Freshwater Flashcards
Rivers
Where water from rain, snowmelts, or natural springs flows downhill; ultimately all the water flows into a large body of water collecting in a low elevation
Tributary
Any small river flowing into a larger one
Watershed
A river’s tributary system
Oxbow
A bend in the river that dictates sediment flow
Floodplain
All the area a river can reach when it swells
Wetlands
Areas that blend fresh water and land mass; they are extremely productive and are some of the most important ecosystems we have
Marshes
Where plants grow above the water line
Swamps
Marshes contained in forested areas
Lakes/Ponds
Large standing bodies of water; have different zones of life
Littoral Zone
Shoreline
Limnetic Zone
How far the sun can penetrate the water
Profundal Zone
Where sun stops penetrating the water
Benthic Zone
Floor
Oligotrophic
Low nutrient, high oxygen
Eutrophic
High nutrient, low oxygen
Groundwater
When water from rainfall, etc., slowly percolates down the soil column and collects above hard clay; contained within porous layers of rock and sand known as aquifers
Confined Aquifer (Artesian)
When water bearing layers of rock, sand, or gravel are trapped between less permeable clay layers
Unconfined Aquifer
Lacks upper layer of confinement and can be easily recharged and discharged
Globally, 70% of freshwater is used on _, 20% on _, and 10% on _.
Agriculture; industry; residential use
In the US, 46% of freshwater is used on _, 41% on _, and 13% on _.
Industry; agriculture; residential
Dams
A nonconsumptive use of water that traps water in a river or stream and then stores it in a reservoir; there are over 45,000 large dams worldwide, and tens of thousands smaller dams; Hoover Dam, Three Gorges Dam
Pros of Dams
Power via electricity Reduced emissions Drinking water Flood control Recreation
Cons of Dams
Habitat alteration Fisheries decline Population displacement Sediment capture No flooding Risk of Failure
Irrigation Issues
70% more water is used for irrigation today than in 1960
Irrigation is extremely inefficient - only 45% of the water used for irrigation is actually used by crops
Evaporation loss can account for 80-90% water loss if you water your lawns during home irrigation
Sinkholes
Areas where the land substrate has been weakened due to ground water loss
Desalination Plants
Removing salt from saltwater; unfortunately very costly
Reducing Agricultural Demand
Cut back on industrial agricultural use; use low pressure sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, rain catchment
Xeriscaping
Using plants in your landscape that are native to your area
Aquaponics
Using fish waste to grow plants
Water Pollution
Nutrient pollution Pathogens/Waterborne diseases Toxic chemicals Sediment Thermal pollution
Point Source Pollution
From a single location
Non-Point Source Pollution
From multiple cumulative sources
Groundwater Pollution
Very dangerous because it stays in the system for a very long time; example: Alachor concentrations decline by half after 20 days in soil, but in groundwater it takes 4 years
Wastewater
Any water used by people; sewage, sinks, washing machines, industry, urban runoff, etc.
Septic Systems
Underground storage tanks that separate oils and water, then flow downhill and decomposes naturally
Primary Wastewater Treatment
Physical removal of solids, around 60%
Secondary Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater is aerated and bacteria is added to aid in removal of solid materials; up to 90% of solid material is removed here
Texas River Drainage Pattern
Dendritic
Freshwater makes up _ of the total water on Earth.
2.5%
Freshwater is 79% _, 20% _, and 1% _.
Glaciers; groundwater; surface water
Surface water is 52% _, 38% _, 8% _, 1% _, and 1% _.
Lakes; soil moisture; water vapor; rivers; biology
Overturning
When water in a lake flips (water on bottom rises to top and water on top sinks to bottom)
Aquitard
Where water cannot pass in the ground
Zone of Aeration
Where water evaporates from rock
Water Table
Where the water is at
Zone of Saturation
Ground beneath the water table
Water in the ground flows about _ feet per day.
3
Average age of groundwater is around _ years old.
1,400
Dams have the ability to capture _ and turn it into _.
Potential energy; kinetic energy
Alum
A flocking agent used in wastewater treatment
Study Texas Rivers
Study Texas Rivers
Ogallala Aquifer
The Ogallala Aquifer has lost 11.5 trillion ft^3; this massive loss is starting to dry up rural wells nationwide
