Water Resources Final

Question 1

Eutrophication

Answer 1

accumulation of organic matter (typ. N&P) that results in DO depletion

Question 2

Harmful Algal Blooms

Answer 2

toxin-producing algae grow excessively and can appear green, blue-green, red or brown.
Causes: water temp increasing, eutrophication, sewage.
Impact: tens of millions of dollars lost in fishing industry, loss of biodiversity, health regard- headache to death

Question 3

Dead Zones

Answer 3

Hypoxia; reduced level of oxygen in water, most marine life dies or leaves area. Desert like

Question 4

Fish Kills

Answer 4

Sudden death of large numbers of fish
Causes: Lack of oxygen, naturally toxic water, disease

Question 5

Cone of Depression

Answer 5

Result from pumping a well and lowering the water table near the well.

Question 6

Poetentiometric surface

Answer 6

Level the water rises to in a well

Question 7

What direction does groundwater flow

Answer 7

GW flows from high to low hydraulic head

Question 8

Hydraulic Head

Answer 8

elevation of the water table relative to a datum (usually sea level)

Question 9

Hydraulic Conductivity

Answer 9

defines how easily pore fluid escapes from the
compacted pore space

Question 10

Seepage Velocity Equation

Answer 10

Vs = (s*K)/n

seepage velocity = (hydraulic gradient*hydraulic conductivity)/porosity

Question 11

Hydraulic Gradient Equation

Answer 11

(h1-h2)/distance between

Question 12

Darcy’s Law

Answer 12

Q=sKA

Q= hydraulic gradienthydraulic connectivitycross sectional area

Question 13

Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 13

Transformations:
Nitrogen fixation
Nitration
Denigration
Anammox
Ammonification

Heavily mediates by bacteria
Fertilizers increase it
Human impact: the burning of fossil fuels, fertilizers, cause nutrient imbalances of trees, change in forest health, declines in biodiversity, DO changes in marine even systems and changes in food web structures.

Question 14

Examples of in/organic forms of nitrogen

Answer 14

Inorganic: nitrate, ammonia
Organic: amino acids, nucleic acid

Question 15

Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 15

Requires 8 electrons & 16 ATP molecule
N2->NH3
Carried out by prokaryotes

Question 16

Nitrogen purpose

Answer 16

Critical for Survival
abundant in atmosphere as N2 ( inaccessible form for organisms)

Question 17

Symbolic nitrogen fixers

Answer 17

Organisms that require a close association with host to carry out the process

Question 18

Nitrification

Answer 18

Converts ammonia to nitrate in 2 steps with specialized enzymes.
Ammonia -> nitrate NO2–>nitrate NO3
Mostly occurs aerobically

Question 19

Anamox

Answer 19

Microbial process
Anaerobic ammonia oxidation

Question 20

Denigration

Answer 20

Nitrate -> nitrogen gas

Question 21

Ammonification

Answer 21

The process of organic nitrogen being released from waste or decomp

Question 22

Water Table

Answer 22

the line that represents the divide between the saturated and unsaturated zone

Question 23

Aquiclude/Aquitard

Answer 23

impermeable layer in subsurface, clay/bedrock

Question 24

Hydrogen Bonds

Answer 24

allow H2O as a liquid to constantly form, break, and reform bonds
Gas- molecules moving v quickly with high energy
Liquid- amorphous, globby arrangement where density is temperate dependent but high
Soild- orderly crystalline structure

Question 25

Polar substance

Answer 25

formed mainly by electromagnetic forces (salts)

Question 26

Nonpolar substance

Answer 26

Formed via electron sharing (noble gases, gasoline)

Question 27

What temp does water hold more DO at

Answer 27

colder, the more DO

Question 28

Physical Water Quality Parameters

Answer 28

Temperature: big driver for DO, warmer increases bio activity, abrupt changes kills Turbidity/Clarity: how well light can penetrate water

Question 29

Chemical Water Quality Parameters

Answer 29

Nutrients, Road salts, specific conductivity, heavy metals, organic pollution, acidity

Question 30

Biological Water Quality Parameters

Answer 30

Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand Chemical Oxygen demand, Chlorophyll

Question 31

Rapid BioAssess. Water Quality Parameters

Answer 31

Index of Biotic Integrity macroinvertebrates

Question 32

Factors influencing Phosphorus Avab. in Soil

Answer 32

Organic Matter - Increase together Clay Content - soils with higher clay content have higher retention capacity soil mineralogy: FE and Al can hold on to P well Soil pH: optimum 6/7 results in max. p availability

Question 33

Plant available phosphorus (soil solution)

Answer 33

comprised of inorganic phosphorus dissolves in water/solution that is readily available for plant uptake

Question 34

Sorbed Phosphorus

Answer 34

comprised of inorganic phosphorus attached to clay surfaces, FE, Al, Ca oxides in soil, released slowly for plant uptake

Question 35

Mineral Phosphorus

Answer 35

composed of primary and secondary phosphate minerals present in soil. Slow release of phosphorus occurs when the mineral weathers and dissolves in soil water

Question 36

Lake Formation

Answer 36

Glacially formed lakes - Great Lakes, have larger surface area Tectonically formed: deeper, less surface area Volcanic Lakes: formed in craters

Question 37

Oligotrophic

Answer 37

low nutrients and productivity; usually high clarity

Question 38

Mesotrophic

Answer 38

moderate nutrients, productivity and clarity

Question 39

Eutrophic

Answer 39

high nutrients and productivity low clarity

Question 40

Stratification

Answer 40

natural separations of an ocean's water into horizontal layers by density

Question 41

Summer Stratification

Answer 41

Epilimnion- high temp, low density Metalimnion- rapid temp change, prevents mixing Hyprolimnion- low temp, high density

Question 42

Fall Turnover Event

Answer 42

isothermal - strong winds can now cause turnover

Question 43

Winter Stratification

Answer 43

Epilimnion - lower temp, low density Metalimnion - rapid temp change, prevents mixing Hypolimnion - higher temp, high density

Question 44

Spring Turnover Event

Answer 44

Isothermal - strong wind can now cause turnover