacier?
1 km.
How deep can the Athabasca Glacier get?
Up to 300 m deep.
Fill in the blank: A crevasse is a ______ in ice.
fracture
True or False: Ice is a fluid like water.
False
What unique features develop in flowing ice?
Icefalls and crevasses.
What is the significance of the Columbia Icefield?
It features icefalls.
What can cover crevasses, making walking on an icefield treacherous?
Snow.
What does the term ‘marginal crevasses’ refer to?
Crevasses located at the edges of glaciers.
What is the difference between a crevasse and a crevice?
A crevasse is a fracture in ice, while a crevice is a crack in rock or other materials.
What allows the ice deep in a glacier to bend, stretch, and flow?
The crushing weight of the layers above it
This flexibility allows the ice to flow away from areas of accumulation and mould itself to the shape of the underlying rock.
How does a glacier behave similarly to a river?
It flows downhill and spreads/thins in wide areas while squeezing/deepening in narrow areas
Most glaciers tend to spread out at the toe where the ice thins.
What is a retreating glacier?
A glacier that appears to go back uphill because it melts faster than it flows
Many glaciers near Banff and Jasper are retreating.
What happens to a glacier when ice melts faster than it is replaced by new ice?
The glacier shortens and retreats
Conversely, if ice builds up more quickly than it melts, the glacier lengthens and advances.
How can a glacier retreat while its ice flows downhill?
The glacier’s toe can retreat while the ice in the middle flows forward
The Athabasca Glacier retreated 3 m while the middle flowed forward at least 35 m.
What is pack ice?
A sheet of ice rarely more than 5 m thick formed from freezing sea water
It breaks easily and covers the surface of the Arctic Ocean for most of the year.
What are icebergs?
Large chunks of ice that break loose from continental glaciers
Icebergs calve from glaciers as they flow downslope into the ocean.
How many icebergs break loose from Greenland’s glaciers each year?
About 16,000 icebergs
Some icebergs can be several kilometers long and rise more than 100 m above the ocean surface.
What happens to the tops and bottoms of icebergs as they float?
The tops melt faster due to sun and wind, while the bottoms melt more slowly underwater
This is because the submerged portions are insulated from the warmer air.
Fill in the blank: The middle of the Athabasca Glacier flows at an average speed of _______.
80 m a year
This translates to about 1 cm an hour.
True or False: The word ‘retreat’ in the context of glaciers means that they move away.
True
The term ‘recede’ can also be used to describe glaciers that are melting faster than they accumulate new ice.
What do glaciers act like as they move over land?
Bulldozers
Glaciers push aside and forward loose materials they encounter.
What happens to eroded sediments as glaciers move?
They pile up along a glacier’s sides
This accumulation is a characteristic of glacial movement.
What process occurs when glacial ice melts?
Water flows into cracks in rocks
This leads to further weathering and erosion of the rock.
What happens to water that flows into rock cracks when glacial ice melts?
It refreezes, expands, and splits the rock
This process contributes to the erosion of rocks by glaciers.
What materials are caught by the bottom and sides of a glacier?
Boulders, gravel, and sand
These materials are lifted out by the glacier as it moves.
What do rock fragments and sand at the base of a glacier do?
They scrape the soil and bedrock
This scraping leads to further erosion.
What are striations?
Parallel scars or scratches left on bedrock
They indicate the direction of glacier movement.
What can rocks stuck in glaciers do to underlying rock?
Scratch and gouge it
This results in striations or grooves.
What is a moraine?
A large ridge of material left behind by a glacier
Moraines are significant landforms created by glacial activity.
What are valley glaciers?
Glaciers that flow down valleys
They are one of the types of glaciers that shape landforms.
Fill in the blank: A large ridge of material left behind by a glacier is called a _______.
moraine
True or False: Striations are formed by the movement of glaciers over bedrock.
True
Striations are evidence of glacier movement.
What is a cirque?
A bowl-shaped basin formed by the erosion of valley glaciers
Cirques are typically found in mountainous regions where glaciers have eroded the landscape.
What landform is created when two or more glaciers erode a mountain summit?
Arête or horn
An arête is a sharp ridge, while a horn is a sharpened peak resulting from glacial erosion.
How do valley glaciers erode landscapes?
By flowing down mountain slopes and along valleys, plucking and scraping soil and rock
This process results in the characteristic U-shaped valleys.
What shape do valleys eroded by glaciers take?
U-shaped
This contrasts with V-shaped valleys formed by river erosion.
What is the difference between U-shaped and V-shaped valleys?
U-shaped valleys are formed by glaciers, while V-shaped valleys are formed by rivers
The formation process involves different mechanisms of erosion.
What evidence indicates the presence of valley glaciers?
Landforms such as cirques, arêtes, and horns
These features are created through the erosional processes of glaciers.
What is a cirque?
A bowl-shaped basin formed by the erosion of valley glaciers
Cirques are typically found in mountainous regions where glaciers have eroded the landscape.
What landform is created when two or more glaciers erode a mountain summit?
Arête or horn
An arête is a sharp ridge, while a horn is a sharpened peak resulting from glacial erosion.
How do valley glaciers erode landscapes?
By flowing down mountain slopes and along valleys, plucking and scraping soil and rock
This process results in the characteristic U-shaped valleys.
What shape do valleys eroded by glaciers take?
U-shaped
This contrasts with V-shaped valleys formed by river erosion.
What is the difference between U-shaped and V-shaped valleys?
U-shaped valleys are formed by glaciers, while V-shaped valleys are formed by rivers
The formation process involves different mechanisms of erosion.
What evidence indicates the presence of valley glaciers?
Landforms such as cirques, arêtes, and horns
These features are created through the erosional processes of glaciers.
What is the term for the mixture of different-sized sediments deposited by glaciers?
till
Till is composed of boulders, sand, clay, and silt that glaciers drop when they melt.
What is a moraine?
A ridge of material left behind by a glacier
Moraines are formed from rocks and soil pushed along by glaciers.
What happens when more snow melts than accumulates on a glacier?
The glacier starts to melt and retreat
This process leads to the deposition of materials by meltwater.
What is the term for the material deposited by meltwater from a glacier?
outwash
Outwash consists of sediments carried and deposited in layers by meltwater.
What is an esker?
A long, winding ridge formed by meltwater within a glacier
Eskers are created when meltwater carries sand and gravel and deposits them as the glacier melts.
What do glaciers do when they begin to melt?
They deposit sediment on the land
Glaciers lose energy and can no longer carry sediment, resulting in deposition.
Fill in the blank: The sediment deposited by a glacier is called _______.
till
Fill in the blank: A _______ is formed from the rocks and soil pushed along by a glacier.
moraine
True or False: Outwash deposits are typically found in the shape of a fan.
True
What is formed beneath a melting glacier when meltwater creates a river within the ice?
an esker
This river carries sediments and deposits them in a winding ridge.
What are erratics in the context of glacial deposition?
Huge rock fragments carried by glaciers
Erratics can be transported hundreds of kilometers by glacial movement.
What visual representation shows features of glacial deposition?
Figure 5.20
This figure illustrates different types of glacial deposits.
What occurs when a glacier stops moving forward?
It deposits till in front of it
This till forms a ridge but does not cover a wide area.
What do you call the area covered by till deposits?
huge areas of land
Till can cover extensive regions depending on the glacier’s movement.
What is meltwater?
Meltwater is formed by the melting of snow and ice
It carves channels in and through glaciers.
What feature is created by meltwater plunging into glacial ice?
