Fresh and Saltwater Systems: Checkpoint 1/2 Flashcards
What percent of earths surface is made of water?
71%
What are the two influences on the many variations of earths water supply?
Natural occurrences and human activities.
What water do humans drink?
fresh, potable water
Earths water exists in what three forms?
ice, liquid and gas(vapour)
What does the water cycle control?
the distribution of water on earth
fresh water makes up what percent of earths water?
3%
potable water makes up what percent of earths water?
0.03%
Why is there such a small amount of fresh water?
it trickles under the earths surface, we don’t live close to it, or it is salt water.
What are the four oceans?
Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian
What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?
seas are smaller, not as vast, and not as deep as oceans.
True or False: Oceans and seas are considered freshwater systems
false
Why is the ocean salty but rivers that are connected to oceans are not?
because rivers deposit minerals and salts into the oceans, which over time makes the oceans salt concentration very high.
Why is Great Britain warmer than Edmonton?
The global conveyor belt of heat transports warm water to the coasts near Great Britain
What is a current?
A stream of water that moves within a larger body of water. Carries warmer & colder water to different areas
Surface water currents mainly caused by what two things?
wind and earths rotation
Deep water currents mainly caused by what three things?
salinity level, temperture, and earths rotation
True or False: Warm or cold currents greatly influence the climates on land
True
Can the temperture of an ocean current effect not only the climate on land, but also the amount of precipitation we get?
yes it can!
If there are winds over a warm current, how much rain do you expect?
a lot
If there are winds over a cold current, how much rain should you expect?
none to very little
True of False: Waves move water
false. Waves do not move water.
What are waves?
Up and down movements on the surface of all bodies of water, even small puddles, have waves!
What is a swell?
Large waves combine to form a swell
What are the factors affecting a swell?
Large wind speeds
Distance the wind blows over the water (called fetch)
Time wind has blown over fetch
What is a tide?
Daily changes in water level of the oceans
What are high and low tides, and how many do we get of each a day?
High Tide – highest water level along the coast
Low Tide – lowest water level along the coast
Tidal changes are seen regularly along the coast. There are 2 high tides and 2 low tides a day
What three things are tides caused by?
The moon’s gravitational force is the primary cause of tides, Centripetal force causes water to bulge more at the equator, The sun also has an influence, but it is very small
What is a Rip Tide?
When the tide is receding (high tide to low tide) through an estuary it can pull a large amount of water through a narrow gap, this can pull objects off into sea very quickly.
What is the Lithosphere?
the solid outer part of the earth, made primarilly of rock.
What is climate?
Average weather measured over a long period of time.
What is a chinook wind?
Chinooks are abnormally warm winds that sweep across the prairies. They are created by a rain shadow effect from the Rocky Mountains.
What is the rain shadow effect?
- Warm moist air from the ocean moves over land
- As it moves over the land it deposits most of the moisture (especially at high elevations)
- What’s left is a warm dry air with very little moisture
