Environmental unit 7 Flashcards
Algae blooms are most often caused by _____.
eutrophication
Which parameter greatly affects the toxicity level of other parameters?
pH
a natural or artificial place to store water
reservoir
a region that drains into a certain water body
watershed
Approximately _____% of trash in the ocean originally came from land
80
Leaking underground storage tanks that contain gasoline is an example of ______.
point-source pollution
the process of introducing bacteria and other living organisms that eat oil, helping it break down faster
bioremedation
the settling of materials at the bottom of a liquid
sedimentation
A(n) _____ aquifer is most easily polluted.
unconfined
the lack of clean water or available water resources to meet water usage demands in a region
water scarcity
______ is the number-one way people use fresh water.
Agriculture
Too much _____ can lead to a decrease in photosynthesis in aquatic life.
turbidity
A(n) _____ aquifer is most easily recharged.
unconfined
materials that can be broken down by living organisms
biodegradable
eutrophication caused by human activities
cultural eutrophication
the result of excess nutrients in an aquatic ecosystem, which causes excess plant and algae growth
eutrophication
If trees in the _____ are removed, water temperatures can increase in streams.
riparian zone
Groundwater is a _____ resource.
renewable
Approximately ______% of oil spills come from human activities.
85%
Fossil water is a _____ resource.
nonrenewable
the settling of very small particles such as silt and clay
siltation
aims to make all surface water from natural sources safe for swimming and fishing
Clean Water Act
allows the EPA to control toxic waste and sewage dumping in U.S. waters
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
centers around protecting both surface water and groundwater from pollution
Safe Drinking Water Act
supports state and local regions in cleaning polluted runoff
Water Quality Act
Chemicals added to roads is an example of _____.
nonpoint-source pollution
the measure of how well water can move through the pores in a substance
permeability
a measure of how many holes are in a substance
porosity
water added to aquifers through precipitation
recharge
an aquifer in which the water infiltrates the ground directly above the aquifer
unconfined aquifer
The usable fresh water people need is found in ____.
watersheds
______ is the process of removing salt from ocean water.
Desalination
A tourist stepping on coral can cause _____.
coral bleaching
_____ uses the process of diffusion through a membrane to desalinate water.
Reverse osmosis
underground rocks and formations that are able to hold groundwater
aquifer
an aquifer with a surface that keeps water from infiltrating, so the water must enter the aquifer at a point farther away
unconfined aquifer
water trapped in ancient aquifers formed 12,000 years or more ago
fossil water
water that has infiltrated below the ground
groundwater
The amount of water it took to grow the wheat in an imported sack of grain is known as _____ water.
virtual
Soil erosion leads to an increase of _____ pollution in water.
suspended solids