A millwell
A millwell is a rounded drain in the ice chiselled by a stream.
What happens to subglacial streams?
They emerge from the toe of the glacier
This is where the streams exit after flowing beneath the glacier.
What role do icefields and glaciers play in the water cycle?
They act as natural reservoirs
They collect snow and gradually release water as meltwater.
During which season do glaciers release meltwater?
Summer
This is when the reserved water is most needed.
How do glaciers influence river systems in the Prairies?
They feed a constant supply of meltwater
This water supports hydroelectric plants, irrigation, and drinking supplies.
What is one of the important uses of meltwater from glaciers?
Irrigation of crops
It also helps water cattle and supply drinking water.
What do glaciers provide clues to?
Earth’s past climates
The way glacial ice accumulates and endures offers valuable information.
Fill in the blank: Glaciers are excellent storehouses of vast quantities of _______.
fresh water
They release this water during hot, dry summer months.
True or False: Glaciers speed up the water cycle.
False
Glaciers slow the passage of water through the cycle.
What are ice ages?
Major periods of cooling in Earth’s history, with at least seven identified.
When did the most recent ice age begin and end?
Began about 120,000 years ago and ended about 11,000 years ago.
What percentage of land was covered by glaciers during the last ice age?
Up to 28 percent.
How cold was much of North America during the last ice age?
As cold as Greenland is today.
What geographic feature did glaciers cover during the last ice age?
From the Arctic to as far south as the Great Lakes.
What are some features created by glaciers that provide evidence of their presence?
- Striations
- Moraines
- U-shaped valleys
- Erratics
What method do scientists use to study ancient climates?
Ice core sampling.
What do ice cores provide a record of?
What was taking place in the world over past ice ages.
What do the layers of ice in a core correspond to?
A single year or season.
What remnants are found in ice cores?
- Wind-blown dust
- Ash
- Atmospheric gases
- Radioactivity
What was the estimated average air temperature difference during the peak of the last ice age?
About 5°C lower than today.
What happens during a cooler-than-average summer that can lead to an ice age?
Not enough heat to melt all the snow by summer’s end.
What effect does increased snow and ice cover have on sunlight?
More sunlight is reflected back into the atmosphere, contributing to cooling.
How high can snow accumulate over thousands of years during an ice age?
Heights of 1 km or more.
What forms as the tremendous weight of snow causes lower layers to turn to ice?
Continental glaciers.
What have scientists discovered about carbon dioxide levels in ice cores?
They vary and are associated with climate changes.
True or False: The last ice age glaciers in North America covered an area larger than they do today.
True.
Fill in the blank: Evidence of ancient climates can be studied using _______.
ice core sampling.
What event in 1991 affected global temperatures due to volcanic ash?
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo
The ash released during the eruption cooled temperatures around the world.
What is one hypothesis for why ice ages occur?
Reductions in the thermal energy given off by the Sun
This hypothesis suggests that less solar energy can lead to cooler global temperatures.
How can volcanic activity contribute to ice ages?
By adding large volumes of dust to the atmosphere
This dust can reduce the amount of the Sun’s energy reaching Earth.
What effect do periods of mountain formation have on Earth’s climate?
Increase the area of high mountain ranges
The extra snow on cold peaks reflects sunlight and may reduce temperatures.
What geological activity can alter the flow of ocean currents and potentially lead to an ice age?
Movement of Earth’s tectonic plates
This change can affect the mixing of hot and cold waters in the oceans.
What changes in Earth’s position can influence climate and potentially trigger an ice age?
Changes in the tilt of Earth’s axis or its orbit around the Sun
These changes can lead to colder climates.
Fill in the blank: A small change in average temperature is enough to start a _______.
ice age
True or False: Scientists have confirmed all hypotheses regarding the causes of ice ages.
False
Scientists are still gathering data to test these hypotheses.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Natural warming caused by gases in our atmosphere trapping heat
Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas
Is the greenhouse effect bad for the Earth?
No, it is necessary for life as we know it on Earth
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold to support life.
What does global warming refer to?
The rising of global temperatures
It is hypothesized that this is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases.
What is the main greenhouse gas contributing to the greenhouse effect?
Carbon dioxide
How much has the mean surface temperature on Earth increased in the last 100 years?
0.5°C
What might happen if Earth’s mean surface temperature continues to rise?
Ice caps will melt and low-lying areas might experience increased flooding
Some ice caps are already beginning to break apart.
True or False: The greenhouse effect and global warming are the same.
False
Fill in the blank: An increase in greenhouse gases __________ the greenhouse effect.
increases
What happens to the heat radiated from Earth?
It cannot escape back through the gases of the atmosphere into space
This is similar to how a greenhouse warms.
What is one consequence of rising sea levels?
Increased flooding in low-lying areas
What percentage of Earth’s total water supply is available for human use?
Less than one percent
This small percentage is found in fresh water systems.
What are the two types of fresh water systems?
Surface water and groundwater
Fresh water systems exist both above ground and underground.
What is the main difference between a lake and a pond?
Depth
In a pond, sunlight reaches the bottom; in a lake, it does not.
What determines the water clarity in lakes and ponds?
The amount of matter suspended in the water
Clarity affects the depth to which sunlight penetrates.
What are wetlands characterized by?
Saturated with water all or much of the time
They occur in low areas of land.
What are marshes?
Shallow water wetlands (less than 1 m in depth)
Marshes usually remain wet throughout the year.
True or False: A pond can be larger than a lake.
True
Size is not the factor; depth is what differentiates them.
Fill in the blank: All wetlands provide habitats for an astounding diversity of _______.
Plants and wildlife
Wetlands are crucial for biodiversity.
What is the significance of understanding the links between fresh water systems?
Minimize damage and maintain healthy water systems
Damage to one system can affect another.
What percentage of Earth’s total water supply is available for human use?
Less than one percent
This small percentage is found in fresh water systems.
What are the two types of fresh water systems?
Surface water and groundwater
Fresh water systems exist both above ground and underground.
What is the main difference between a lake and a pond?
Depth
In a pond, sunlight reaches the bottom; in a lake, it does not.
What determines the water clarity in lakes and ponds?
The amount of matter suspended in the water
Clarity affects the depth to which sunlight penetrates.
What are wetlands characterized by?
Saturated with water all or much of the time
They occur in low areas of land.
What are marshes?
Shallow water wetlands (less than 1 m in depth)
Marshes usually remain wet throughout the year.
True or False: A pond can be larger than a lake.
True
Size is not the factor; depth is what differentiates them.
Fill in the blank: All wetlands provide habitats for an astounding diversity of _______.
Plants and wildlife
Wetlands are crucial for biodiversity.
What is the significance of understanding the links between fresh water systems?
Minimize damage and maintain healthy water systems
Damage to one system can affect another.
What are the two main types of fast-flowing waterways?
Streams and rivers
Streams and rivers differ in characteristics such as speed, temperature, and clarity.
What factors affect the types of plants and animals living in fast-flowing waterways?
Speed, temperature, clarity, nature of banks and bottoms
These factors influence the ecosystem in streams and rivers.
Why are fast-flowing waterways usually rich in oxygen?
Oxygen dissolves into water as it rushes through rapids or plunges over waterfalls
Oxygen is essential for the survival of fish and other aquatic animals.
What is a significant source of fresh water that lies beneath Earth’s surface?
Groundwater
Groundwater is formed from precipitation that sinks into the ground.
How does groundwater move beneath the surface?
It trickles downwards through connected pores and cracks
Groundwater movement continues until it reaches a layer of bedrock.
