Midterm

Question 1

Natural conditions that influence water quality

Answer 1

Geology (minerals in bedrock),
climate,
vegetation,
morphology

Question 2

Dissolved oxygen

Answer 2

Oxygen gas that is dissolved in water

Question 3

pH

Answer 3

measure of the intensity of how acidic or basic a solution is at a given temperature;
Lower pH is acidic
Higher pH is basic(alkaline)

Question 4

Turbidity

Answer 4

Measurement of suspended or dissolved solids in water that cause water to become murky

Question 5

NTU’s

Answer 5

Nephelometric Turbidity Units

Question 6

Watershed

Answer 6

An area that collects, stores, and releases water

Question 7

Watersheds COLLECT water through:

Answer 7

Geology,
vegetation,
manmade surfaces

Question 8

Watersheds STORE water through:

Answer 8

Wetlands,
lakes and resevoirs,
soil,
groundwater,
snow and ice,
biology

Question 9

Watersheds RELEASE water through:

Answer 9

Streams and rivers, evaporation, human engineering

Question 10

Ecology

Answer 10

The study of how organisms exist in their environment

Question 11

Total Dissolved Solids

Answer 11

(TDS) The mass of material that will dissolve in water

Question 12

Total Suspended Solids

Answer 12

(TSS) Solids held in solution by gravitational energy as the stream runs down a gradient.

Question 13

Nutrients

Answer 13

Essential minerals required by all living organisms

Question 14

Phosphorus

Answer 14

Essential nutrient required for plant growth; occurs naturally in the ecosystem but becomes a pollutant at high concentrations

Question 15

Eutrophication

Answer 15

Process which occurs when high concentrations of nutrients cause algae to grow at an accelerated rate, known as an algal bloom

Question 16

Nitrogen

Answer 16

Essential component of amino acids that affects algal growth

Question 17

Nitrite

Answer 17

(NO2) Short lived form of nitrogen that is rapidly converted to nitrate by bacteria

Question 18

Nitrate

Answer 18

(NO3) Essential nutrient for plant growth and one of the main ingredients in fertilizer

Question 19

Sources of pollution

Answer 19

Storm water runoff,
flooding inputs,
lake homes and fertilizers,
septic system seepage,
ground water salinization,
thermal pollution,
noise pollution

Question 20

Point source pollution

Answer 20

When the source is known; three main types: publically owned treatment works,
combined sewer systems,
industrial facilities

Question 21

Non-point source pollution

Answer 21

Includes everything that is not a point source;
farming,
construction,
mining,
urban runoff

Question 22

Assimilative capacity

Answer 22

Natural capacity for water body to cleanse itself

Question 23

Lenthic

Answer 23

Slow moving water

Question 24

Lotic

Answer 24

Relatively fast moving water

Question 25

TMDL’s

Answer 25

Total Maximum Daily Loads
Calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a waterbody so it will meet water quality standards.

Question 26

Perennial stream

Answer 26

A stream that has a continuous flow of surface water throughout the year

Question 27

Intermittent stream

Answer 27

A stream that has flowing water during certain times of the year, when groundwater provides water for stream flow

Question 28

Ephemeral stream

Answer 28

A stream that has flowing water only during or for a short duration after precipitation events