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Earth & Space > Hydrosphere > Flashcards

Hydrosphere Flashcards

1
Q

Define a catchment area

A

a territory surrounding a waterway in which all the surface water drains into.

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2
Q

Which of the following does not affect the flow of water into a catchment area?
A) Depth and latitude of the water reservoir
B) Industrial and urban development
C) Shape and slope of the terrain
D) Density and diversity of the vegetation

A

A) Depth and latitude of the water reservoir

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3
Q

In what ways does human activity affect waterways in a catchment area?

A
  • pollution (excess ferilizer, oil)
  • creation of reservoirs or navigation channel
  • irrigation projects
  • draining or filling wetlands
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4
Q

Which of the following activities has the greatest impact on the flow of water in a catchment area?
A) Filling up a child’s swimming pool with 40 L of water.
B) Treating drinking water for a city in a municipal water treatment plant.
C) Rerouting rivers for the construction of a hydroelectric dam.
D) Repairing a bridge connecting Montreal’s South Shore to the Island of Montreal.

A

C) Rerouting rivers for the construction of a hydroelectric dam.

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5
Q

Define salinity

A

The concentration of salt in a solution. Water in oceans is saline because salts from the lithosphere are dissolved in it.

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6
Q

Where is water salinity high and explain why

A

Near the equator. Water evaporates at a greater rate due to high temperatures, creating a higher salt content.

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7
Q

where is ocean salinity at it’s lowest? Explain why.

A

Near the Polar Regions, ocean water has a lower salinity. The fresh water (found in pack ice and glaciers) enters the oceans diluting the salt water,
reducing its salinity.

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8
Q

From the statements below, choose two which will cause an increase in the salinity
of ocean water.
1. increased erosion
2. ocean water redirected to a tidal energy plant
3. ice floes and glaciers melt
4. water evaporates at the equator

A

1 and 4

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9
Q

Samples of ocean water were collected from different depths and analyzed.
* Sample A : 8.32 g of salt in 240 mL
* Sample B: 7.65 g of salt in 0.225 L
* Sample C: 4.20 g of salt in 115 mL
Rank these samples in order of increasing salinity

A

B, A, C

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10
Q

Which is more dense; fresh water or ocean water?

A

Fresh water is less dense

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11
Q

Which of the following will increase the density of a solution?
1. Increasing the salinity
2. Decreasing the salinity
3. Adding water
4. Allowing water to evaporate

A

1 and 4

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12
Q

Does the density of the ocean water increase or decrease as glaciers and pack ice
melt? Explain your answer.

A

The density of the ocean water decreases. Glaciers and pack ice are made of fresh water. When they melt, it decreases the salinity

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13
Q

define ocean circulation

A

the combination of water movement due to surface currents, subsurface current, and the
rotation of the Earth.

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14
Q

What are surface currents? What causes them?

A

water as deep as 400 m and are caused by wind. They generally move water across the Earth horizontally.

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15
Q

What causes subsurface currents?

A

the density of water, which is affected by the saliny and temperature

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16
Q

describe the type of water that has a tendency to sink.

A

cold and salty

17
Q

describe the type of water that has a tendency to rise.

A

less salty and warm

18
Q

Different factors can affect the circulation of surface currents and deep currents in
the ocean.
1. Temperature differences in the water
2. Air pressure differences in the atmosphere
3. Differences in the waters’ salinity
4. The rotation of the Earth
5. The depth of the water
Which of the factors above only effect surface currents?

A

2 and 4

19
Q

What are the characteristics of ocean water which has a tendency to sink?
A) Low temperature and low density
B) Low temperature and high density
C) High temperature and low density
D) High temperature and high density

A

B) Low temperature and high density

20
Q

what causes thermohaline?

A

the differences in temperature and saltiness, the combination of surface and subsurface currents.

21
Q

what is the fuction of thermohaline

A

regulates temperatures, preventing extreme cold at the poles and extreme heat around the equator.

22
Q

describe the movement of thermohaline

A
  • In the polar regions, cold surface water sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor and
    travels along the ocean floor
  • When it gets to warmer regions (such as the equator) the water is heated and
    rises back up to the surface and then warm water travels along the surface
    towards
  • When it gets to the Polar Regions, the warm water gets cooled once more and
    the process repeats itself.
23
Q

Which of the following statements concerning thermohaline circulation is true?
A) Thermohaline circulation allows for the heat accumulated in ocean water at the
Polar Regions to circulate to the Equatorial Region.
B) Thermohaline circulation allows for the heat accumulated in ocean water at the
Equatorial Region to circulate to the Polar Regions.
C) Thermohaline circulation can be compared to a conveyor belt which moves warm
and cold air masses around the Earth.
D) Thermohaline circulation can be compared to a conveyor belt which moves warm
and cold freshwater systems around the Earth.