What forms a barrier to groundwater movement?
Bedrock
Bedrock, such as granite, prevents groundwater from moving deeper.
What happens when groundwater cannot move any deeper?
It begins to back up and fills the pores in the material above the bedrock
This accumulation can lead to the formation of aquifers.
What do people do to access groundwater?
They drill down into water-filled layers to make wells
Wells are used to pump groundwater to the surface.
What are some uses of groundwater once it is pumped to the surface?
Drinking water, factories, watering crops and livestock
Groundwater is a crucial resource for various human activities.
True or False: Cold water contains less oxygen than warm water.
False
Cold water contains more oxygen, benefiting aquatic life.
How do trees overhanging a stream affect the water?
They cool the water and help keep the oxygen levels high
This condition is beneficial for trout, salmon, and other stream-dwelling creatures.
Where is groundwater found?
Under Earth’s surface in small spaces between bits of soil and rock
Groundwater can be accessed through wells for various uses.
What is another term for a watershed?
Drainage basin
How many major drainage basins does Canada have?
Five
What are the primary bodies of water that precipitation in Canada drains into?
- Pacific Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean
- Arctic Ocean
- Hudson Bay
Where does some of Canada’s river water ultimately end up?
Gulf of Mexico
What happens to water that hits the ground?
It either filters into the groundwater or flows downhill
What is the term for water that flows across Earth’s surface?
Run-off
What is included in a watershed?
- Water
- Land
What is the area of land that drains into a body of water called?
Watershed or drainage basin
What does every stream contribute to?
A larger watershed
What is the continuous ridge of mountain ranges in North America called?
Continental Divide
What two main drainage areas does the Continental Divide separate?
- Northeast to Hudson Bay or Southeast to Gulf of Mexico
- West to the Pacific Ocean
What types of habitats can be found within a watershed?
- Rivers
- Streams
- Lakes
- Forests
- Farms
- Cities
Fill in the blank: A watershed includes both _______ and land.
water
True or False: All fresh water on Earth is part of a watershed.
True
What is the term for the process by which water returns to the atmosphere?
Evaporation
What happens to ice and snow that melts?
It eventually becomes part of the water cycle
Fill in the blank: A small stream in your neighborhood flows until it meets other _______.
small streams
What determines the size of a watershed?
Landforms
What are the headwaters of a watershed?
The upstream areas
What is the end point of the water flowing through a watershed called?
Outflow
Where is the outflow typically located?
River mouth
Which ocean do rivers in northern and central Alberta flow towards?
Arctic Ocean
What body of water do rivers in east central and southern Alberta flow into?
Hudson Bay
Where does a very small amount of water from southern Alberta end up?
Gulf of Mexico
Fill in the blank: The _______ of Alberta determines the direction water will flow.
geography
True or False: A raindrop in southern Saskatchewan could flow into the Mississippi River.
True
What can affect the path of a raindrop after it falls?
A breeze
If a raindrop lands slightly farther north, which river’s watershed could it fall into?
South Saskatchewan River
How many different watersheds can be found on the drainage basin map of Alberta?
Varies (requires reference to the map)
Watersheds of large rivers can cover many thousands of _______.
hectares
What happens when it rains in urban areas?
Water and pollutants drain into ditches and storm drains
This process can lead to increased runoff and pollution in nearby water bodies.
How can land use affect watersheds?
Activities like spilling gasoline, paving land, and flushing toilets impact the watershed
These activities can introduce pollutants and change the natural runoff patterns.
What is a watershed?
An area of land where all the water drains to a common body of water
Watersheds can vary significantly in size and shape.
What happens to water in a watershed when land is paved over?
Less water soaks into the soil, leading to increased runoff
Paved areas prevent water from infiltrating, which can cause flooding.
What are some land uses that can affect watersheds?
Paving, logging, and urban development
These activities can alter runoff patterns and water quality.
What role do Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play in water management?
They store data and generate maps to analyze watershed conditions
GIS can help predict the effects of changes in land use on water flow.
What factors influence the amount of water discharged by a watershed?
Soil conditions, vegetation, and human settlement patterns
Each of these factors can significantly change water runoff and availability.
How does runoff in urban areas compare to that in wetlands, forests, and prairies?
Urban areas typically have higher runoff compared to more natural areas
Natural areas allow more water to infiltrate and reduce surface runoff.
Fill in the blank: The watershed for a storm drain in a city is primarily affected by _______.
[urban development]
Urban development often leads to increased impervious surfaces.
True or False: Paving over land decreases the risk of flooding in urban areas.
False
Paving increases runoff, which can lead to higher flooding risk.
What can water managers predict using GIS?
The potential effects of changes in runoff patterns in a watershed
This includes impacts from construction, paving, or damming rivers.
What factors determine whether rain soaks into the ground or runs off?
The amount of rain, the time it takes to fall, and the slope of the land.
How does the slope of the land affect run-off?
Gentle slopes and flat areas hold water, while steep slopes cause water to run off quickly.
What role does vegetation play in run-off?
Vegetation slows down run-off and helps prevent soil erosion.
Fill in the blank: Plants and their roots act like _______ to soak up and hold water.
sponges
Which areas capture and store more water: urban areas or areas covered with vegetation?
Areas covered with vegetation.
What are headwaters?
The sources of rivers, usually found on steep slopes.
Describe the characteristics of headwaters.
Narrow, straight, fast-moving, often tumbling down waterfalls.
What happens to loose rocks and boulders in fast-moving rivers?
They are carried along by the water.
True or False: Wetlands, forests, and prairies have less run-off than paved roads and parking lots.
True
What is the effect of a lack of vegetation on soil?
It can lead to severe soil erosion.
Fill in the blank: Urban areas typically have more _______ than areas covered with vegetation.
run-off
What factors determine whether rain soaks into the ground or runs off?
The amount of rain, the time it takes to fall, and the slope of the land.
How does the slope of the land affect run-off?
Gentle slopes and flat areas hold water, while steep slopes cause water to run off quickly.
What role does vegetation play in run-off?
Vegetation slows down run-off and helps prevent soil erosion.
Fill in the blank: Plants and their roots act like _______ to soak up and hold water.
sponges
Which areas capture and store more water: urban areas or areas covered with vegetation?
Areas covered with vegetation.
What are headwaters?
The sources of rivers, usually found on steep slopes.
Describe the characteristics of headwaters.
Narrow, straight, fast-moving, often tumbling down waterfalls.
What happens to loose rocks and boulders in fast-moving rivers?
They are carried along by the water.
True or False: Wetlands, forests, and prairies have less run-off than paved roads and parking lots.
True
What is the effect of a lack of vegetation on soil?
It can lead to severe soil erosion.
Fill in the blank: Urban areas typically have more _______ than areas covered with vegetation.
run-off
What does a river carry downhill?
Water
A river transports water from the land back to a lake or ocean.
What process occurs when a river slows down and deposits materials?
Deposition
Deposition typically occurs in the lower reaches of the river, especially near the mouth.
In which part of the drainage basin do rivers typically carve steep valleys?
Higher parts
Steep valleys are carved in the higher parts of the drainage basin.
What shape do deposits typically form at the river’s mouth?
Fan-shaped deltas
Deltas are formed by the deposition of materials at the river’s mouth.
What determines how a river shapes the surrounding landscape?
Volume of water flowing
The volume, speed, and timing of flow are critical factors in shaping the landscape.
What are the three contributors to the volume of flow in a river?
- Rainflow
- Snowmelt
- Groundwater
These factors contribute to the overall volume of water in the river.
