UNIT 3: Problems of the Hydrosphere Flashcards
The hydrosphere is the total amount of water on the planet. The hydrosphere includes water that is on the of the ______ planet, _____ , and in the _________ .
surface, underground, air
A planet’s hydrosphere can be ______, ______, or _____
liquid, vapor, or ice.
On Earth, _________ is found in lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and watersheds.
surface water
The frozen part of Earth’s hydrosphere is made of ice: glaciers, ice caps and icebergs. The frozen part of the hydrosphere has its own name, the __________.
cryosphere
TRUE or FALSE: Water moves through the hydrosphere in a cycle. Water collects in clouds, then falls to Earth in the form of rain or snow. This water collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Then it evaporates into the atmosphere to start the cycle all over again. This is called the energy cycle.
FALSE: energy cycle»_space; water cycle
Type of water stored beneath the Earth’s surface in sediment and rock
formation.
Groundwater
As water travels beneath the Earth’s surface, it eventually reaches a level where
the rocks and soil are saturated with water. This level is known as the _________ .
water table
An underground formation that contains groundwater is called an ______.
aquifer
TRUE or FALSE: The water table forms the upper boundary of an aquifer.
TRUE
What type of materials do aquifers consists of?
materials such as rock, sand, and gravel that have a lot of spaces where water can accumulate.
TRUE or FALSE: Aquifers hold water in much the same way that a sponge holds water.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE: Groundwater can also dissolve rock formations, such as those made of limestone, and fill vast caves with water, which creates underground lakes.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE: To reach an aquifer, surface water must travel down through permeable layers of soil and rock. Water can reach an aquifer from places where the aquifer is covered by impermeable materials.
FALSE: Water CANNOT reach an aquifer from places where the aquifer is covered by impermeable materials.
The area of the Earth’s surface where water percolates down into the aquifer is called the ___________
the recharge zone
TRUE or FALSE: Recharge zones are environmentally sensitive areas because any pollution in the recharge zone can also enter the aquifer.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE: Structures such as buildings and parking lots can act as impermeable layers to increase the amount of water entering an aquifer. In fact, aquifers can take tens of thousands of years to recharge.
FALSE: Structures such as buildings and parking lots can act as impermeable layers to DECREASE the amount of water entering an aquifer.
A hole that is dug or drilled to reach groundwater is called a ________ .
well
______ is the introduction of chemical, physical, or biological agents into water that degrade water quality and adversely affect the organisms that depend on the water.
Water pollution
Two Source Types of Water Pollution
- Point-Source Pollution
- Nonpoint-Source Pollution
(Two Source Types of Water Pollution) Pollution discharged from a single source. Can often be identified and traced to a source. But even when the source of pollution is known, enforcing cleanup is sometimes difficult.
Point-Source Pollution
(Two Source Types of Water Pollution) Pollution comes from many different sources that are often difficult to identify.
Nonpoint-Source Pollution
Identify the Major Source of the Pollutant: Pathogen
Mostly Nonpoint-Sources
Identify the Major Source of the Pollutant: Organic Matter
Mostly Nonpoint-Sources
Identify the Major Source of the Pollutant: Organic Chemicals
Mostly Nonpoint-Sources
