48 Questions
What defines watersheds?
Boundaries called drainage divides
Where are drainage divides drawn in watersheds?
Highest ridgelines
What is a characteristic of larger drainage basins?
Nesting of micro-watersheds
How does non-point source pollution affect water quality in watersheds?
It becomes concentrated as water funnels into the basin
What benefits can integrated watershed management provide?
Improvement in water quality and control of flooding
What zone of the ocean has ecosystems collecting around hydrothermal vents?
Aphotic zone
Where do plants and algae predominantly grow in the ocean?
Photic zone
Why is it essential to take a holistic approach in watershed management?
To improve water quality and control flooding effectively
What is salinity in relation to ocean water?
The amount of salt dissolved in the water
Which ocean is home to the Marianas Trench?
Pacific Ocean
What drives thermohaline circulation that affects global climate?
Difference in temperature and salinity
In which hemisphere do gyres rotate clockwise due to the Coriolis effect?
Northern Hemisphere
What is the primary factor influencing deepwater currents?
Density variations
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
Stratosphere
Where does most human flight activity occur in the atmosphere?
Stratosphere
What is the role of the thermosphere in relation to space?
It extends into outer space.
What percentage of Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen gas?
78%
Which gas acts as Earth's sunscreen by blocking harmful ultraviolet light?
Ozone
What do greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide do in Earth's atmosphere?
Allow sunlight to enter but prevent infrared light from escaping
What is the main driving force behind convection cells in the atmosphere?
Differences in air pressure, temperature, and density
How are air pressure, temperature, and density related to one another?
Changes in temperature affect air pressure and density
What causes clouds to form in the atmosphere?
Rising warm, moist air
What happens to air as it rises up the windward side of a mountain?
It expands and cools down
What defines a watershed?
The drainage divide boundaries
Why are watersheds important according to the text?
To affect downstream water quality and streamflow
What is the primary function of integrated watershed management?
Improving water quality and controlling flooding
In what way can non-point source pollution impact watersheds?
It leads to the concentration of contaminants in water
What distinguishes the twilight zone in the ocean from the other zones?
Lack of plants and fewer animals
Which zone of the ocean supports plant and algae growth?
Photic zone
What is the role of drainage basins in watersheds?
To feed larger bodies of water like rivers and seas
How does a watershed differ from a drainage basin?
Drainage basins collect water that eventually reaches a larger body
What primarily influences deepwater currents in the ocean?
Density variations
Which ocean is the smallest and shallowest according to the text?
Arctic Ocean
In which layer of the atmosphere does the International Space Station orbit?
Thermosphere
What is the primary factor that drives thermohaline circulation impacting global climate?
Salinity levels
Which ocean is described as relatively shallow and located between the Americas, Europe, and Africa?
Atlantic Ocean
What causes gyres in the ocean to rotate clockwise in the northern hemisphere according to the text?
Coriolis effect
Where is the least explored place on Earth located according to the text?
Indian Ocean
What forms one global ocean despite there being five separate oceans?
Thermohaline circulation
What is the main function of ozone in the stratosphere?
Blocking harmful ultraviolet light
How do greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide affect Earth's atmosphere?
Trap infrared light from escaping
What is the primary factor influencing the formation of clouds in the atmosphere?
Rising warm, moist air
How does air pressure affect temperature in the atmosphere?
Higher pressure leads to higher temperature
Which atmospheric phenomenon is responsible for producing wind, clouds, rain, and thunderstorms?
Convection cells
What happens when air rises up the windward side of a mountain?
It expands and cools down
Which variable is responsible for creating differences in air pressure and generating wind?
Temperature
What characterizes the movement within a fluid that occurs when hotter material rises and colder material sinks?
Convection cells
How do air parcel temperature changes occur without adding or removing external heat?
Through adiabatic processes
Learn about watersheds, defined as land areas that direct water flow to a common destination, like rivers or oceans. Explore the concept of drainage divides, which determine watershed boundaries. Discover how watersheds contribute to larger drainage basins that feed major water bodies.
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