True or False: Streamflow remains constant throughout the year.
False
Streamflow varies from season to season and from year to year.
Fill in the blank: The process by which a river erodes materials from its bottom and banks is called _______.
Erosion
Erosion is the process of wearing away materials by the flowing water.
What is streamflow?
The amount of water discharged by a watershed
Streamflow involves measuring the volume of water that flows past a certain point over a period of time.
How do watershed managers measure streamflow?
By measuring the amount of water flowing through a stream channel over years to calculate average streamflow
This involves both volume and velocity measurements.
Why is knowing the streamflow important for watershed management?
It helps analyze water quality, warn about floods, predict drought conditions, and design irrigation and drainage projects
Accurate streamflow data is crucial for effective watershed management.
What units are commonly used to measure river flow?
Cubic metres per second (m³/s)
This measurement indicates how many cubic metres of water flow by in one second.
What is the significance of sediment transport in river flow monitoring?
The greater a river’s flow rate, the higher its ability to transport sediment
Sediment transport affects river ecology and the physical landscape.
What happens to sediments when a river slows down?
Sediments are deposited as the river lacks the energy to carry them
This leads to changes in the riverbed and surrounding environment.
How are sediments classified in river monitoring?
Depending on whether they are suspended, rolling or bouncing along the bottom, or stationary on the riverbed
This classification helps in understanding sediment dynamics.
Fill in the blank: The cube used to measure flow rates is _______ long, 1 m wide, and 1 m high.
1 m
True or False: Continuous monitoring of river depth and flow rates is conducted in all rivers.
False
Some rivers are monitored constantly, while others are measured intermittently.
What is the volume of water held in a cubic metre?
1000 liters
This volume is significant for understanding water quantities in rivers.
What effects do sediments carried by water have?
They have a variety of effects on river ecology and landscape
The presence and movement of sediments can impact habitats and water quality.
Why is monitoring sediment important?
Sediment plays a major role in the transport of pollutants
What can toxic chemicals do in relation to sediment?
Toxic chemicals can attach themselves to sediment particles
What impact can sediment particles have on aquatic environments?
Sediment particles can transport and deposit toxic chemicals in other areas
What can scientists determine by studying sediment in a stream or river?
They can determine the sources of pollutants and assess their impact
What can be done once the sources and impacts of pollutants are known?
Steps can be taken to reduce the pollutants
How can sediment affect fish habitats?
Sediment particles can carry toxic agricultural and industrial chemicals
What effects can toxic chemicals have on fish?
They can cause abnormalities or death in fish
What farming practices can increase soil erosion?
Certain farming practices can add sediment-borne toxic chemicals to the environment
How can sediment data be useful for evaluating farming practices?
It can help evaluate their environmental effects
What is one consequence of sediment deposition in rivers or lakes?
It can decrease water depth, making navigation difficult
How does sediment affect water delivery?
It can wear out pumps and turbines at water supply stations
What is sediment load?
Sediment load indicates the total amount of sediment transported over a specific time
How much sediment does the St. Lawrence River transport annually?
2.3 million tonnes of sediment each year
How many truckloads is 2.3 million tonnes of sediment equivalent to?
230,000 truckloads of soil
What is the average annual sediment transport of the Fraser River?
20 million tonnes of sediment a year
What was the peak flow rate of the Peace River measured at?
18,500 m/s
How long would it take to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool at the peak flow of the Peace River?
0.14 seconds
Fill in the blank: Sediment can affect the delivery of _______.
water
Why is monitoring sediment important?
Sediment plays a major role in the transport of pollutants
What can toxic chemicals do in relation to sediment?
Toxic chemicals can attach themselves to sediment particles
What impact can sediment particles have on aquatic environments?
Sediment particles can transport and deposit toxic chemicals in other areas
What can scientists determine by studying sediment in a stream or river?
They can determine the sources of pollutants and assess their impact
What can be done once the sources and impacts of pollutants are known?
Steps can be taken to reduce the pollutants
How can sediment affect fish habitats?
Sediment particles can carry toxic agricultural and industrial chemicals
What effects can toxic chemicals have on fish?
They can cause abnormalities or death in fish
What farming practices can increase soil erosion?
Certain farming practices can add sediment-borne toxic chemicals to the environment
How can sediment data be useful for evaluating farming practices?
It can help evaluate their environmental effects
What is one consequence of sediment deposition in rivers or lakes?
It can decrease water depth, making navigation difficult
How does sediment affect water delivery?
It can wear out pumps and turbines at water supply stations
What is sediment load?
Sediment load indicates the total amount of sediment transported over a specific time
How much sediment does the St. Lawrence River transport annually?
2.3 million tonnes of sediment each year
How many truckloads is 2.3 million tonnes of sediment equivalent to?
230,000 truckloads of soil
What is the average annual sediment transport of the Fraser River?
20 million tonnes of sediment a year
What was the peak flow rate of the Peace River measured at?
18,500 m/s
How long would it take to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool at the peak flow of the Peace River?
0.14 seconds
Fill in the blank: Sediment can affect the delivery of _______.
water
What percentage of Alberta’s natural slough and marsh wetland area has been lost?
More than 70 percent
The loss is attributed to farming and urban development.
What is a de-sedimentation site used for?
To prevent sediment from entering waterways
It addresses sediment loss from construction sites.
What happens to rivers like the Fraser in British Columbia?
They are dredged to deepen the riverbed
Dredging helps manage sediment accumulation.
What is one effective method to restore an eroded river?
Planting native vegetation along its banks
This stabilizes soil and reduces erosion.
What are ‘digger logs’ used for?
To help deepen the river channel
They force water down to manage sediment.
What are rip-rap structures used for?
To reinforce banks against severe erosion
They consist of reinforced rock baskets.
What is the main function of wetlands?
To reduce erosion
They store excess water and slow runoff.
True or False: Wetlands can trap and neutralize harmful chemicals in runoff.
True
This is one of their important ecological functions.
Fill in the blank: A major consequence of construction sites is the loss of _______.
sediment
Sediment can enter sewer or stream systems.
What percentage of Albertans depend on groundwater for their water supply?
More than 25 percent
What are the main uses of groundwater by farmers?
Irrigation, domestic use, and livestock
How does groundwater contribute to lakes?
It contributes to the water level in some lakes
What role does groundwater play in river systems during low flow seasons?
It helps keep their channels from drying up
How is a groundwater system similar to a river system?
Both have a system of water flow, but groundwater uses pores instead of channels
What makes soil or rock permeable?
Connected pore spaces that allow water to pass through
What is an example of a permeable rock?
Sandstone
What characterizes highly permeable soil or rock?
Many connected pores that allow water to pass easily
What is the term for material that has small pore spaces or no pores at all?
Impermeable material
What happens to water in highly porous rocks like sandstone?
It can form an underground river system connected by pores
What is an aquifer?
A system of water flowing through porous rock
How does water flow in an aquifer compared to surface rivers?
It moves very slowly
How long might it take for groundwater to travel through 1 km of sand?
80 years or more
What forms a water table?
The layer of porous rock in which all pores are full of water
What happens to the level of a water table during wet and dry seasons?
It rises closer to the surface in wet seasons and sinks lower in dry seasons
What is the approximate ratio of fresh water underground compared to that on the surface?
About 37 times the amount on the surface
To what depth does about half of the underground fresh water saturate the rock and soil?
Nearly 1 km
How deep is the remaining half of the underground water trapped?
1-5 km below Earth’s surface
Fill in the blank: The amount of fresh water underground is about _______ times the amount on the surface.
