Water Resources Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What is the distribution of water on Earth?

A

ocean water (97.2%) and freshwater (2.8%) > glaciers, groundwater, accessible freshwater > lakes, swamps, rivers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is transpiration?

A

water released by vegetation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What happens to the water that falls as precipitation (5)?

A
  • immediately evaporates
  • transpired by plants
  • surface runoff
  • collects as groundwater
  • soil-moisture zone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the soil water budget?

A

the balance between how much water is entering into a system compared to how much is needed to maintain current conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the water balance equation?

A
  • when ACTET is greater than POTET, a significant surplus of water is present
  • when ACTET equals POTET, conditions are good
  • when ACTET is less than POTET, a deficit of water occurs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What factors influence precipitation amounts (2)?

A
  • latitude

- elevation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What factors influence POTET (2)?

A
  • latitude

- elevation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a water deficit?

A

a situation where POTET exceeds ACTET (drought)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the difference between a perennial and an intermittent stream?

A
  • prennial: a stream or a river which continuously flows (year-round)
  • intermittent: a stream or a river which does not continuously flow (not year-round)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is groundwater?

A

any water that is located below the surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is groundwater recharge?

A

the slow process by which groundwater resources are replenished through precipitation and aquifers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is subsidense?

A

the sinking of land over a drained aquifer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is one of the most important aquifers in the U.S.?

A

the High Plains/Ogalala Aquifer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the zone of aeration?

A

layer of rock with some water but not completely saturated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the zone of saturation?

A

layer of rock with lots of water; completely saturated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is impermeable rock?

A

rock which water cannot flow through

17
Q

What is permeable rock?

A

rock which water can flow through

18
Q

What is a water table?

A

the boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation

19
Q

What is an aquifer?

A

a saturated layer of rock

20
Q

What is an unconfined aquifer?

A

an aquifer that has permeable rock only on one side

21
Q

What is a confined aquifer?

A

an aquifer that is confined on both sides by impermeable rock

22
Q

What is a well?

A

a hole that taps into groundwater

23
Q

What is an Artesian well?

A

form in conjunction with confined aquifers; water is pushed to the surface by pressure on both sides of the aquifer

24
Q

What is well draw-down?

A

depression that occurs in clos proximity to any well (by-product of overuse)