Water Flashcards
Define upwelling
The rising of deep, cold water to surface water levels as currents diverge along the west coasts of continents. Upwellings are found on the west coast of Peru.
Upwellings are important for marine ecosystems as they bring nutrients to the surface.
Define bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation is the selective absorption of a chemical within an organism over time, often seen with fat soluble chemicals.
This process occurs when an organism continues to feed on a food source contaminated with that chemical.
Define biomagnification
Biomagnification is the increase of chemical concentrations in animal tissues as it moves up the food chain, often seen with fat soluble chemicals.
This means that higher trophic levels tend to have higher concentrations of these chemicals.
Define turbidity
Turbidity measures the ‘cloudiness’ of water based on how much sediment is suspended within the water.
High turbidity can affect aquatic life by reducing light penetration.
Define thermal pollution
Thermal pollution occurs when humans cause a substantial change in the temperature of a water body, often caused by power plants and land conversion practices.
This can harm aquatic ecosystems by affecting oxygen levels and species composition.
Define eutrophication
Eutrophication occurs when a body of water experiences excessive nutrients due to human activities.
What causes nutrient pollution?
Nutrient pollution commonly occurs when fertilizers are used on crops and family gardens/vegetation, or manure leaches for CAFOs.
What are the main nutrients involved in nutrient pollution?
Phosphorus and nitrogen.
How does manure contribute to nutrient pollution?
Manure from CAFOs has high concentrations of nutrients and can overflow from pools.
What happens to synthetic fertilizers in the environment?
They easily leach into nearby bodies of water and input limiting nutrients in excessive amounts.
What is the effect of excessive nutrients on algae growth?
It supports the rapid growth of algae.
How do algae blooms affect dissolved oxygen levels?
They reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed through decomposition.
What are hypoxic waters?
Waters with low oxygen concentrations that make the water unsuitable for many fish and shellfish.
What consequences do fish face in hypoxic waters?
They must either move to better waters or will die off, creating dead zones.
What toxins can blooming algae produce?
Nerve and liver toxins.
Define endocrine disruptor
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that disrupt normal bodily functions in animals.
How do endocrine disruptors affect hormone functions?
They mimic hormones created by the endocrine system and bind to receptor cells.
What functions can be impacted by endocrine disruptors?
Growth, metabolism, and development of reproductive organs.
Define thermal shock
Thermal shock is a dramatic change in water temperatures that can kill species by pushing them out of their naturally adapted range of tolerance.
How does thermal shock impact aquatic species?
Increased temperatures cause an increased respiration rate while lowering dissolved oxygen, which can lead to suffocation.
Define macroinvertebrates
Macroinvertebrates are animals without backbones that can be seen without the aid of a microscope.
Why are aquatic macroinvertebrates valuable indicators of water quality?
They are benthic and do not move over large distances, making them unable to quickly escape pollution or environmental stresses.
What are indicator species in water quality assessment?
Species such as Mayflies, Stoneflies, and Caddisflies that indicate a healthy water body.
What does a high EPT/Midge ratio indicate?
A high EPT/Midge ratio indicates better water quality and diversity of macroinvertebrates.
Define a watershed
All the area that drains rainwater and snowmelt into a specific body of water.
Why are watersheds important for water quality?
What happens on land impacts the water body receiving draining water, affecting nutrient levels and pollution.
What impact does an El Nino event have on marine biodiversity?
It can suppress upwellings off the coast of Peru, leading to a loss of biodiversity as fish populations may decline.
What weather patterns does El Nino create?
Hot, dry temperatures in Southeast Asia, South Africa, Northern U.S., and Canada, causing droughts and crop failures.
How does temperature affect dissolved oxygen and BOD?
As temperature increases, less oxygen dissolves in water, and higher temperatures can initially increase BOD.
What happens to ocean water at the poles?
Freshwater freezes, increasing the concentration of salt in remaining water, making it denser and causing it to sink.
What are the impacts of levees on floodplains?
They prevent flooding, cutting off nutrient-rich sediment and reducing fertility, which can worsen flooding in other areas.
How do dams impact fish species?
Dams obstruct the migration of fish species, affecting their ability to reach breeding grounds.
What is a consequence of sediment buildup in dam reservoirs?
It can erode the dam material and requires energy-intensive dredging to remove.
Define point sources of pollution
Identifiable sources such as smokestacks or wastewater discharge pipes.
Define nonpoint sources of pollution
Diffuse sources of pollution that are hard to pinpoint, like runoff from agricultural fields.
What happens during an El Nino event in the ocean and atmosphere?
East trade winds weaken, causing warm ocean currents to flow east, impacting weather patterns.
How does mercury enter humans?
Through the consumption of fish and shellfish that have bioaccumulated methylmercury.
Why are persistent chemicals found globally?
They take a long time to break down and can travel long distances, contaminating large areas.
What is the difference between water soluble and fat soluble chemicals?
Water soluble chemicals can wash off and percolate, while fat soluble chemicals bind to particulates.
How is methylmercury formed in water?
Bacteria convert inorganic mercury in anaerobic environments into methylmercury, which is toxic.
Where does an El Nino event occur?
In the southeast Pacific region, near the west coast of South America.
Identify sources of sediment pollution
- Removing vegetation from the riparian zone
- Plowing/tilling of agricultural fields
- Digging up soil from construction
- Soil erosion from land with little vegetation
- Fast-moving rivers carrying sediment to slow-moving lakes/oceans.
What causes warm water to rise at the equator?
Unequal heating causes warm water to rise (decrease in density) at the equator
What forces water to sink north and south of the equator?
Gravity
How do tradewinds affect ocean currents at the equator?
Tradewinds blow ocean currents east to west at the equator
What effect do land masses have on ocean currents?
Land masses force ocean currents to circulate in gyres
What is the relationship between salinity and the density of water?
Salty water is relatively dense, causing cold waters to sink at high latitudes
What is thermohaline circulation?
The movement necessary to drive a deep, cold current due to warmer waters rising near the equator and cold waters sinking
What drives deep ocean currents?
Density
What drives surface water currents?
Winds and land masses
What design can tankers use to mitigate oil spills?
Double hull design with two steel walls
What are containment booms used for?
To contain oil spills during offshore cleanup
What methods are used for cleaning up surface oil spills?
- Vacuuming the oil
- Burning-off the oil
- Absorbing the oil with a sponge
- Using genetically engineered bacteria
- Chemicals that break up and disperse the oil
Name one specific toxic metal pollutant.
Lead
What is the primary source of mercury pollution?
Burning of fossil fuels, especially coal
What legislation act issued water quality standards in the U.S.?
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 (Clean Water Act)
What does the Safe Drinking Water Act establish?
National standards for safe drinking water
What does the Minamata Convention on Mercury aim to do?
Reduce or eliminate the amount of mercury released from various sources
What does an oxygen sag curve diagram show?
The relationship of oxygen concentrations to the distance from a point source of decomposing sewage or other pollutants
What happens to dissolved oxygen levels at the point source of pollution?
DO levels drop dramatically
What occurs to dissolved oxygen levels farther downstream from the pollution source?
DO levels rise again as there is less sewage to decompose
Fill in the blank: The Clean Water Act requires industries of point sources to get a permit from the _______.
[state and/or EPA]
True or False: The Safe Drinking Water Act includes maximum contaminant levels for Arsenic.
True