A

B) Thermohaline circulation allows for the heat accumulated in ocean water at the
Equatorial Region to circulate to the Polar Regions.

24
Q

Explain how glaciers are formed

A
  • Formed as a slow sliding mass
    of ice is formed on land due to
    the accumulation of snow on
    top of it.
  • As snow accumulates on top of
    the glacier, the layers below
    are compacted and form ice.
  • As the glacier slides, some of
    the ice gets pushed out its
    sides and breaks off. It falls into
    the ocean in large chunks and
    forms icebergs.
25
Q

what are glaciers made of?

A
  • Fresh water
26
Q

where are glaciers located

A
  • On land
  • Mountainous areas and polar
    regions
  • On every continent
27
Q

Explain how pack ice is formed

A

Formed on the surface of the
ocean due to cold
temperatures which freeze the
top layer of the water.
* As pack ice is formed, the
ocean water freezes and salt is
eliminated. This increases the
salinity and density of the
ocean, affecting
thermohaline circulation.
* These large slabs of ice float
together and are transported by
the wind and accumulate
throughout the winter months.

28
Q

what is pack ice made of?

A

Brackish water (mixture of
fresh and salt water)

29
Q

where is pack ice typically located

A

On ocean water
* Only polar regions

30
Q

Which of the following is true about glaciers and pack ice?
A) Both glaciers and pack ice are formed on land.
B) Both glaciers and pack ice are formed on the ocean’s surface.
C) Both glaciers and pack ice contain freshwater.
D) Both glaciers and pack ice form icebergs.

A

C) Both glaciers and pack ice contain freshwater.

31
Q

Which of the following statements is true about pack ice?
A) The melting of pack ice affects the salinity of the ocean water.
B) The melting of pack ice does not affect the temperature of the ocean water.
C) The melting of pack ice affects sea levels.
D) The melting of pack ice does not affect oceans.

A

A) The melting of pack ice affects the salinity of the ocean water.

32
Q

list the impacts of melting glaciers

A

● Sea level increases.
- Since the glacier is on land,
the melting of the glacier
adds water to the ocean.

● Salinity of ocean water
decreases
- Since glaciers are made of
fresh water, the melting
glacier dilutes the ocean
water
● Thermohaline circulation slows
down.
● Indirect consequences include
the disruption of ocean
circulation and thermohaline
circulation, species
displacement or extinction, the
creation of new waterways, and
the decrease in the albedo
(reflectivity of the Earth’s
surface) effect

33
Q

List the Impact of Melting Pack Ice

A

● Sea level is unchanged.
- Since the pack ice already
occupies space in the
ocean, melting pack ice
does not affect sea level
(significantly).
● Salinity of ocean water
decreases.
- Since pack ice is less
saline than ocean water,
the melting pack ice
dilutes the ocean water.
● Thermohaline circulation slows
down.
● Indirect consequences include
the disruption of ocean
circulation and thermohaline
circulation, species
displacement or extinction, the
creation of new waterways,
and the decrease in the albedo
(reflectivity of the Earth’s
surface) effect.

34
Q

Which of the statements below correctly identifies the effect of the increase in the
melting of pack ice due to climate change?
A) Loss of habitat for arctic species
B) Rise in the sea level
C) Increase in the number of icebergs
D) Flooding of low lying areas

A

A) Loss of habitat for arctic species

35
Q

Which of the statements below correctly identifies the effect of the increase in the
melting of pack ice due to climate change?
A) Loss of habitat for arctic species
B) Rise in the sea level
C) Increase in the number of icebergs
D) Flooding of low lying areas

A

A) Loss of habitat for arctic species

36
Q

Global warming has caused the melting of pack ice at the North and South poles.
Explain how this affects the salinity and density of the water in those regions. How
does this impact thermohaline circulation?

A

As the pack ice melts, more fresh water is introduced into the ocean. This dilutes the salty water, decreasing its salinity. Lower salinity also means lower density. Since the water no longer sinks as easily, thermohaline circulation is slowed.

37
Q

Explain how a population living at sea level near the equator can be affected by
global warming at the Poles.

A

As glaciers melt ocean levels rise because water is added to the ocean as well as icebergs (which were not there before). The increased ocean level affects low lying areas around the world and can cause flooding even as far away as the equator.

38
Q

Why is flooding not a result of the increased melting of pack ice?

A

Pack ice is formed from water already in the ocean. Ice has a higher volume for the same amount of water,but only 90% of it is below the surface

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