6th Grade Hydrology Practice Unit Test

Hydrology Study Notes

Water Cycle

• Evaporation: the process of water changing from a liquid to a gas state, occurs at the surface of the Earth, oceans, lakes, and rivers
• Condensation: the process of water vapor changing back into a liquid, occurs when water vapor cools down
• Precipitation: the process of water falling to the Earth's surface, can occur in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail
• Infiltration: the process of water seeping into the soil, becomes groundwater
• Percolation: the process of water moving downward through the soil, becomes groundwater
• Transpiration: the process of water being absorbed by plants and released into the air as water vapor
• Sublimation: the process of water changing directly from a solid to a gas state, occurs when snow or ice is exposed to air

Oceans

• Ocean: a large body of saltwater that covers over 70% of the Earth's surface
• Salinity: the measure of salt concentration in the ocean, affects the density of seawater
• Continental Shelf: the shallow area of the ocean floor near the coastline, where the ocean meets the land
• Continental Slope: the steep drop-off from the continental shelf to the deeper ocean floor
• Abyssal Plain: the flat, deep area of the ocean floor
• Mid-Ocean Ridge: the mountain range that runs through the center of the ocean, where new ocean crust is created
• Ocean Currents: the movement of ocean water, driven by winds, tides, and the Coriolis Effect
• Surface Currents: the movement of ocean water at the surface, driven by winds and tides
• Deep Currents: the movement of ocean water at great depths, driven by differences in temperature and density

Freshwater Systems

• Rivers: a natural flowing body of water that begins at a source and flows towards an ocean, lake, or wetland
• Lakes: a body of freshwater, often connected to rivers and wetlands
• Swamps: a wetland area with standing water, often dominated by trees and vegetation
• Groundwater: water stored beneath the Earth's surface, in aquifers and soil
• Aquifer: a layer of permeable rock or soil that stores groundwater
• Flood Plain: a flat area surrounding a river, often flooded during heavy rainfall or storms

Water Pollution

• Point Source Pollution: pollution that comes from a single, identifiable source, such as a factory or sewage pipe
• Non-Point Source Pollution: pollution that comes from a variety of sources, such as agricultural runoff or stormwater

Earth's Features

• Rift Valley: a long, narrow valley where the Earth's crust is being pulled apart, often forming new oceans
• Seamoint: a mountain or hill that forms at the boundary between two tectonic plates
• Continental Rise: the area where the ocean floor rises to meet the continental shelf

Weather and Climate

• Coriolis Effect: the apparent deflection of moving objects, such as ocean currents and winds, due to the Earth's rotation
• El Nino: a complex weather pattern that occurs when the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean warms up
• La Nina: a complex weather pattern that occurs when the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean cools down
• Storm Surge: a rise in sea level due to a storm, often causing flooding and damage
• Tides: the regular rise and fall of the sea level, caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun
• Spring Tide: the highest tide, occurs when the moon and sun are aligned
• Neap Tide: the lowest tide, occurs when the moon and sun are at right angles
• Convection Currents: the movement of fluids, such as water or air, due to differences in temperature and density
• Waves: the movement of energy through the ocean, caused by wind or storms
• Tsunami: a large, destructive wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption

Prepare for your hydrology unit test with this challenging practice test consisting of written answers, multiple-choice questions, and true or false questions. Covering topics such as evaporation, continental shelf, ocean salinity, sublimation, and more.