37
True or False: Groundwater systems have channels that connect different parts of the drainage basin.
False
What percentage of Albertans depend on groundwater for their water supply?
More than 25 percent
What are the main uses of groundwater by farmers?
Irrigation, domestic use, and livestock
How does groundwater contribute to lakes?
It contributes to the water level in some lakes
What role does groundwater play in river systems during low flow seasons?
It helps keep their channels from drying up
How is a groundwater system similar to a river system?
Both have a system of water flow, but groundwater uses pores instead of channels
What makes soil or rock permeable?
Connected pore spaces that allow water to pass through
What is an example of a permeable rock?
Sandstone
What characterizes highly permeable soil or rock?
Many connected pores that allow water to pass easily
What is the term for material that has small pore spaces or no pores at all?
Impermeable material
What happens to water in highly porous rocks like sandstone?
It can form an underground river system connected by pores
What is an aquifer?
A system of water flowing through porous rock
How does water flow in an aquifer compared to surface rivers?
It moves very slowly
How long might it take for groundwater to travel through 1 km of sand?
80 years or more
What forms a water table?
The layer of porous rock in which all pores are full of water
What happens to the level of a water table during wet and dry seasons?
It rises closer to the surface in wet seasons and sinks lower in dry seasons
What is the approximate ratio of fresh water underground compared to that on the surface?
About 37 times the amount on the surface
To what depth does about half of the underground fresh water saturate the rock and soil?
Nearly 1 km
How deep is the remaining half of the underground water trapped?
1-5 km below Earth’s surface
Fill in the blank: The amount of fresh water underground is about _______ times the amount on the surface.
37
True or False: Groundwater systems have channels that connect different parts of the drainage basin.
False
What forms when groundwater flows naturally out onto the surface?
A spring
Where do springs usually occur?
On hillsides or in gullies
What type of springs produce steaming hot water?
Hot springs
How are hot springs formed?
Groundwater is heated by rocks that come in contact with molten material under Earth’s surface
What is a well-known hot springs area in Canada?
Banff, Alberta
What happens to underground aquifers when too much water is withdrawn?
They can be depleted
What are some consequences of aquifer depletion?
- Local supplies fall short
- Creeks, springs, and wells can go dry
What is a reasonable response to aquifer depletion?
Using less water
What are the benefits of water conservation?
- Leaves more water in rivers, streams, and aquifers
- Good for wildlife
- Saves money on water and sewage bills
What historical development occurred in the twelfth century in the French region of Artois?
People began digging wells from which water flowed without any need of a pump
What are wells called that do not require a pump?
Artesian wells
What is groundwater contamination?
Addition of undesirable substances to groundwater caused by human activities
Contaminants can include hazardous wastes, chemicals, heavy metals, and oil.
How does groundwater spread contamination?
It carries soluble contaminants far beyond the site of the original contamination
What are the two categories of sources of groundwater contaminants?
- Point sources
- Non-point sources
Define point sources of contamination.
Sources where the pollutant originates from a small, defined area
Give examples of point sources.
- Leaking gasoline storage tanks
- Leaking septic tanks
- Accidental spills
- Municipal landfills
- Industrial waste disposal sites
Define non-point sources of contamination.
Sources where a pollutant comes from a wide area
Give an example of a non-point source.
Run-off from farmland treated with pesticides and fertilizers
Who are hydrogeologists?
Scientists who study groundwater
What do hydrogeologists do to learn about aquifers?
They drill wells to collect samples and record the depth of different rock formations
What type of information do hydrogeologists gather from drilling?
- Characteristics of an aquifer
- Groundwater availability
- Groundwater movement
- Groundwater quantity
- Groundwater quality
What factors do water quality specialists consider when analyzing groundwater?
Land use practices in the watershed and vicinity of the well
Fill in the blank: Groundwater can spread the effects of dumps and spills far beyond the site of the original _______.
[contamination]
True or False: Non-point sources of contamination are easier to identify than point sources.
False
What is the primary water dilemma in Alberta?
There is often too much water in northern Alberta and not enough in southern Alberta.
What can rapidly flowing water in northern Alberta do?
It can destroy and erode agricultural land.
How do the river volumes in southern Alberta compare to those in northern Alberta?
Southern Alberta’s rivers carry smaller volumes of water.
What is the agricultural, industrial, and municipal demand for water like in southern Alberta?
It is very high.
What risk do some river channels in southern Alberta face during the hot summer months?
They are in danger of drying up.
What is a significant use of water in Alberta?
Agriculture, particularly irrigation.
What percentage of Alberta’s population lives in southern Alberta?
Almost 40 percent.
How many urban communities in southern Alberta rely on irrigation systems for domestic water supply?
Nearly 50.
What is one example of a water management project in Alberta?
The Western Irrigation District.
How long is the canal system used by the Western Irrigation District?
1200 km.
What does the Western Irrigation District deliver water to?
- Farmers
- Acreage owners
- Various industrial customers
What additional services does the Western Irrigation District provide?
- Storm water removal systems
- Municipal water for several towns
How are many people using irrigation canals helping to conserve water?
By using more efficient irrigation equipment.
What percentage of Alberta’s total cultivated land base is irrigated?
4 percent.
What percentage of Alberta’s total agricultural production comes from irrigated areas?
16 percent.
What benefit does irrigation provide to farmers?
It protects them against drought.
What high-value crops can grow in Alberta due to irrigation?
- Beans
- Peas
- Sugar beets
- Potatoes
- Ginseng
- Mint
True or False: Canada diverts more water through the use of dams and canals than any other country in the world.
True
What major impact do hydroelectric projects have?
They flood large areas, affecting habitats
Some flooded areas can be larger than entire countries.
What can cause a river system to have too much water?
Rapid spring melting and heavy spring rains
This can lead to overflow and flooding.
What is the area called where a river overflows its banks?
Flood plain
This area can be severely impacted by flooding.
What disaster occurred in 1997 related to flooding?
The Red River flood in Manitoba
It caused great social and economic damage, forcing over 28,000 evacuations.
What are some purposes of building dams?
- Irrigation
- Flood control
- Water supply
- Hydroelectricity generation
Dams are essential for managing water resources.
What must be evaluated before a dam is built?
Short-term and long-term impacts
This assessment is crucial for environmental protection.
Which agency must approve all dam projects in Alberta?
Alberta Environment
They ensure that environmental standards are met before construction.
What is a potential consequence of building a dam on a river?
Reduced diversity of organisms downstream
The altered river flow can create a less varied ecosystem.
Fill in the blank: A dam might be placed across a river to store water for the _______.
[dry southern Alberta summers]
What percentage of Earth’s surface is covered by oceans?
About 70 percent
What is the total volume of the oceans?
About 1.35 billion cubic kilometres
What are the broad, slow-flowing movements of water at the ocean’s surface called?
Rivers
What type of water movements occur below the ocean’s surface?
Huge masses of cold water creep along the ocean floor and rise to the surface
True or False: The ocean is always still.
False
How do oceans affect weather?
Oceans influence the weather each day
What resources are found on the ocean floor?
- Oil
- Gas
- Minerals
What fraction of the Earth’s surface do oceans cover?
Two thirds
How many oceans are there in the world?
One ocean (all ocean water is connected)
Fill in the blank: Our planet could be called __________ instead of Earth.
Ocean
What types of questions might you have about the ocean?
- How deep is the ocean?
- How can whales dive to great depths?
- What do jellyfish eat?
Where can you go to have your ocean-related questions answered?
