Science Focus 8 - Unit 5 Definitions

Water Types

• Salt water: High salt content, primarily found in oceans.
• Fresh water: Low dissolved salt content, sourced from lakes, rivers, ponds, and wells.

Water Movement and Quality

• Water cycle: Continuous movement of water between oceans, land, and atmosphere.
• Water quantity: Refers to the overall amount of water present in a given area.
• Water quality: Determines suitability for use based on various characteristics.

Glaciers and Ice Formations

• Glacier: Large mass of moving compressed snow and ice.
• Ice cap: Dome-shaped glacier covering substantial land areas, flowing outward.
• Ice field: An area that supplies multiple glaciers.

Types of Glaciers

• Valley glacier: Located between mountain ranges.
• Continental glacier: Thick ice sheet covering a continent.

Glacier Dynamics

• Ice fall: A glacier flow over a steep cliff resembles a frozen waterfall.
• Crevasse: Deep cracks formed in ice due to movement.
• Pack ice: Floating ice sheets, seldom exceeding 5 meters thick, break easily.

Icebergs and Calving

• Icebergs: Large floating ice chunks that break off from glaciers.
• Calve: The process of large ice chunks breaking off a glacier.

Erosion and Geological Features

• Striations: Scratches on rock surfaces caused by glacier movement.
• Cirques: Bowl-shaped depressions created by valley glaciers.
• Arete: Sharp mountain ridges formed by multiple glaciers.
• Horn: Pointed mountain peaks created through glacial activity.

Depositional Features

• Till: Unsorted materials deposited by glacier movement.
• Moraine: Landform created from glacier till.
• Outwash: Material laid down by glacier meltwater.
• Esker: Sand and gravel ridge formed by streams beneath glaciers.

Water Sources and Distribution

• Meltwater: Water runoff from melting snow.
• Surface water: Freshwater bodies above ground, like streams and lakes.
• Ground water: Water that has seeped below the Earth's surface, typically found up to 100 meters deep.

Water Clarity and Habitats

• Clarity: A measure of water transparency based on suspended materials.
• Wetlands: Low-lying areas that support diverse plant and animal life, including marshes and swamps.

Streams and Rivers

• Streams: Small, rapidly moving bodies of water.
• Rivers: Larger and faster moving than streams.

Watershed Dynamics

• Watershed: Land area draining into a water body.
• Run-off: Rainwater that flows across the land surface into water bodies.
• Continental divide: Ridge marking the split between drainage areas, directing rivers to different oceans.

Erosion and Deposition Processes

• Headwaters: Source points of a watershed.
• Outflow: Water exiting a watershed.
• Erosion: Movement of sediments from one location to another.
• Deposition: Process where eroded materials are left behind.

Water Flow Characteristics

• Streamflow: Refers to the speed and volume of water passing through a watershed.
• Permeable: Capability of allowing materials, including water, to pass through.

Test your knowledge on key terms from Unit 5 of Science Focus 8. This quiz covers essential definitions related to water types and the water cycle, helping you better understand these important concepts in science. Prepare to strengthen your vocabulary and comprehension of this unit!