Freshwater and Saltwater Systems - Topics 1-2 Flashcards
Evaporation
converts liquid water from Earth’s surface into gaseous water vapor
How do rainbows form?
When light is fractured into the colour spectrum through water particles in the air. Most often happens after rain.
How much of the planets water is trapped in ice bergs?
Three quarters (3/4)
Water Cycle
the process in which nearly all water on Earth moves continuously between the oceans, land, and atmosphere
Condensation
the process of changing from gas to liquid
Precipitation
the water in it’s liquid or solid state that falls to Earth. Rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc.
Run-off
rain water that flows off a land surface
Ground water
The water that has seeped down under Earth’s surface to a depth of about 100 meters
Water quantity
The amount of water
Water quality
The characteristics of a water resource that make it suitable or unsuitable for various uses
Freshwater vs. Saltwater
3% of the Earth’s water is freshwater and 97% is saltwater
What percent of the human body is made of water?
65-70%
Ice cap
A large dome shaped glacier that flows outwards from its center and covers a large area of land
Glacier
A large moving mass of compressed ice and snow
Ice field
An area that feeds two or more glaciers
Valley glacier
A glacier that forms between mountain ranges
Continental glacier
a glacier or ice sheet covering all or a significant part of a continent
How do glaciers form?
New snow falls onto old snow that is sitting on top of firm snow that is not yet ice, which is on top of glacial ice.
Retreating glacier
When a glacier melts faster than it flows. Appears to be moving backwards
Advancing glacier
When a glacier keeps advancing forward
Glacial erosion
Loose sediments and rocks get caught under the glacial ice and start eroding the rock underneath as the glacier moves
Glacial Deposition
A glacier starts retreating and dumps all the rock and sediment it has picked up.
Why are glaciers important?
The melt water feeds rivers, glacial erosion helps to shape the landscape, and they supply us with freshwater.
