Water Flashcards
What is the significance of water to living things?
Water is essential to all forms of life from single-celled organisms to complex organisms, such as humans.
what does the water cycled do?
it recycles water to supply different compartments
condensation
water that forms clouds
percipitation
releasing water from the atmosphere(rain and snow)
runoff
water that travels along the surface of the earth that goes into bodies of water or seeps into the ground
ground water
water stored underground
evaporation
vaporized water that goes into the atmosphere from bodies of water
transpiration
vaporized water that goes into the atmosphere from plants
what perecent of the world is water?
70%
what percent of the world’s water is in oceans?
97%
what percent of the world’s water is fresh water?
3%
ice caps/glaciers make up what percent of freshwater?
68.7%
groundwater makes up what percent of freshwater?
30.1%
surface water makes up what percent of freshwater?
0.3%
why is it so important for humans to kee water sources clean?
There is an extremely small amount of fresh water available, which is why taking care of our water is so vital.
what are some threats to safe drinking water?
Improper waste management, harmful chemicals dumped into water, naturally occurring bacteria and viruses, nitrates from broken down organisms
watershed
An area where water runs off into a specific body of water. drains into one area from multiple sources.
what determines watershed boundaries?
gravity and typography(elevation)
What are the two watershed districts that Edina is a part of?
9-mile and Minnehaha creek
what is the purpose of a watershed?
flood protection(old goal),monitor water quality, regulate flow, groundwater and wetland protection
define water pollution
any physical, biological, or chemical change in water quality
what are various ways water can be considered polluted?
imbalance of naturally occurring chemicals(nitrate, phosphorous), Ph levels, other chemicals
What are the two main categories of human pollution
point source and non-point source pollution
point source pollution
knowing the exact source of pollution, such as a pipe leak
non-point source pollution
not knowing the exact source of pollution, such as runoff from farm fields
what level of chlorine is best?
0.75ppm or less
what level of dissolved oxygen is best?
should be greater than 6ppm, but dangerous for aquatic life if under 2ppm
what level of nitrate is best?
less than 4ppm
what level of phosphate is best?
0.03ppm or less
what level of pH is best?
6.5-8.2
turbidity
more turbid water is the less deep you can see into the water. drinking water should never exceed 1 NTU
Oligotrophic
clean and unpolluted, diverse aquatic life, little organic waste
Eutrophic
many decomposers, mucky and polluted, low diversity of aquatic life
