Test 5 Flashcards
Water found in pore spaces or fractures of geologic materials
Groundwater
Area separating unsaturated zone and saturated zone
Water table
Water in unsaturated zone
Soil moisture
Any porous geologic material that can yield water in economic quantities
Aquifer
Any porous geologic material that can yield water but not in economic quantities
Aquiclude
Measure of how much void space (pores) a geologic material has
Porosity
Measure of how interconnected pore spaces are for groundwater to flow through them
Permeability
Used to measure the flow of groundwater
Hydraulic head
Groundwater flows into streams
Gaining streams
Surface water flows into subsurface
Losing streams
Occurs when groundwater seeps out at the surface
Springs
Water that becomes confined to a channel regardless of size
Streams
Total area of land that drains into a stream
Drainage basin
Water input exceeding capacity of a stream
Flooding
Flat area adjacent to channel
Floodplain
Natural or artificial slope or wall parallel to the river banks designed to control water levels
Levees
The straightening of rivers or streams by means of an artificial channel
Channelization
Instream uses of water
Hydroelectric and transportation/recreational uses
Offstream water uses
Consumptive (irrigation) and non-consumptive
Amount of water that is embedded in production process of an agricultural or industrial product
Virtual water
Withdrawing more water from underground aquifers than what can be replenished naturally from the infiltration of rainwater; leads to cone of depression which causes the water table to drop.
Groundwater mining
Origin of spill is confined to a limited area or region
Point source contamination
Chemicals leak into subsurface over a wide aerial extent
Non-point source contamination
Water that is between freshwater (potable or white water) and sewage (black water - has human wastes)
Gray water
Removal of dissolved salts from seawater
Desalination
Water is passed through filters or membranes that screen out impurities (salt)
Filtration
Involves heating water with dissolved components until it reaches boiling point. Water vapor is pure and is collected
Distillation
Unwanted or undesired material; either solid or hazardous
Waste
The majority (53%) of waste comes from what?
Agriculture (animal wastes and crop residues)
Second largest source of waste
Mining
Common trash; makes up 5% of waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Clay-lined pit used to hold waste
Sanitary landfill
Liquid waste
Leachate
Problems with sanitary landfills
- potential to contaminate soil, surface water, and ground water
- production of methane gas
- filling up faster than they can be constructed
Improper disposal of waste at any location other than a permitted landfill or facility
Illegal dumping
Waste disposal technique that reduces the volume of solid wasted up to 90% and has the potential for energy uses.
Incineration
Problems with incineration
- adds to air pollution and greenhouse gases
- increased concentration of metals and other hazardous material in ash
Aerobic decomposition of biodegradable organic matter
Composting
Waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment
Hazardous waste
Characteristics exhibited by hazardous waste
- flammable
- corrosive
- chemically reactive
- toxic
- radioactive
Created a “cradle to grave” system of record keeping: hazardous wastes must be tracked from the time they are generated until their final disposal
Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Created a “superfund” and provided for the clean-up and remediation of closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
[Superfund act]
Ways to dispose of hazardous waste
- special landfills
- recycling
- neutralization
- incineration or pyrolysis
Thermal decomposition of organic material without oxygen
Pyrolysis
Planting trees and other green vegetation to uptake contaminants
Phytoremediation
Use of bacteria and other microorganisms to break down organic compounds
Bioremediation
The number and variety of species found within a specified geographic region
Biodiversity
Threats to biodiversity
- habitat destruction
- pollution
- overharvesting/poaching
- invasive species
Group of individuals that belong to a single species and live together in a particular area
Population
Populations of several species living together in a habitat
Ecologic Community
The organisms of a community and the physical environment they occupy
Ecosystem
Large ecosystem
Biome
Found in the middle latitudes of the world, have four distinct seasons, contain broad-leaf trees
Temperate deciduous forests
Conifer (evergreen) forests; trees have long, thin, waxy needles; located in colder regions just below tundra regions
Boreal forests (Taiga)
One of the largest biomes; rainfall is usually between 150 to 300 inches per year; located near equator; highest biodiversity
Tropical Rain Forests
Large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers, and herbs; found in the middle latitudes in the interiors of continents
Grasslands (prairies)
Type of grassland; humid environments which are very wet
Tall grass
Type of grass land; drier environments with hotter summers and colder winters
Short grass
Extremely cold climates with little precipitation
Tundra
Located in northern hemisphere extending from the North Pole to the conifer forests of the Taiga
Arctic Tundra
Soil at or below the freezing point of water for two or more years
Permafrost
Occurs on Antarctica and on several Antarctic and subanarctic islands; most of the biome is rocky soil covered by glaciers; colder and drier than Arctic tundra region
Antarctic tundra
Located within mountain ranges throughout the world at high elevations; lacks permafrost and is generally better drained than Arctic and Antarctic soils
Alpine Tundra
Regions with limited precipitation (less than 10 inches a year) and vegetation
Deserts
Cause of natural deserts
- atmospheric circulation patterns: Hadley cells
- rain shadow effect
Convection produces cold descending dry air; found at 30 degrees North and South latitudes
Hadley cells
Moisture-rich air encounter barrier; loses moisture in windward side of mountains; cool, dry air descends on opposite side of mountains creating desert
Rain shadow effect
Rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees; usually found between tropical rainforest and desert biomes
Savanna
Region where soil is either seasonally or permanently saturated [creates standing water]
Wetlands
Forested wetlands
Swamps
Wetlands without trees
Marshes
Characterized by undecayed plant material called peat
Bogs
Water is this type of molecule that has oppositely charged poles
Polar Molecule
What is the least recycled item in the United States?
Plastic; only about 9% is recycled
What is the biggest use of water in the United States?
Power Generation
Areas where groundwater can erode soluble rocks; Caves, sinkholes, subsidence, and springs can be found here as well
Karst geology
