Water Resources and Groundwater Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is root wedging primarily responsible for in the weathering process?

Creating sinkholes and caves

Mixing organic matter into soil

Increasing crack size in rocks (correct)

Dissolving minerals in bedrock

Which process must occur before erosion can happen?

Biological weathering

Chemical weathering

Weathering in general (correct)

Physical weathering

What does suspension refer to in the context of erosion?

Clay-sized particles carried along with water molecules (correct)

Sediments resting at the bottom of a body of water

Sediments floating on the surface of moving water

Sediments deposited in still water bodies

Which of the following is NOT one of the five main agents of erosion?

Soil Compaction Signup and view all the answers

What happens to minerals in a rock body during the process of carbonation?

They dissolve in acidic water Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of removing vegetation, according to the content provided?

Causing soil erosion Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a product of weathering that can be eroded?

Solid Sediments Signup and view all the answers

What defines the process of saltation during erosion?

Bouncing and rolling of solid sediments along the riverbed Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of water pollution is attributed to organic material by volume?

5% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a non-point source of pollution?

Tanker spills Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the mineral component of water pollution?

It can include both primary and secondary minerals. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can influence the leaching of minerals in soil?

Climate and age of the soil Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of disease-causing organisms in water pollution?

Runoff from feedlots Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'soluble minerals' refer to in the context of soil and water pollution?

Minerals that easily dissolve and wash off from soil. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the characteristics of sediment as a type of water pollution?

Caused mainly by natural processes like logging and erosion. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of water pollution is made up of mineral components by mass?

80% Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is unique to sediments transported by glaciers?

They appear scratched and grooved. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to sediments during the deposition process?

They are dropped by their agent of erosion. Signup and view all the answers

What method does running water use to transport sediment?

By rounding and smoothing the particles. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of erosion is specifically caused by construction activities?

Clearing of land leading to surface erosion. Signup and view all the answers

Which is a property of sediments transported by wind?

They appear pitted and frosted. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of deposition occurring in still bodies of water?

Loss of kinetic energy. Signup and view all the answers

How does gravity contribute to sediment transportation?

By pulling sediments downhill. Signup and view all the answers

Which description best fits sediments found at the base of cliffs transported by gravity?

They appear angular and unsorted. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes mass wasting in relation to gravity?

It refers to the downslope transport of surface materials. Signup and view all the answers

Which factors can increase the likelihood of mass movement?

Poorly consolidated soils and seismic activity. Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario is the risk of mass movement highest?

When the ground is saturated and heavy rains occur. Signup and view all the answers

What process does ‘flow’ refer to in the context of mass wasting?

Debris moving downslope as a viscous fluid. Signup and view all the answers

Which definition accurately describes a ‘slide’ in mass wasting?

A coherent rock mass moving along a defined surface. Signup and view all the answers

How do the characteristics of earth materials contribute to mass movement risk?

Loose soils, especially clay-rich types, can exacerbate risks. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the phenomenon of a rapid flow of snow down a slope?

Avalanche Signup and view all the answers

What is a common result of spreading in the context of mass wasting?

Lateral extension and fracturing of a material mass. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes an active volcano?

It has erupted in the past 10,000 years and is expected to erupt again. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of volcano is known for a symmetrical structure and steep slopes?

Composite volcano Signup and view all the answers

What defines a volcano as dormant?

It has not erupted in a very long time but is expected to erupt again. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes an extinct volcano?

It has not erupted for at least 10,000 years and is not expected to erupt again. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does increasing vapor pressure have on magma?

It increases the magma's ability to flow. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of confining pressure in volcanic eruptions?

It decreases as the magma rises, leading to eruption. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic distinguishes basalt lava from various types of magma?

It is less viscous and has a lower silica content. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contributes to the explosive nature of a composite volcano's eruption?

High gas pressure from gas bubbles in highly viscous magma. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason magma becomes less dense and allows it to rise toward the surface?

Dissolved gases form bubbles called vesicles. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is least likely to influence the viscosity of lava?

The pressure exerted by overlying rocks. Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the characteristics of pahoehoe lava flow?

It has a shiny, smooth surface and flows quickly. Signup and view all the answers

Which process is triggered when the vapor pressure of magma exceeds the confining pressure?

Magma rises towards the surface. Signup and view all the answers

What type of lava flow is primarily characterized by a high viscosity and a molten interior?

Aa flow. Signup and view all the answers

How does increasing magma temperature affect its viscosity?

It decreases the viscosity, making it more fluid. Signup and view all the answers

What type of volcanic material is specifically defined as fragments ejected during eruptions?

Tephra. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the size and number of vesicles in magma as it moves closer to the surface?

They increase, producing a foam that can lead to explosions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Water Resources

Water is essential for life, needed for agriculture, industry, households, recreation, and the environment
Earth's surface is 71% water, but only a small portion is readily accessible fresh water. (oceans and saline lakes 97.4%, fresh water 2.6%)
Most of fresh water is tied up in ice caps and glaciers (1.984%)

Surface Water Sources

Precipitation and melted snow that flows across land into lakes, wetlands, streams, rivers, estuaries, and oceans
Watershed: the total area that contributes water to a stream or river
Surface Runoff: precipitation that doesn't soak into the ground or evaporate
Groundwater: precipitation that seeps into the ground, percolates through soil, gravel, and rock until reaching an impermeable layer

Groundwater

Zone of saturation: underground spaces filled with water
Water table: the top of the zone of saturation
Aquifer: water-saturated layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock through which groundwater flows
Recharge is slow (approximately 1 meter per year)

Water Use

Humans use about 54% of readily available runoff
Agriculture uses 70%
Industry uses 20%
Domestic uses 10%
The rest (20%) is left in streams for human use which includes things like transport, pollution dilution, and fisheries support.
70-90% of runoff may be used by 2025

Water Pollution

Point source: pollution comes from a single, fixed source (e.g., smokestacks, discharge drains)
Non-point source: pollution comes from many dispersed sources (e.g., agricultural runoff, street runoff)

Types of Water Pollution

Sediment: from construction, erosion, and logging
Oxygen-demanding wastes: from human waste, agriculture, and other sources
Disease-causing organisms: from untreated sewage
Toxic chemicals: pesticides, fertilizers, industrial chemicals

Too Much Water: Floods

Natural events often aggravated by human activities (e.g. deforestation, urbanization, construction on floodplains)

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Description

This quiz explores the essential role of water resources in life, agriculture, and the environment. It covers surface water sources, groundwater, and the concepts of watersheds and aquifers. Test your knowledge on the distribution and importance of fresh water!