U7L3 and L4 Water and Climate Change Flashcards
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What is definition of drought?
A period of drier-than-normal conditions resulting from a decrease in precipitation levels over weeks, months, or years
What is the definition of global average temperature?
The average of thousands of temperature measurements in the atmosphere, oceans, and on land over a specific time period
How does increased temperature cause more drought?
As temperatures rise, the rate of evaporation increases. Areas that tend to be dry will experience more extreme drought. This is because warmer air holds more water than cooler air. Because the air is warmer, clouds will not condense as quickly.
How are some clouds affecting global warming?
Some types of clouds help to cool the Earth by reflecting light from the sun back into space. Other types of clouds hold the heat in, just like greenhouse gases. Scientists have observed that more heat-trapping clouds are forming, adding to climate change.
While arid regions experience more extreme drought, what happens to regions that tend to receive more precipitation?
They will face extreme storms
How does increased runoff affect the ground?
Runoff increases as rain increases. The ground is unable to absorb water fast enough, so water runs off, picking up debris and chemicals along the way. These wind up in bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and oceans.
What affect does snow have on water availability?
Each winter, snow falls in mountainous regions, storing water that melts later through the spring and summer. This snow melt provides water that people rely on for household, agricultural, and industrial use. As the Earth warms, much of the snowfall is replaced with rain. The snow that does fall arrives later and melts earlier. This changes the timing of the availability of water.
What is turbidity?
Turbidity is cloudiness caused by stirred- up sediment; turbid water is not good for drinking and can be harmful to aquatic life.
What temperatures increase the risk of algal blooms and bacterial growth.?
Warmer temperatures
How is freshwater near the coast more likely to be affected by salinity?
Rising ocean levels can push saltwater
upstream into bodies of water, making them unusable for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes.
Groundwater is more protected than surface water. However, it is at risk too. How is it at risk?
Lower groundwater levels can also allow infiltration of saltwater along the ocean shore. As with surface water, saltwater intrusion into the water table can make the water unusable.
How are ecosystems affected by a low water plate?
As water demands increase with temperature, more groundwater is extracted. This can lower the water table, which affects ecosystems which rely on the availability of groundwater. As the water table falls, plants’ roots can no longer reach it.
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, oceans have become __% more acidic.
30
What is the definition if turbidity?
Cloudiness in water caused by stirred up by sediments or by algae or other microscopic organisms.
What effect do clouds have on climate change?
Some types of clouds reflect light and cool the atmosphere while others hold onto heat like greenhouse gases.
How do warming temperatures affect storms?
Warming temperatures cause storms to be more severe and to produce more rain.
What happens as snow cover and glaciers disappear?
As snow cover and glaciers disappear, the reflect less light and atmospheric temperature increase.
What effect do rising ocean levels have on costal fresh water?
Rising ocean levels can infiltrate fresh water with salt water.
What causes coral bleaching?
The ocean temperature rising.
YoU sAy ThE oCeAnS rIsInG
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), since 1750, the sea level has risen an average of __ centimeters.
20
How is the ocean rising bad for the environment?
Rising tides cause increased erosion. They also infiltrate coastal fresh water with salt water. The salt water reduces plant life which needs fresh water to survive; this affects the entire food web.
As the oceans rise, over ___ million people worldwide could be displaced.
600
What are climate change indicators?
These measurements are called climate change indicators because they show the progression of global climate change.
What is a fall line?
The Atlantic coastal plain is a large, mostly flat low area along the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions. Farther inland is an area where the land goes from low and flat to an elevated highland; this area is called the fall line. The fall line marks the boundary between the Piedmont Plateau and the coastal plain. As the name suggests, the fall line is where waterfalls and rapids are found.
What the definition of fall line?
A narrow zone between an elevated region and a plain where rivers from falls and rapids
Describe upstream rivers.
Upstream from the fall line rivers move swiftly through narrow valleys.
Describe downstream rivers.
Downstream from the fall line, the rivers of the coastal plains are large, relatively calm, and navigable by large boats.
In early America, how the lowland of the costal plains help the newcomers?
Settlements such as Jamestown sat on the coastal plain, the lowland area between the ocean and the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Using the large rivers that cross the coastal plain, colonists were able to sail their ships upstream to continue exploring and settling new land.
How did Earth’s topography shape America’s culture development on the east coast?
(Chesapeake Bay)
Large ships entering from the Chesapeake Bay were able to navigate inland as the rivers were broad, deep, and slow moving. At the Piedmont plateau, the rivers became narrow and swift, filled with rapids and waterfalls.
The fall line marked a natural boundary for larger ships. How did this influence westward expansion?
The fall line marked a natural boundary for larger ships. Trading posts were established up and down the fall line as ships stopped to unload their cargo. As westward expansion continued, and more and more people and goods arrived at the fall line, these small outposts grew into early American cities.
Where is a fall line located?
The point of change, where the coastal plain meets the plateau, is the fall line.
What is Richmond, Virginia’s relationship with water?
Richmond, Virginia, is located on the fall line of the James River, and is one of the oldest major cities in the United States. Its history, like the history of most other cities, was shaped by the availability of water resources.
What made the Powhatan stop wanting to have peaceful trading relationships with the English?
They were angered by the English continuing to encroach into their territory.
How did the colonists rely on the James River?
The colonists relied on he James River for bringing in supplies from England and for sending out tobacco to trade.
Why did George Washington want to build a canal?
George Washington wanted to find a way to connect the James and Ohio Rivers to enable goods to the shipped west of the Appalachian mountains.
Why was the canal abandoned?
The canal was abandoned when railroads were able to be built faster and more cheaply.
List three ways that water resources were important to Richmond’s development.
The James River helped the colonists explore the region, it was crucial to transporting goods to and from Richmond, and the canal helped to make Richmond an economic center.