Visit a marine scientist or the specified website
What can you prepare using the information found about oceans?
A short illustrated report
What is the average amount of dissolved salts in seawater?
35 g per 1000 g of seawater
This is expressed as 35 parts per thousand (pp)
What is the most common salt found in ocean water?
Sodium chloride
This is the same chemical substance as table salt
What is salinity?
The measure of the amount of salts dissolved in a liquid
Where do the salts in the ocean primarily come from?
Rocks on land
Rivers and groundwater pick up salts from rocks and carry them to the ocean
How much greater is the concentration of sodium in seawater compared to fresh water?
About 16,000 times greater
What percentage of ocean water is composed of salts?
3.5%
This equates to 35 g of salts per liter of seawater
What would happen if the total amount of salt in the oceans were dried and spread over the Earth?
It would produce a layer 45 m thick
What is the composition of ocean water by mass?
96.5% water, 3.5% salts
List the major components of salts in seawater.
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Magnesium
- Sulphate
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Others
True or False: Fresh water contains many of the same dissolved substances as seawater in larger proportions.
False
Fresh water contains the same substances but in far smaller proportions
Fill in the blank: Ocean water is _______.
salty
What is the approximate percentage of chloride in ocean water?
55%
Chloride is one of the most abundant ions in seawater
How much sand, silt, and mud does the Fraser River dump each year?
20 million tonnes
What is the significance of the salts found in ocean water?
Almost every chemical substance on Earth can be found in seawater, including gold and silver
Why isn’t the ocean getting saltier despite being continually fed salt from the land?
The ocean is continually mixed by sea water motion, leading to similar substance levels across different areas.
What is a significant source of chemicals in seawater?
Volcanoes contribute chemicals such as chlorine and sulphur to seawater.
How do gases from volcanic eruptions on land affect seawater?
Gases circulate in the atmosphere and can dissolve in surface waters or be carried by rainfall.
Fill in the blank: Rivers from different areas of land carry different _______ into the seas.
salts
True or False: Samples of water from any part of the ocean generally contain different substances due to varying river inputs.
False
What role does the motion of sea water play in the composition of seawater?
It mixes different salts together, resulting in similar substances throughout the ocean.
Fill in the blank: Molten lava and gases from volcanic eruptions add materials such as _______ and sulphur to seawater.
chlorine
What is the largest ecosystem on Earth?
The oceans
Oceans cover a vast area and contain diverse life forms.
At what depth does visible light penetrate the ocean?
About 100 m
Below this depth, the ocean is pitch-black.
What are the main forces that shape the features of ocean basins?
Movements of Earth’s tectonic plates
Unlike land features shaped by water and weather, ocean features are shaped by tectonic activity.
What features can be found in ocean basins?
- Mountain ranges
- Steep valleys
- Vast plains
These features are much bigger than those found on land.
How do tectonic plates affect the oceans?
They cause some oceans to expand and others to shrink
This movement results in the changing shape of oceans over time.
What is the continental shelf?
The submerged border of a continent that slopes gradually into the ocean
It is part of the ocean floor that is relatively shallow.
What is the mid-Atlantic ridge?
An underwater mountain range formed by tectonic plate movements
It is a key feature of the ocean floor.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is a flat area of the ocean floor that lies at great depths.
abyssal plain
Abyssal plains are among the flattest and smoothest areas on Earth.
What is the continental slope?
The steep descent from the continental shelf to the ocean floor
It marks the transition between the continental crust and oceanic crust.
True or False: Winds and rivers play a significant role in shaping the ocean floor.
False
Unlike land, the ocean floor is not shaped by weathering processes like wind and rain.
What advancements have helped scientists learn about the ocean floor?
Advanced technology and satellite imagery
These tools have improved our understanding of underwater features.
What is the maximum age of ocean basins?
No older than 200 million years
Determined by the age of fossils on the ocean floor.
What geological feature is formed by heated material rising and pushing tectonic plates apart?
New sea floor material
This process occurs at mid-ocean ridges.
What happens to the Atlantic Ocean as North America and Europe are carried apart?
The Atlantic Ocean is expanding
They are moving about 3 cm further apart each year.
What are the long undersea mountain chains called that run along the center of the oceans?
Ocean ridges
These are the youngest areas of the sea floor.
What is the depth of the Marianas Trench?
11 km below sea level
Deep enough to submerge an object as tall as Mount Everest.
What features of the sea floor are related to plate movements?
Ocean ridges and trenches
Ocean ridges are formed by volcanic eruptions, while trenches form where ocean plates push against continental plates.
Fill in the blank: Ocean ridges are more than ______ km wide and rise ______ to ______ m above the sea floor.
1000; 1000; 3000
Ocean ridges are significant geological features formed by tectonic activity.
True or False: Most trenches occur around the margin of the Atlantic Ocean.
False
Most trenches occur around the margin of the Pacific Ocean.
What geological feature is formed at the edges of tectonic plates where one plate pushes against another?
Trenches
These canyons are steep-sided and occur at plate boundaries.
What is the role of molten lava at ocean ridges?
It flows from the ridges and hardens into new plate material
This process pushes tectonic plates farther apart.
What happens to an ocean plate when it pushes against a continental plate?
It bends steeply down beneath the continental plate
This process contributes to the formation of trenches.
What are abyssal plains?
Wide, flat features of the deep sea formed of thick deposits of sediment, up to 1 km deep in places.
Abyssal plains are found between high mountain ranges and deep trenches on the ocean floor.
How do sediments reach the deep sea floor?
They are carried by underwater landslides initiated by earthquakes or gravity.
Massive volumes of mud and sand slump down the slopes at the edge of the continents.
What is the continental shelf?
A submerged part of the continent between the coast and the edge of the ocean basin.
The continental shelf begins many kilometers out at sea.
What happens at the edge of the continental shelf?
The continental slope drops steeply downward to the sea floor.
Continental slopes are usually less than 200 km wide.
What is the width of continental shelves along coastlines with high mountains?
Usually less than about 30 km.
These narrow shelves occur where tectonic plates are moving together.
What is the typical width of continental shelves along other coastlines?
They may extend more than 300 km out into the sea.
What is the depth range of continental slopes?
They descend to about 3 km.
Continental slopes are characterized by steep angles.
What are the two main regions of the ocean floor?
The continental margin (continental shelf and slope) and the ocean basin.
Fill in the blank: The sediments on abyssal plains come from the _______.
continents.
True or False: Abyssal plains are formed by volcanic activity.
False.
What is a crest in ocean waves?
The highest part of the wave
The crest is a key feature of waves, indicating their maximum height.
What is wave height?
The distance from the crest to the trough of a wave
Wave height is an important measurement in understanding wave dynamics.
What is a trough in ocean waves?
The lowest part of the wave
The trough complements the crest in defining wave height.
What is wavelength?
The distance from one crest to the next
Wavelength is crucial for distinguishing different types of waves.
What primarily causes ocean waves?
Steady winds blowing over the water
Winds create ripples that develop into larger waves.
What happens to wave height with increased wind speed, duration, or distance?
Wave height increases
All three factors contribute to the energy and size of waves.
What is the typical wave height produced by normal winds?
2-5 meters
This range represents average conditions on the ocean surface.
What wave height can hurricane winds create?
30 meters
This height is comparable to two-thirds the height of Niagara Falls.
What are swells?
Smooth waves caused by winds and storms far out at sea
Swells can be observed even on calm days near the shore.
What common features do ocean waves share with sound, light, and radio waves?
