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Water Resources > Midterm 2 > Flashcards

Midterm 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Salinity

A
  • total quantity of dissolved inorganic solids in water
  • ocean’s salinity varies from 33-37‰ (33-37 parts per thousand)
  • river water salinity is 0.5 ‰ (0.5 ppt) or less
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2
Q

Turbidity

A

how much sunlight gets through water column

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3
Q

the process by which water dissolves substances is called

A

hydration?

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4
Q

Oxidation state of element is controlled by what environmental factors?

A

water pH and redox potential

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5
Q

water pH

A
  • hydrogen ion concentration
  • acidic, neutral, or alkaline
  • measured as negative ten-base logarithm
  • pH = – log10 [H+]
  • One unit pH change = 10-fold change in (H) ion concentration
  • pH for surface water ranges from 4 to 9
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6
Q

TDS

A

total dissolved solids

  • sum of all dissolved solutes plus silica SiO2 in water
  • in rainwater <20 mg/L
  • in rivers 50 - 1000 mg/L
  • “Mineral water” > 250 mg/L
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7
Q

oxidation

A

increase in oxidation state (gain of oxygen, loss of hydrogen, and loss of electrons)

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8
Q

reduction

A

loss of oxygen, gain of hydrogen, gain of electrons (oxidation number is reduced)

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9
Q

redox potential

A
  • Indicates degree to which substance can oxidize or reduce another substance
  • positive ORP reading indicates that substance is oxidizing agent
  • negative ORP reading indicates that substance is reducing agent
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10
Q

Diurnal fluctuations in dissolved oxygen:

A
  • Day-time photosynthesis removes CO2 and increases amount of dissolved O2 in water
  • However, warmer day-time temperatures decrease amount of dissolved O2 (same in summer)
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11
Q

Seasonal fluctuations of dissolved oxygen

A
  • In summer, base cations (Ca, Mg) prevail; higher alkalinity
  • Groundwater dominates stream flow
  • In winter, more acidic soil water and surface runoff dominate
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12
Q

chemical weathering

A
  • Weathering – mechanical disintegration
    and/or chemical decomposition at the lithosphere-atmosphere boundary
  • Chemical weathering: 80% of all dissolved matter
  • Granite and basalt – the most common igneous rocks containing various silicate minerals
  • Low susceptibility to weathering
  • TDS in catchments draining sedimentary rocks are five times greater than in igneous rock catchments
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13
Q

80% of dissolved load in rivers: four solutes

A

calcium Ca, bicarbonate HCO3, sulfate SO4 and silica SiO2

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14
Q

Relationship between precipitation and evaporation

A
  • In arid and semi-arid climates, solutes become concentrated and start to precipitate
  • Calcite CaCO3 and dolomite MgCO3
  • As a result, higher concentrations of Na, Cl, and SO4 in the water
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15
Q

Rainwater chemistry

A
  • <20 mg/L of TDS
  • Dissolved CO2 produces H ion
    o acidity increases (i.e. pH falls below neutral)
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16
Q

Hard water

A

dissolved cations of Ca and Mg (limestones, dolomites)

- “scum line” in bathtubs and kettles; pipe blockage

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17
Q

Soft water

A

in silicate rocks (sandstones and igneous rocks)

- Major metal ions are Na, K, Mg, Ca in low concentrations

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18
Q

Fund pollutants

A

pollutants for which environment has some absorptive capacity (Ex: carbon dioxide)

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19
Q

Stock pollutants

A

pollutants for which environment has little or no absorptive capacity (ex: non-biodegradable litter, heavy metals)

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20
Q

Point-source pollution

A

discharged into surface water at specific location through drainage pipe or ditch

  • Primary point sources are industries and municipalities
  • Point sources are relatively easy to monitor and predict
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21
Q

Non-point-source pollution

A

runoff that comes from various sources and includes agricultural and urban runoff
- Nonpoint sources are much harder to control due to unpredictability and uncertainty of sources

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22
Q

Eutrophication

A
  • accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorous as a result of agricultural runoff and industrial activities
  • results: increase in phytoplankton growth, algal blooms, reduced concentrations of dissolved oxygen, deterioration of drinking water quality
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23
Q

thermal pollution

A

results from injection of heat into watercourse, usually in form of used industrial water

