fresh water
water with very little salt
water cycle
the continuous cycle of the transfer of water through an ecosystem, which involves evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation
evaporation
the process by which water changes from liquid form to an atmospheric gas
transpiration
the loss of water as it moves from the soil through green plants and exits through their leaf pores
condensation
the process of changing from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state
precipitation
any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface
green water
water vapor
blue water
liquid water
water quantity
amount of water available to meet demands
water quality
The degree of purity of water, determined by measuring the substance in water, besides water molecules.
salt water
water that contains dissolved salts and other minerals
brackish water
Saltwater mixed with freshwater
hard water
Water with high mineral content.
soft water
water that is relatively free of minerals
polluted water
water that contains high levels of unwanted substances that may be harmful to living things
purified water
water that has had pollutants removed or is rendered harmless
storm water
Water that results from a storm; can cause flooding and contamination of sewers.
water vapor
water vapors in the gaseous state
humidity
the amount of water vapor in the air
relative humidity
the amount of water vapor as a percentage of what the air can hold at a particular temperature
aerosols
microscopic liquid or solid particles orginating from land and water surfaces
purification
When water evaporates, particles such as dissolved salts & other solids remain behind. When the water vapor condenses again, it is purified.
adiabatic cooling
the cooling of air as a result of expansion of rising air
adiabatic warming
air descends and is compressed by higher air pressure in the lower atmosphere
adiabatic
without heat being involved
convection currents
the upward movement of warm air and the downward movement of cool air
rain shadow
dry region downward of a mountain range
hadley cell
a system of vertical and horizontal air circulation predominating in tropical and subtropical regions and creating major weather patterns.
infiltration
the process of water soaking into the soil
infiltration-runoff ratio
amount of precipitation that soaks into the ground compared to the amount that runs off.
watershed
The land area that supplies water to a river system.
surface waters
All ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, and other waters on the surface of Earth.
capillary water
is water held by surface tension to soil particles, but it can move through pores in response to moisture gradients (from areas of high moisture to areas of low moisture). Plants are able to overcome the surface tensions and take-up this water, thus it is
evapotranspiration
The evaporation of water from soil plus the transpiration of water from plants.
percolation
Passage of a liquid through the spaces of a porous material such as soil.
gravitational water
water in a soil that percolates through to the water table.
ground water
water found beneath Earth's surface in aquifers
aquifers
underground places where water collects
recharge area
area where water enters the aquifer
seep
pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
spring
a natural flow of ground water
evapotranspiration loop
water evaporates and returns by precipitation
surface runoff loop
water becomes part of surface water system
groundwater loop
water percolates and moves through to eventually join ground water.
anthropogenic aerosols
Solid and liquid materials in the air that are of natural or anthropogenic origin, causes smog and haze.
nonconsumptive
non-usable
consumptive
usable
renewable groundwater
replenished by percolation of precipitation water
nonrenewable groundwater
when recharge rate is centuries or more
land subsidence
The gradual sinking of land. The condition may result from the removal of groundwater or oil, which is frequently instrumental in supporting the overlying rock and soil.
sinkhole
a depression produced in a region where soluble rock has been removed by groundwater
gray water
all of the wastewater that drains from washing machines, sinks, dishwashers, tubs or showers and can be reused for non-sanitary purposes
xeriscaping
a method of landscaping that uses plants that are well adapted to the local area and are drought resistant.
estuaries
a bay or drowned valley where a river empties into the sea
surge flow method
computers control the periodic release of water
drip irrigation method
a proccess by which pipes placed near plant roots drip only as much water as the plants need.
desalination
desalting
microfiltration
A process for purifying water in which the water is forced under very high pressure through a membrane that is fine enough to filter out ions and molecules in solution; it is used by small desalination plants to filter salt from seawater. Also called reve