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Questions and Answers
What are the three phases of matter that water moves among?
solid, liquid, and gas
What do we call places where water spends time?
reservoirs
What is the average residence time of water in the Earth's atmosphere?
10 days
What percentage of Earth's water supply is held in the ocean?
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How much water does it take to produce one cotton t-shirt?
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What is the largest reservoir of liquid fresh water on Earth?
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What is the term for the hidden water used in product production?
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The average residence time of water in an aquifer is only a few days.
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What impacts the availability and quality of fresh water?
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Where on Earth is most of the water found?
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Groundwater is the smallest reservoir of liquid freshwater on Earth.
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What is the average residence time of water in the ocean?
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The boundary between saturated and unsaturated zones is known as the ______.
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What term describes water that is used to produce goods we consume?
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How many liters of water does it take to produce one cotton t-shirt?
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Approximately 3.5 million people die each year from freshwater scarcity.
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What is a reservoir in the context of Earth's hydrosphere?
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What percentage of freshwater is frozen on Earth?
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Study Notes
Water on Earth
- Water is constantly moving between different reservoirs.
- The Earth's hydrosphere is a closed system that recycles water molecules repeatedly.
- Residence time is the time a water molecule spends in a specific reservoir.
Reservoirs of Water
- The atmosphere holds 0.001% of Earth's total water, with a residence time of 10 days.
- The ocean contains 97% of Earth's water, with a residence time of 3,000 years.
- 80% of Earth's freshwater is frozen.
- Groundwater is the largest reservoir of liquid freshwater, feeding into oceans, lakes, and rivers.
The Water Cycle
- Approximately 500,000 cubic kilometers of water fall from the atmosphere annually.
- 75% of global precipitation falls into oceans.
- Precipitation that doesn't evaporate or flow into waterways infiltrates the soil to form aquifers.
- Aquifers have residence times of hundreds to thousands of years.
- The water table marks the boundary between saturated and unsaturated zones within the ground.
Importance of Groundwater
- Groundwater-dependent ecosystems rely on groundwater to survive.
Embedded Water
- Embedded water is the water used in the production of goods.
- It takes 2,700 liters of water to produce one cotton t-shirt.
- Industrial water use in the United States is approximately 57 billion liters per day.
Water Reservoirs
- About 3.5 million people die annually from contaminated water.
- One in five people worldwide suffer from water scarcity.
- Droughts and water shortages are expected to become more frequent, exacerbating water scarcity.
- Unavailable freshwater is held in salt water, frozen glaciers, the atmosphere, and within living organisms.
- The concept of embedded water accounts for water used in producing goods we consume.
- The United States' industrial water usage in 2015 was approximately 57 billion liters per day.
- Pollution from human activities and climate change contribute to the decline in freshwater biodiversity and supply.
- Middle Eastern countries with limited freshwater sources rely on desalinated ocean water for 60% of their water needs.
Embedded Water
- Embedded water is the hidden water used to produce everyday items.
- It takes approximately 2,700 liters of water to manufacture one cotton t-shirt.
- This embedded water cost is often overlooked.
Water Movement and Reservoirs
- Water continuously moves between different states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
- Water moves cyclically between the atmosphere, ocean, snow/ice, groundwater, and surface water.
- These locations where water temporarily resides are called reservoirs.
- The Earth’s hydrosphere is a closed system, meaning water molecules are recycled repeatedly between these reservoirs.
- Residence time is the duration a molecule spends in a specific reservoir.
Water Reservoir Statistics
- The atmosphere holds approximately 0.001% of Earth's total water, with an average residence time of 10 days.
- The ocean stores about 97% of Earth's water, remaining there for an average of 3,000 years.
- Nearly 80% of Earth's freshwater is frozen.
- Groundwater constitutes the most significant reservoir of liquid freshwater, feeding into oceans, lakes, and rivers.
- Approximately 500,000 cubic kilometers of water fall from the atmosphere annually.
- 75% of global precipitation occurs over oceans.
Aquifers and Water Table
- When precipitation reaches the ground, some water permeates and accumulates underground in rocks or sediments to form aquifers.
- Water typically resides in aquifers for hundreds or thousands of years.
- The top of the groundwater reservoir is called the water table, marking the boundary between the saturated and unsaturated zones.
Groundwater and Surface Water
- The largest reservoir of liquid, fresh water on Earth is found in groundwater and surface water.
Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems
- These ecosystems rely on groundwater to meet their needs.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the water cycle and the various reservoirs of water on Earth. This quiz explores the movement, residence time, and characteristics of water in its different forms. Discover how Earth's hydrosphere operates as a closed system and the significance of each reservoir.
