Water in the World

Question 1

What are the three types of resources?

Answer 1

Renewable, Non-Renewable, Continuous

Question 2

Give an example for each type of resources

Answer 2

Natural Oil (non-renewable), Sun (Continuous), Hydropower (renewable)

Question 3

What is air pressure measured in?

Answer 3

Hectopascals (hPa)

Question 4

What do H and L stand for on a wind and pressure map?

Answer 4

‘H’ for high and ‘L’ for low

Question 5

Which direction is low pressure?

Answer 5

Clockwise while high-pressure systems are anticlockwise

Question 6

What is wind?

Answer 6

The wind is the air movement of low and high-pressure areas

Question 7

What is air pressure and how is it shown on a weather map?

Answer 7

Air pressure is the weight of air molecules pressing down on the Earth. Air pressure is shown on weather maps with ‘H’ meaning high pressure and ‘L’ meaning low pressure.

Question 8

What happens to the air when it is cooled?

Answer 8

The air contracts when it is cold, increasing weight, air sinks

Question 9

What happens to the air when it is heated?

Answer 9

The air expands when it is heated

Question 10

What are the characteristics of High-pressure systems?

Answer 10

It has a higher pressure at its centre than areas around it. The Wind blows away from the high pressure. High pressure is anti-clockwise.

Question 11

What are the characteristics of Low-pressure systems?

Answer 11

Lower pressure at its centre than the areas around it. As the air rises, the water vapour within it condenses, forming clouds and often precipitation. Low pressure is clockwise.

Question 12

What is evaporation?

Answer 12

When liquid turns into gas

Question 13

What is surface runoff?

Answer 13

The flow of water occurring on the ground surface when excess rainwater, stormwater etc

Question 14

What is orographic rainfall?

Answer 14

When moist air is lifted as it moves over a mountain range

Question 15

What is frontal rainfall?

Answer 15

When a warm front meets a cold front

Question 16

What is convectional rainfall?

Answer 16

When the sun heats the air forcing it to rise

Question 17

What is water vapour?

Answer 17

The gaseous phase of water.

Question 18

What is condensation?

Answer 18

Change of the physical state of matter from the gas phase into the liquid phase

Question 19

What is infiltration?

Answer 19

The downward movement of water through the land surface

Question 20

What is transpiration?

Answer 20

The loss of water from a plant in the form of water vapour

Question 21

What is precipitation?

Answer 21

Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to or condenses on the ground.

Question 22

What percentage of all water is saltwater

Answer 22

97.5% is actually saltwater

Question 23

What percentage of all water is freshwater?

Answer 23

2.5% is freshwater

Question 24

What fraction of freshwater is locked in icecaps/glaciers?

Answer 24

⅔ of freshwater is locked in ice gaps

Question 25

What are the three main uses for water?

Answer 25

economic, agriculture and personal use of freshwater

Question 26

How much water is actually safe for consumption?

Answer 26

0.007% of freshwater is safe to drink

Question 27

How many people live in areas of water scarcity?

Answer 27

1.2 billion people

Question 28

Over the last 100 years, how much has the human population and water use grown?

Answer 28

The global population has tripled and water consumption has increased by six times!

Question 29

What has driven the increase in the consumption of water?

Answer 29

The growing middle class in the emerging markets has been one key contributor as disposable incomes rise eating habits change and people tend to eat more meat.