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24
Q

heavy metals

A

lead, cadmium, mercury

- bio-accumulate in food chains and become persistent pollutants

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25
Q

acid mine drainage

A
  • outflow of acidic water from metal or coal mines
  • occurs when pyrite-bearing rocks (FeS2) exposed to oxygen
  • common in abandoned mines (active mines pump out water)
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26
Q

acid rain

A
  • atmospheric deposition of acidic substances, such as SO2 and NO2
  • when sulfur is release into atmosphere, it combines w/ moisture in chemical reaction to make acid rain
  • acid rains have acidity below pH of 4
  • sea water pH = 8
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27
Q

water acidification

A

high acidity results in increased solubility of heavy metals (Al, Mn, Pb, Cd, Zn, As)

  • at pH <5, Al (aluminum) becomes soluble and leaches into aquatic systems from soils
  • fish osmoregulation (ability to control flow of water, salts, and gases in and out) is comprised at Al concentrations
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28
Q

Salt water intrusion

A

saline intrusion b/c of depletion of groundwater reserves in coastal areas

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29
Q

The Water Quality Act of 1965

A
  • established ambient water quality standards for interstate watercourses
  • states required to file implementation plans
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30
Q

The Clean Water Act, 1972

A
  • primary Federal Law that regulates water pollution in US
  • amended in 1972 and then again in 1977
  • does not cover groundwater contamination
31
Q

The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974

A
  • administered by EPA

- primary regulations set maximum allowable concentrations for bacteria, dust, and chemical contaminants

32
Q

Potable water treatment

A

removing solids (screening, coagulation, filtration, disinfection), membrane treatment, desalination

33
Q

water desalination

A
  • process whereby salt and dissolved solids are removed from water, particularly seawater
  • often undertaken to allow otherwise unsuitable water sources to be used for domestic purposes
34
Q

wastewater treatment

A
  • Physical treatment (solid removal)
  • Primary settlement tank
  • Biological treatment
  • Attached growth process using crushed granite or basalt
  • Microorganisms attach and build up creating a biofilm
  • Oxygen is provided from the atmosphere
  • A final settlement tank
  • Produced effluent has <10 mg/L of TS (total solids)
  • Remaining sludge is rich in energy and nutrients
35
Q

wastewater as energy resource.

A
  • Energy recovery: anaerobic digestion
  • Used as part of process to treat organic waste and sewage sludge
  • Microorganisms break down biodegradable material in absence of oxygen
  • the process produces a biogas (methane)
  • In anaerobic conditions, carbon is e-acceptor and can be reduced to methane CH4
    C6H12O6 → 3CO2 + 3CH4
  • Methane (biogas) is energy-rich: 1 meter3 releases 9.97 kWh of energy when burned
  • New option of zero-waste economy operating on renewable energy
36
Q

Net primary productivity (NPP)

A

total amount of chemical energy stored in plants

37
Q

NPP distribution in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

A
  • Highest on land in tropics due to high insolation and precipitation; diminishes poleward and especially in extremely arid or cold areas
  • In oceans, productivity is influenced by nutrient content of waters and is highest near areas of upwelling
  • chemical energy as carbohydrates consumed by animals or decomposed by microorganisms
38
Q

littoral zone

A

(close to the shore)-abundant sunlight

39
Q

pelagic (limnetic) photic zone

A

open to light, the highest lake productivity

40
Q

profundal zone

A

a deeper zone below the range of light penetration

41
Q

benthic zone

A
  • at the bottom of the lake, transition between water body and sediment
  • food web is based around decomposition instead of photosynthesis
42
Q

Biogeochemical cycles

A
  • Hydrologic cycle
  • Carbon cycle
  • Oxygen cycle
  • Nitrogen cycles
43
Q

food pyramid

A

large number of energy-storing organisms supports smaller number of consumers above

  • usually several levels of carnivorous consumers
  • largest, most powerful apex predators in the area at top of the pyramid
  • Organisms that occupy the same trophic level in food chain consume the same kinds of food
44
Q

Autotrophs

A

producers/plants; fix carbon through photosynthesis

45
Q

heterotrophs

A
  • primary consumers: plant-eating animals called herbivores
  • secondary consumers: herbivores become food for other animals known as carnivores or predators
  • omnivores: animals that eat both plants and animals
46
Q

Parasites

A

live on or in another organism, the host, benefiting at host’s expense

47
Q

Decomposers/detritivores

A

feed on dead organic matter (bacteria, fungi)

48
Q

Oligotrophic lakes

A

very low in nutrients

49
Q

Aquatic ecosystem services

A

regulating, supporting, provisional, and cultural services

50
Q

Regulating services

A
  • flow regulation (wetlands, groundwater, floodplains)