Height, wavelength, and speed of motion
These features are essential in the study of all wave types.
How is the speed of a wave measured?
By the time required for one wave to pass a given point
Speed is a critical characteristic that affects wave behavior.
What natural events can cause some of the highest ocean waves?
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides on the sea floor.
These events give the ocean water a push, similar to creating a wave in a bathtub.
What are giant waves produced by sea-floor events called?
Tsunamis.
Tsunamis can be caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.
What is the wavelength of a tsunami?
May be 150 km.
Tsunamis can travel over the open ocean at high speeds.
At what speed can a tsunami travel over the open ocean?
Up to 800 km/h.
What happens to a tsunami as it approaches land?
The speeding water is pushed up into a towering, destructive wave with a height of 15 m or more.
True or False: Only humans enjoy surfing in the ocean.
False.
Other animals like sea lions, seals, and even whales have been known to catch waves.
How do water particles move as a wave passes near the ocean surface?
In a circular motion.
The particles end up in nearly the same position as where they started.
What happens to a wave as it reaches the shore?
It changes shape due to friction and collapses onshore as a breaker.
What happens to the wave height and wavelength when a wave approaches the shore?
Wave height increases and wavelength decreases.
What is the term for the tumble of water when a wave collapses onshore?
Breaker.
Fill in the blank: When the trough of the wave touches the beach, it is slowed down by _______.
friction.
What allows a surfer to ride a wave to shore?
The forward motion of the crest.
What shapes and reshapes shorelines around the world?
The energy in waves
Waves have a significant impact on coastal geography.
What is the difference between shorelines with churning waters and those with gentle waves?
Churning waters swirl rocks and pebbles; gentle waves lap broad, gently-sloping beaches of fine sand.
What factors influence why one shoreline has a sandy beach while another does not?
The type of rock and the shape of the shoreline.
What is a longshore current?
A current of water that runs along the shore, carrying sediments.
How do waves shape shorelines?
By eroding and redepositing sediments.
What happens when a longshore current isn’t carrying all of the sand it can?
It uses extra energy to erode more shoreline sediments.
What common features are often found along shorelines?
Rocks and cliffs.
What forms when waves wear away rocks over time?
Hollows that can enlarge into sea arches or caves.
What can happen when too much erosion occurs?
Overhanging rock may fall off into the ocean.
What happens to rock fragments broken from cliffs?
They are ground into sediments by waves.
What role do longshore currents play in sediment transport?
They transport sediments along the shore.
How can seawater contribute to erosion?
By dissolving certain minerals in rock.
How much can erosion occur in rocky shorelines in a year?
Up to 1 meter.
Fill in the blank: Waves can erode areas of rocky shorelines by as much as _______ in a year.
1 m
True or False: Longshore currents carry sediments in a direction perpendicular to the shore.
False
What might a barnacle or mussel living on a rocky coastline predict about coping with crashing waves?
They would need to adapt to the constant force of the waves.
What are sea caves and arches formed by?
Erosion by waves and wind.
What shapes and reshapes shorelines around the world?
The energy in waves
Waves have a significant impact on coastal geography.
What is the difference between shorelines with churning waters and those with gentle waves?
Churning waters swirl rocks and pebbles; gentle waves lap broad, gently-sloping beaches of fine sand.
What factors influence why one shoreline has a sandy beach while another does not?
The type of rock and the shape of the shoreline.
What is a longshore current?
A current of water that runs along the shore, carrying sediments.
How do waves shape shorelines?
By eroding and redepositing sediments.
What happens when a longshore current isn’t carrying all of the sand it can?
It uses extra energy to erode more shoreline sediments.
What common features are often found along shorelines?
Rocks and cliffs.
What forms when waves wear away rocks over time?
Hollows that can enlarge into sea arches or caves.
What can happen when too much erosion occurs?
Overhanging rock may fall off into the ocean.
What happens to rock fragments broken from cliffs?
They are ground into sediments by waves.
What role do longshore currents play in sediment transport?
They transport sediments along the shore.
How can seawater contribute to erosion?
By dissolving certain minerals in rock.
How much can erosion occur in rocky shorelines in a year?
Up to 1 meter.
Fill in the blank: Waves can erode areas of rocky shorelines by as much as _______ in a year.
1 m
True or False: Longshore currents carry sediments in a direction perpendicular to the shore.
False
What might a barnacle or mussel living on a rocky coastline predict about coping with crashing waves?
They would need to adapt to the constant force of the waves.
What are sea caves and arches formed by?
Erosion by waves and wind.
What are ‘singing sands’?
‘Singing sands’ are special sands that make a fiddie-like sound when rubbed.
Found in places like Nova Scotia, these sands are thought to be influenced by a gel-like substance coating the sand grains.
Who is EJ. Pratt?
EJ. Pratt was a Canadian poet (1882-1964).
He wrote a poem about the sea that describes the geological features formed over a thousand years.
What happens to rock fragments carried from the coast by waves?
Rock fragments are smoothed and ground down into smaller pebbles and grains of sand.
This process occurs as they rub against each other in the surging water.
What do beaches consist of?
Beaches consist of deposits of sediment that range in size from fine grains of sand to pebbles and small boulders.
Most beach sediments are fragments of hard minerals such as quartz, and can also include seashells and coral.
How do winter and summer waves affect beaches?
In winter, strong waves erode beaches, making them narrower. In summer, calm waves deposit sediments, rebuilding beaches.
This constant action of waves keeps beaches in a state of change.
What are some structures built to protect beaches from erosion?
Structures include sea-walls, breakwaters, jetties, and groins.
These barriers help slow down wave forces and reduce sand movement along shorelines.
What is the purpose of jetties?
Jetties are walls that extend from land into the ocean to prevent sand from blocking river or harbour mouths.
They are commonly built in coastal areas to aid navigation.
Fill in the blank: Beaches are in a constant state of _______.
change
True or False: Beaches are only formed from sand.
False
Beaches can also include pebbles, boulders, and fragments of seashells and coral.
What do the continuous actions of ocean waves do to coastlines?
They sculpt the land by taking away bits and adding pieces, resulting in features like sandy beaches.
This process resembles the work of a sculptor.
What are tides?
The slow rise and fall of the ocean that covers and uncovers ocean beaches in regular daily cycles.
What determines the upper and lower edges of a beach?
The high-tide mark and the low-tide mark.
What is the relationship between tides and the Moon?
The cycle of tidal movement is linked to the motion of the Moon.
What are spring tides?
The largest tidal movements that occur when Earth, Moon, and Sun are in a line.
When do spring tides occur?
Twice per month, at full Moon and at new Moon.
What are neap tides?
The smallest tidal movements that occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other.
When do neap tides occur?
Twice per month, during the first-quarter phase and third-quarter phase of the Moon.
What is the tidal range?
The difference in level between a high tide and a low tide.
What is the primary force responsible for tidal movements?
The pull of the Moon’s gravity on the ocean.
How does the Sun influence tides compared to the Moon?
The Sun has less than half as much influence on the tides as the Moon does, despite its greater size.
What happens to the gravitational pull during spring tides?
The Sun adds its gravitational pull to the Moon’s, producing a large tidal range.
What happens to the gravitational pull during neap tides?
The Sun’s pull works against the Moon’s, resulting in less variation between high and low tides.
Fill in the blank: The origin of the word spring comes from the German word _______.
springen
True or False: The volume of the ocean increases as the tide rises.
False
What analogy is used to describe how water moves during tides?
Water sloshing from one end of a bathtub to the other.
What is a tide?
