Hydrologic Cycle and Earth's Water
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Hydrologic Cycle and Earth's Water

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the hydrologic cycle?

  • To regulate the temperature of the atmosphere
  • To create habitats for aquatic life
  • To facilitate the movement of water between Earth's surface and subsystems (correct)
  • To distribute minerals across the earth

    • Which activity is likely to negatively impact water quality?

  • Planting trees in urban areas
  • Implementing water conservation techniques
  • Participating in community clean-up events
  • Improper disposal of waste products (correct)

    • What is a consequence of neglecting water resources?

  • Enhanced biodiversity in aquatic environments
  • Increase in water-dependent industries
  • Reduction in extreme weather events
  • Decreased availability of clean water for human use (correct)

    • What does conserving water resources involve?

    <p>Using water efficiently and responsibly in daily activities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does human activity influence the watershed?

    <p>By contributing to pollution and altering water flow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the approximate residence time of water in the ocean and ice sheets?

    <p>Thousands of years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following reservoirs has the shortest residence time for water molecules?

    <p>Organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much of Earth's surface do the oceans cover?

    <p>71%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What average length of time do water molecules spend in the atmosphere?

    <p>Few days</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about the ocean is false?

    <p>It is exclusively freshwater.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these reservoirs contains water with a residence time of tens to hundreds of years?

    <p>Ground water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which water reservoir typically holds water for a few weeks?

    <p>Streams and rivers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a primary characteristic of an ocean?

    <p>It covers significant land masses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the Southern Ocean?

    <p>It surrounds Antarctica and connects to other major oceans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which layer of the ocean is characterized by warm, low-density water?

    <p>Surface layer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of a glacier?

    <p>A permanent mass of ice made from recrystallized snow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between a lake and a pond?

    <p>Lakes have a flat upper surface and are larger than ponds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of wetland is characterized by lush trees and vegetation?

    <p>Swamp</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'salinity' refer to?

    <p>The amount of dissolved salts in water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a key characteristic of an estuary?

    <p>It is a coastal body where freshwater meets saltwater.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the importance of thermohaline circulation in the ocean?

    <p>It is responsible for the deep ocean currents influenced by water density.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines porosity in the context of groundwater?

    <p>The total amount of empty pore spaces in the rock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of flood is characterized by rapidly rising water and occurs when heavy rainfall causes an existing river channel to overflow?

    <p>Flash flood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which human activity is NOT directly mentioned as affecting water resources?

    <p>Industrial development in coastal areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is needed for effective water resource management?

    <p>Planning, developing, distributing, and managing water use</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flooding occurs due to which of the following scenarios?

    <p>Heavy rainfall exceeding stream capacities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of aquifer would typically provide a reliable groundwater supply?

    <p>Aquifers made of coarse-grained clastic sediments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary characteristic of coastal flooding?

    <p>It results from severe weather conditions overwhelming low-lying areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes permeability?

    <p>The ability of rock or sediments to allow water to pass through</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Hydrologic Cycle

    • The hydrologic cycle describes the movement of water on Earth's surface and within its subsystems
    • Earth's hydrosphere is a dynamic system, with water in constant movement between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms

    Earth's Water

    • The composition, state, and uses of water stored in different reservoirs (oceans, glaciers, groundwater, etc.) vary
    • Residence time: the average length of time a water molecule spends in a specific reservoir
      • Oceans and ice sheets: thousands of years
      • Groundwater: tens to hundreds of years
      • Streams and rivers: few weeks
      • Atmosphere: few days
      • Organisms: few hours

    Saltwater Reservoir

    • Oceans cover 71% of Earth's surface
    • They are a vast body of saline water
    • Saltiness is called Salinity
    • Oceans are divided into five geographical regions: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern
      • The Southern Ocean is the body of water surrounding Antarctica, connecting with the other three major oceans

    3 Major Zones in the Ocean

    • Surface layer: warm, low-density water, extending to 100m depth
    • Thermocline: rapid temperature decrease with depth
    • Deep zone: uniformly low temperature

    Thermohaline Circulation

    • Global ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salinity
    • This circulation plays a significant role in regulating Earth's climate

    Freshwater Reservoir

    • Glaciers and Ice Sheets:
      • Glaciers are permanent bodies of ice formed from recrystallized snow
      • Ice sheets are vast masses of glacial land ice covering over 50,000 km²
    • Permafrost: soil, rock, or sediment frozen for over two consecutive years
    • Surface Water Reservoir:
      • Streams: flowing bodies of water downslope due to gravity, transporting particles and dissolved substances
      • Lakes: large inland bodies of freshwater or saltwater, exposed to the atmosphere
      • Ponds: small and shallow lakes
      • Dams: barriers constructed on streams to regulate water flow

    Surface Water Reservoir (cont)

    • Wetlands: land areas with water covering the surface for extended periods
      • Swamp: wetland with lush trees and vegetation found in low-lying areas, beside slow-moving rivers
      • Marsh: shallow wetland around lakes, streams, and oceans, dominated by grasses and reeds
      • Estuary: partly enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater mixes with saltwater
    • Groundwater: freshwater found beneath the surface in rock and soil layers
      • Porosity: total empty space in rock
      • Permeability: ability of rock or sediment to allow water to pass through it

    Aquifers, Artesian Wells, and Springs

    • Aquifers: underground layers of rock or sediment that can store and transmit groundwater
    • Artesian wells: wells that tap into confined aquifers where water pressure forces it to the surface

    Floods

    • Flood: a natural event where an area is submerged underwater
      • Fluvial or riverine flood: stream discharge exceeds channel capacity
      • Flashflood: intense, high-velocity torrent in a river channel with little warning
      • Coastal flooding: water overwhelms low-lying coastal areas due to severe weather
      • Pluvial or surface water flood: heavy rainfall causing flooding independent of overflowing streams

    Water as a Resource

    • Human activities impacting water resources:
      • Population growth, especially in water-short regions
      • Urbanization: people moving from rural areas to cities
      • Food security demands and higher living standards
      • Competition for different water uses
      • Pollution from industries, cities, and agriculture

    Water Resource Management and Conservation

    • Effective water resource management is crucial due to increasing pressure on water resources
    • This involves planning, developing, distributing, and managing the optimal use of water resources

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    Related Documents

    Water Resources Grade 12 PDF

    Description

    Explore the hydrologic cycle and the various reservoirs of water on Earth, including oceans, glaciers, and groundwater. Understand the concept of residence time and how it varies across different water bodies. Dive into the unique characteristics of saltwater bodies and their geographical divisions.

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