- sediment transport

51
Q

Supporting services

A
  • primary/secondary production

- nutrient cycling

52
Q

Effects of high dams

A
  • Blocking migratory fish species from spawning and feeding sites
  • Disrupting transport of sediment along river (lower groundwater level, dam sedimentation)
  • Changes in water temperature and quality
  • Decomposition of organic matter causing fish kills
  • Disturbing natural fluctuations of water flow (seasonal floodplains are especially affected)
53
Q

Effects of urbanization

A

Urban stream syndrome:

  • Hydrological change (reduced base flow and increased peak flow)
  • Modified thermal regime (change in shading/exposure)
  • Runoff from paved areas
  • Enhanced nutrients and contaminants
  • Transformed channel morphology
  • Reduction of biodiversity
54
Q

Biological invasion

A

Biological invasion
- Invasive species – plant/animal species not native to specific location; has tendency to spread to degree that can cause damage to environment

55
Q

Water-Related Hazards

A
  • Chemical
  • Physical
  • Biological
56
Q

Measuring Public Health

A
  • The WHO uses a measure of population health called “disability adjusted life year” or DALY
  • Illnesses vary from region to region (much higher disease burden in the developing countries), between genders, and age groups
57
Q

Mortality Distribution by Cause of Death

A
  • Group I Communicable diseases (infections) CD
  • Group II Non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular, diabetes, etc) NCD
  • Group III Injuries (external causes of death)
58
Q

The origin of public health

A
  • Sanitary movement and science of epidemiology emerged in mid-1800s (after industrial revolution)
  • Miasma theory - linked foul smells and stagnant air w/ cause of disease
  • Germ theory - that presence and actions of microorganisms in body are cause of many diseases
  • Dr. John Snow mapped cholera deaths during cholera outbreak in London in 1854
59
Q

Water-borne diseases

A

infections spread by water

  • Cholera
  • E-coli
60
Q

Water-carried diseases

A

infections acquired through ingestion of or being close to contaminated water
- Legionnaires’ disease - Bacteria that thrive in warm aquatic environments

61
Q

Water-washed diseases

A

infections spread by lack of water and lack of personal hygiene

  • Leprosy
  • Trachoma – bacterial infection of an eye, can lead to breakdown of cornea and complete blindness
62
Q

Water-based diseases

A

worm infections spread aquatic invertebrates

- Schistosomiasis – (snail fever) caused by parasitic flatworms

63
Q

Water-vector diseases

A

infections spread by insects that require water for their life cycle

  • Malaria
  • Zika
  • yellow fever
  • river blindness
  • sleeping sickness
64
Q

arsenic poisoning

A

• Contaminated deep tube-wells

- Symptoms: skin lesions, dark spots on limbs, swollen limbs and loss of feeling in hands and feet

65
Q

radon contamination

A
  • Radon Rn – radioactive gas - occurs b/c of radioactive decay of uranium in granite and shale rocks
  • Continuously produced by radioactive decay of 226Ra present in rocks (produced by radioactive decay of U and Th)
  • According to EPA, 2nd leading cause of lung cancer after smoking
66
Q

saltwater intrusions

A

Sea level rise also increases the risk of saline intrusion, especially in the low-lying coastal areas and deltas

67
Q

algal bloom neurotoxins

A
  • Cyanobacteria produce microcystin toxin

* liver damage; neurotoxin can result in damage to nervous system

68
Q

Agent Orange

A
  • chemical can damage genes resulting in deformities in children
  • environmental damage in Vietnam: ~ 31,000km2 (11,969mi2) of forest defoliated
69
Q

dioxin

A

toxic (cancerogenic) organic compound - byproduct of industrial processes

70
Q

heavy metal contamination

A

Heavy metals (lead, chromium) are neurotoxins and carcinogens

  • Cr – industrial effluent (esp., dye works)
  • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) in drinking water 0.1 mg/L
  • Pb – used in water pipes
  • banned in 1970 in Europe, in 1986 in the U.S.
71
Q

EDCs – endocrine disrupting compounds

A

chemicals that can mimic hormones, inhibit action of hormones, or alter regulatory effects of endocrine system

72
Q

natural hazard vulnerability

A 
indicator of how social or ecological system is susceptible to various stressors
•	Climate change
•	Natural hazards
•	Urbanization
•	Population growth
•	Economic reforms
73
Q

Effects of globalization

A

Globalization —– industrialization ——- urbanization ——- Slum population growth ——-drinking water deficit

Water Resources (3 decks)

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