Freshwater resources and resources Flashcards
what types of water bodies carry water and sediment toward the ocean
rivers and streams
how do rivers and streams modify landscapes
by erosion and deposition
five main wetland classes are
- marshes
- bogs
- swamps
- fens
- shallow-water wetlands
what do wetlands provide us with
ecosystem services and diverse habitats
what are lakes
open and standing bodies of surface water
what are the different categorized zones of a lake
- littoral
- limnetic
- benthic
(4. profundal zone)
where does ground water reside in
the pore spaces and cracks of subsurface aquifers
where is ground water replenished
in recharge zones by precipitation and infiltration
where does ground water flow out to join surface water bodies
at discharge zones
how does diversion or withdrawal of water from surface water bodies affect the environment
Reduction in flow alters ecology of lower river by changing plant communities, wiping out fish populations
what part of the river does diversions affect the most
downstream
what are some types of channel interventions for flood control
- levees
- floodways
- dikes
- dams
what is the international agreement to protect wetlands
the Ramsar Convention
why have wetlands been aggressively drained and filled-in
agriculture, costal development and other activities
what is the biggest use of water
agriculture
why are agricultural practices the biggest use of water
primarily based on inefficient irrigation systems which waste large amounts of water
why is ground water hard to monitor
because it is hidden from view
why are groundwater aquifers often easy to deplete
because they have a very slow rate of recharge (they fill up slowly after water flows out)
what are the two solutions to address the depletion of fresh water
- increase supply (ex. piping in water from areas where it is abundant)
- decrease demand (ex. by stressing conservation and efficiency)
what is the only way to “make” more fresh water
desalination (but it’s expensive)
what is a way to reduce the water used by agriculture
more efficient irrigation (like high-efficiency irrigation that directs just the right amount of water on plant’s roots)
how can household water be reduced
1.eating less meat
2. installing water-efficient toilets
3. smart watering (water grass at night)
what are the two sources of water pollution
- point sources
- non-point sources
what are some examples of common pollutants
- excessive nutrients
- microbial pathogens
- toxic chemicals
- sediment and thermal pollution
what types of indicators do scientists use to monitor water quality
- biological
- physical
- chemical
examples of indicators used for water quality analysis
- turbidity
- hardness
- pH
- fecal coliform bacteria
true or false
ground water faces different types and sources of pollution than surface waters
false - face the same types and sources
what distinguishes groundwater pollution from surface water pollution
groundwater pollution is much harder to detect and treat
what is believed about the Fisheries Act in Canada
recent changes in the act have reduced the protection of aquatic systems and habitats
do many people worldwide still lack access to improved and clean drinking water
YES - almost a billion worldwide
what is the better remediation solution for water pollution
preventing the pollution from happening instead of trying to fix it afterwards
what are used to treat waste water in rural areas
septic systems
what is the effluent produced after waste water treatment used for
urban irrigation
groundwater recharge
what are two types of approaches to ground water remediation
- in-situ remediation
- pump-and-treat remediation
is fresh water abundant on earth
no - only makes up about 2.5% of water on earth
where does 97.5% of water reside on earth
in the oceans - too salty to drink
how do reservoirs in the water cycle differ
○ amounts of water stored and transmitted
○ How long they hold water in storage
describe the residence time for a larger reservoir
it is much longer than a smaller reservoir
is freshwater distributed evenly or unevenly around the world
unevenly (a reason dams and irrigation was created)