Water Resources

Question 1

Regions under water stress

Answer 1

US
China/Asia
Australia
Philippines
Northern and Southern Africa
Chile

Question 2

Hydrological cycle

Answer 2

Evaporation (86%) 
Cloud formation (86%) or precipitation (78%)
Atmospheric advection of water vapor 
Precipitation
Surface runoff/groundwater flow

Question 3

Surface water

Answer 3

Most of the water that flows from land back to the ocean

only 5% is underground runoff

Question 4

Infiltration/Percolation

Answer 4

Infiltration: water in the soil
Percolation: water through rocks

Question 5

Soil Water Budget

Answer 5

Precipitation = evapotranspiration + soil moisture

Question 6

Evapotranspiration

Answer 6

Evaporation: net movement of water molecules from a wet surface to the air
Transpiration: cooling mechanism of plants through small opening called stomata

Potential evapotranspiration: amount that would evaporate under ideal conditions and endless supply
Actual evapotranspiration is limited by conditions and supply

Question 7

Soil Moisture storage

Answer 7

Wilting point: H2O unavailable for plants bc too dry
H2O available for plants
Field capacity –> saturation: H2O unavailable for plants

Question 8

Deficit/surplus

Answer 8

Unevenly distributed over space/time

Question 9

Boulder Water supply

Answer 9

Silver Lake and Arapahoe Glacier: small alpine glacier, but lost 52% of area during 20th century

Question 10

Hydroelectricity

Answer 10

Energy from dams: renewable, cheap, 16% of world’s electricity

BUT: biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, displacement of indigenous tribes