Unit 2- Hydrosphere Quest Flashcards
How much of the water on earth’s surface is freshwater and how much is salt water?
97% salt water and 3% freshwater
Of the freshwater that we have on earth, how much is usable?
Less than 1%
How much of the freshwater that is available on earth is in the form of glaciers and ice caps?
69%
Canada has how much of the worlds wetlands?
25%. It is the largest wetland area in the world.
The longest Canadian river is the…
Mackenzie river
The Great Lakes provides drinking water to how many Canadians?
8.5 million
What is the largest lake in Canada?
Lake superior
How many dams Quebec have?
333
Waterpower me about how much of Canadian electrical needs?
26%
What is watershed?
Watershed: area of land where all the surface water drains into the same place
What is commodity?
Economic resource. May be owned privately and sold for a profit.
What is transpiration?
Transpiration is water that is taken from tree roots and is then released from leaves.
What is groundwater?
Water beneath the earth’s surface
What is systems thinking?
Consider is the interrelationships between people and their environment
Where is inaccessible water located?
Inaccessible water is in the form of ice caps and glaciers, underground, the atmosphere, in our bodies, soil, snow and ice.
Common pollutants
Cigarette butts, baby wipes, fruit stickers, feminine products, oil/grease, lawn chemicals/fertilizers/pesticides, beauty products
Some ways we can save the Great Lakes
Stop using antibacterial soap that contain triclosan, stop using fertilizers that maybe runoff into Great Lakes, help stop the spread of invasive species by making sure not to carry back into our great lakes, don’t contribute to the unwanted items in the sewage system, don’t wash car in the driveway so soaps don’t go into the storm drain, invest in a rain barrel
Causes of blue-green algae
- Sewage, septic tanks, waste management systems, lawn fertilizers, detergents and agricultural run off: all sources of phosphorus (A nutrient that helps algae grow)
- slow moving waters, that are warm and sallow with lots of nutrient causing algae to grow rapidly
Affects of blue-green algae
- Can’t swim, boat, or even touch the water because of algae
- Fish are dying because they can’t breathe and are choking from lack of oxygen
- Algae can irritate skin and cause if you damage the liver and nervous system
- Diarrhea/throwing up if water is drank
- pea soup appearance
- drinking water contaminated
- cannot eat fish until 2 weeks after algae bloom
Blue green algae conservation
-aware of our actions and make sure that less algae goes into our lakes and rivers
-naturalize are shoreline property: use phosphate free detergent, maintain our septic systems regularly
-grow fescue grass
-Manage agricultural runoff
– Install rain barrels
-plant rain gardens
-create and maintain wetlands
-go to car wash instead of washing car in driveway
-Canada is working with the US to find solutions
-reduce pollution in streams
– Reduce use of lawn fertilizers
Define commons
Natures resources that belong to everyone (EX. air, oceans, fish, lakes and rivers.)
What is the amount of usable water that Canadians have?
7%
Where do you more of 50% of 10 Canada’s rivers flow into?
The Arctic
Define wetlands
Water in a marsh swap or fat that is fresh or salty, standing or floating and 2–6 meters in depth.
How do wetlands protect local water quality?
Clean water, filter out sediments, pollution and toxic chemicals. They are also spawning grounds for fish.
Traditionally how were wetlands viewed?
Bug infested muddy swamps with little value