A tide is a giant wave, 1 or 2 m high and several thousands of kilometres long.
What happens to sea level during high tide?
Sea level appears to rise.
What happens to sea level during low tide?
Sea level appears to drop.
How often do tides generally rise and fall on many of Earth’s shorelines?
About twice a day.
What celestial body’s cycle influences the timing of tides?
The Moon.
What causes the second bulge of water on the side of Earth that faces away from the Moon?
The Moon pulls more strongly on Earth itself than on the ocean on the far side.
What is the effect of the Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans?
It causes the ocean to bulge on the side of Earth facing the Moon and creates a second bulge on the opposite side.
Fill in the blank: A tide causes a low tide along the opposite coastline due to the _______.
movement of water.
True or False: The sequence of high and low tides follows each other around the world.
True.
What is the time interval between one tide and the next?
The time interval varies but generally follows a pattern based on the Moon’s cycle.
What does the tidal pattern depend on?
The gravitational pull of the Moon and Earth’s rotation.
Describe how tides are similar to waves produced by wind.
Both tides and wind-produced waves involve the movement of water and are influenced by external forces.
What occurs in the areas between the two high tide bulges?
The ocean’s surface falls.
What time does high tide occur on July 1 according to the sample tide table?
1:00 a.m.
What is one factor that contributes to the rising and falling of tides?
Earth’s rotation.
What is a tide?
A tide is a giant wave, 1 or 2 m high and several thousands of kilometres long.
What happens to sea level during high tide?
Sea level appears to rise.
What happens to sea level during low tide?
Sea level appears to drop.
How often do tides generally rise and fall on many of Earth’s shorelines?
About twice a day.
What celestial body’s cycle influences the timing of tides?
The Moon.
What causes the second bulge of water on the side of Earth that faces away from the Moon?
The Moon pulls more strongly on Earth itself than on the ocean on the far side.
What is the effect of the Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans?
It causes the ocean to bulge on the side of Earth facing the Moon and creates a second bulge on the opposite side.
Fill in the blank: A tide causes a low tide along the opposite coastline due to the _______.
movement of water.
True or False: The sequence of high and low tides follows each other around the world.
True.
What is the time interval between one tide and the next?
The time interval varies but generally follows a pattern based on the Moon’s cycle.
What does the tidal pattern depend on?
The gravitational pull of the Moon and Earth’s rotation.
Describe how tides are similar to waves produced by wind.
Both tides and wind-produced waves involve the movement of water and are influenced by external forces.
What occurs in the areas between the two high tide bulges?
The ocean’s surface falls.
What time does high tide occur on July 1 according to the sample tide table?
1:00 a.m.
What is one factor that contributes to the rising and falling of tides?
Earth’s rotation.
What do some scientists study to track ocean currents?
Objects lost in shipping containers
Examples include running shoes, rubber ducks, and hockey equipment.
What is an ocean current?
A massive river within the ocean that flows in one direction
Ocean currents connect one place with another.
What can scientists predict based on where and when items are lost at sea?
How long it will take for the items to come ashore and what current they might take
True or False: A message in a bottle is very common to find on beaches.
False
Fill in the blank: Floating objects are carried over thousands of kilometres of ocean by broad, continuous movements of ocean water called _______.
currents
What happens to many objects lost or thrown from ships far out at sea?
They eventually make their way to land
How do ocean currents compare to rivers?
They flow in one direction and connect places
What drives surface currents in the ocean?
Winds
In which layer of the ocean do most surface currents flow?
Top 100-200 m of water
What results from major wind patterns?
Steady flow of currents
What direction do winds travel north of the equator?
Clockwise
What direction do winds travel south of the equator?
Counterclockwise
Name the three factors that influence the direction of winds and surface currents.
- Uneven heating of the atmosphere
- Rotation of Earth
- Continents
What causes winds to form?
Uneven heating of the atmosphere
What happens to warm air as it expands?
It moves upward and outward, creating low air pressure
How does the rotation of Earth affect ocean currents in the northern hemisphere?
Currents turn to their right
How does the rotation of Earth affect ocean currents in the southern hemisphere?
Currents turn to their left
What are the winds called that blow along the equator?
Trade winds
What direction do trade winds push ocean currents?
Toward the west
What direction do westerly winds drive currents toward the polar regions?
From west to east
What effect do continents have on moving currents?
They force currents to turn either north or south
What is the overall circulation pattern of ocean currents in the northern hemisphere?
Clockwise
What is the overall circulation pattern of ocean currents in the southern hemisphere?
Counterclockwise
Fill in the blank: The combined influence of winds, continents, and the Earth’s rotation keeps ocean currents circulating _______.
Clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere
True or False: Currents in the ocean do not change direction when they meet continents.
False
What happens to the density of water as it gets colder up to 4°C?
Its density increases
Water achieves its maximum density at 4°C.
What occurs to the density of water when it is cooled to 0°C?
It decreases
This results in bodies of water freezing from the top down.
How would life on Earth be affected if bodies of water froze from the bottom up?
It would disrupt ecosystems and water life
This is a hypothetical scenario based on the density properties of water.
What is the expected change in water temperature at different depths in the ocean?
It does not decrease steadily; it forms three distinct layers
Water is warmest near the surface due to solar heating.
What primarily provides the heat for the ocean?
The Sun
Winds and waves help mix this heat through the surface waters.
What happens to water temperature below a depth of about 200 m?
It begins to drop rapidly
The temperature may fall from 20°C to 5°C in the thermocline region.
What is the thermocline?
A region of rapid temperature decline between 200 m and 1000 m
Below the thermocline, ocean water remains very cold.
What is the temperature of ocean water close to the ocean floor?
It is close to the freezing point
This is due to the lack of sunlight penetration at deeper depths.
How does heat move in a bathtub of water?
By circulating the water
Similar to how surface currents in the ocean carry heat.
Where do warm ocean currents begin?
Near the equator
This is where the Sun’s heat is most intense.
How do warm ocean currents affect the climate?
They influence climate and sea life in the regions they move to
This is due to the heat they carry.
What is the warm water current that affects Britain’s climate?
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream starts in the Caribbean Sea and flows north along the east coast of North America.
How does the Gulf Stream affect the climate in Britain?
It carries warm water, resulting in a milder climate
This allows subtropical palm trees to grow in southwest England.
What is the relationship between ocean currents and climate?
Warm ocean currents transfer heat to the atmosphere
They act as heat reservoirs, affecting weather systems near shorelines.
What is the heat capacity of water?
Very high
It takes a relatively long time to heat up or cool down.
From where do cold currents flow?
Arctic and Antarctic regions
Cold currents draw heat from the air.
What is an example of a cold current mentioned in the text?
Labrador Current
It flows south from Baffin Bay along the east coast of Newfoundland.
What is the effect of the Labrador Current on the climate?
It draws heat from the air
It carries icy cold water and icebergs into the North Atlantic Ocean.
Fill in the blank: The Gulf Stream moves about _______ of water per second.
26,000,000 m³
This is about 1000 times more than the Mississippi River.
What happens to the temperature difference between water and land?
It affects weather systems near the shoreline
These systems produce breezes that alter evaporation and condensation processes.
What kind of winters does the warm current from California result in?
Mild, but wet winters
This current flows northwards along the west coast of Canada.
True or False: Warm currents flow from the equator.
True
Warm currents significantly influence the climate of the regions they flow past.
What is the difference between climate and weather?
Climate is long-term atmospheric conditions, while weather is short-term
Definitions can be checked against the glossary in the textbook.
