freshwater, groundwater, surface water Flashcards
properties of water
expands as a solid, neutral ph, high specific heat
what is cohesion
attraction of water molecules have to other water molecules
what is adhesion
attraction of water molecules to other substances
what is transpiration
water vapor leaving plant leaves
what is condensation
water going into gas to water (what forms clouds)
what is precipitation
water released from clouds in various forms
what is evaporation
water changing from liquid to gas
what is infiltration
water seeping into ground (soil)
what is runoff
water that runs along the land’s surface
what is an aquifer
underground water
why does water act differently?
because of its polarity
how much of Earth’s water is freshwater
2.5%
how much of Earth’s freshwater is available for living things
1%
what is a watershed
is an area of land that drains into a particular body of water
what are headwaters
formed at higher elevations ( beginning of river)
what happens as water slows?
sediment is deposited and makes deltas (this is near bay/oceans)
what is an estuary
where the mouth of the river mixes with the ocean - makes brackish water
what is the largest estuary in the us?
Chesapeake Bay
what do all lakes and ponds have in common
are areas naturally filled with water
-ponds are smaller than lakes
where is the littoral zone
nearest to the shore; waters are warm, shallow, and sunlit
where is limnetic zone
an open area too deep for emergent plants; is still warm and sunlit
where is the profundal zone
is cold and aphotic
2nd to bottom
what is photic
means sunlit
what is aphotic
means it is not sunlit
what is deritus
organic matter that has sunk to the bottom
what is an oligotrophic lake
have low nutrient levels limiting algae and phytoplankton growth (turbidity)
what is turbidity
how cloudy the water is
what is eutrophic lakes
have high nutrient levels and excessive algae growth; very high turbidity
what is a stream
narrow channels that carry runoff water towards rivers
how do rivers form
gravity is responsible for forming rivers- water from mountains
what is the temperature, oxygen level, and nutrient level of water at source of river
high levels of oxygen , cold, low turbidity, low nutrients, no salinity
what is the the temperature, oxygen level, and nutrient level of water in transition zone
widen/deepens, becomes warmer, decreased dissolved oxygen, increased nutrient level
what kind of water is found at the mouth of the river
low dissolved 02, high nutrients, warmer water temps, high turbidity, moderate salinity, water slows down, sediment settles (delta)
what is a freshwater wetland
areas containing soils that are usually water logged - completely saturated in water
what are the 3 types of wetlands
marsh, swamp, bog
what is a marsh
found in low-lying treeless areas with vegetative grasses
what are swamps
low-lying wetlands dominated by trees
what is a bog
have floating mats of plant matter that living plants grow on; slow rates of decomposition result in nutrient-poor water
what are 3 adaptations of wetland plants
floating, carnivorous, emergent
what is flowing adaptation
fewer vascular tissues needed since water is abundant, making them light
carnivorous adaptations
capture and digest insects to increase nitrogen and phosphorus absorption
what is emergent adaptations
many empty spaces in tissues to allow oxygen to flow through the plant and into submerged roots
what are coastal lagoons
saltwater pools that are separated from the ocean by sand banks / coral reefs
what is a tidal flat
saltwater wetland areas that are continually covered and uncovered by the tides
what are deltas
landforms at river mouths formed by deposited sediment by tides
what is an estuary
partially-enclosed bodies of water where river water mixes with sea water, forming brackish water
what is a salt marsh
are tidal flats dominated by herbs and grasses
what is a sea grass bed
containing submerged plants that resemble grass
what is a mangrove forest
have trees with roots that can filter salt; limits coastal erosion; is a buffer ocean and shore
what is biodiversity
amount of life and the different type of life
what is flood control
through mangroves- tree helps slow speed of waves( reduces impact of waves)
If we got rid of 1 acre of wetlands what would happen
society average would be $1900 dollars in flood damage
how much water can an acre of wetland hold?
3 acre feet or 100,000,000 gallons
How do wetlands help pollution control?
responsible for filtration of water that passes through them by trapping waste/ sediment
What do wetlands provide?
a “sink” for many chemicals including atmosphere carbon
What are CWs
are artificial wetlands; they are used to take in waste and filter it
Facts about Ogallala Aquifer
largest aquifer in US, under Midwest, is confined aquifer, will only last another 40yrs
facts about Chesapeake Bay Watershed
largest estuary in US, includes portions of 6 states, average depth is 21ft, home to 188,000,000 people, starts in cooperstown NY
Potomac area
largest aquifer in Va, is a confined aquifer,we remove 150 million gallons a day
