Global Warming Flashcards
What percentage of the earths water is salt water?
97.5%
What percentage of the earths water is freshwater?
2.5%
What are inland waters?
Inland waters are all the fresh water resources found on the continents (lakes,rivers,groundwaters)
A water shed or catchment area is what?
Area of land which all inland waters drain into the same larger body of water.
Topography
Slope of land ‘ steep slopes drain easily and quickly
Geology
Type of rock; holes or gaps in rocks vs. compact clay
Climate
Rainfall, winds and temperature
Vegetation
Highly vegetated areas can slow water flows
Development
A dam can prevent water from flowing easily
What are factors that affect how water flows within a water shed
Topography Geology Climate Vegetation Development
What percentage if the earth is covered by water?
71%
What factors can affect the circulation of surface currents and depth currents in the ocean?
Air pressure and differences in the atmosphere
The rotation of the earth
How will the warming of the waters affect the thermohaline circulation?
The water will have a greater density of salt and there will be be no cold water to create the thermohaline circulation.
Where is most of the earths freshwater found?
Glaciers
Océan temperatures varie with…
Depth, season and latitude
Depth;
Sunlight warms the top layers of the ocean
Water canot be colder than 4degrees Celsius
Season;
Oceans warm slightly in the summer and cools slightly in the summer
The changes are less pronounced than on the land because water looses or gains heat much more slowly than land
Ex: sand absorbs heat therefore land is hotter than water
Latitude;
Ocean waters are warmer at the equator
Depending on the latitude that the country is placed will determine how hot/cold it is
Salinity;
The amount of salt dissolved in a liquid
Ocean curent;
The movement of sea water in a certain direction
(—>
Ocean circulation;
Is the combined effects of all currents that move in oceans
Surface currents; 3 things
400m of water
Wind
Air pressure differences in the atmosphere
Subsurface currents;
Occur at depths of more than 800m
Due to variations of density between layers of water
Cold water is more dense and tends to sink
High salinity water is more dense and sinks as well
Cold, warm, fresh and salty water tend to float or sink?
Hot/fresh
Cold/salty
Thermohaline circulation;
Results in water being moved all over the globe
Prevents the earth of entering an ice age
The cryosphere;
All frozen water on the surface of the earth
Pack ice, glaciers,frozen lakes
Pack ice;
Ice floating on the oceans heart the north and south poles
Due to global warming there is less and less pack ice (putting polar bears in danger)
Glaciers;
A mass of ice on land formed by snow
Contains fresh water
The melting of glaciers may lead to a rise in sea levels which can cause major flooding (Florida)
Hydroelectric dams;
Causes large areas of flooding
This flooding releases toxic mercury into the environment
Affects the First Nations
Chemical pollution;
Metals, Mercury, PCB’s
Thermal pollution ;
Heat discharged from factories can decrease oxygen and lead to fish dying due to no oxygen
What are the different types of pollution?
Chemical pollution
Thermal pollution
Oil spills
Plastics
Eutrophication;
Farming activities add fertilizers to rivers and lakes (nitrogen, phosphorus)
Leads to algae growth
Algae reduces oxygen levels and fish start dying
Green scum forms on lakes
