Fresh Water
water that is relatively pure, with dissolved salts. 2.5% of the planets water is fresh.
Hydrologic cycle
the path that water moves among reservoirs.
Tributary
a smaller river flowing into a larger one.
Watershed
the area of land drained by a river and all its tributaries.
Oxbow
a bend in a river that becomes an extreme loop.
Floodplain
Areas nearest a river's course that are flooded periodically.
Wetlands
Systems that combine elements of fresh water and dry land that are enormously rich and productive.
Freshwater marshes
shallow water of the marsh allows plants to grow above the water surface.
Swamps
shallow water rich in vegetation. Mostly in forested areas.
Littoral zone
The region ringing the edge of a water body.
Benthic zone
Extends along the bottom of the entire water body, from shore to the deepest point.
Limnetic zone
In the open portion of a lake or pond, away from shore, where sunlight penetrates shallow waters.
Profundal zone
below the limnetic zone, where sunlight does not reach.
Oligotrophic water bodies
have low nutrient and high oxygen conditions.
Eutrophic water bodies
high nutrient and low oxygen conditions.
Groundwater
Precipitation that percolates downward through the soil.
Aquifers
spongelike formations of rock, sand, or gravel that hold water.
Zone of aeration
upper layer of an aquifer. Contains pore spaces partly filled with water.
Zone of saturation
Lower layer of an aquifer. Completely filled with water.
Water table
The boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation.
Confined aquifer
exists when a water-bearing porous layer of rock, sand, or gravel is trapped between upper and lower layers of less permeable substrate (often clay).
Unconfined aquifer
Has no upper layer to confine it, so its water is under less pressure and can be recharged easily by surface water.
Consumptive use
When we remove water from an aquifer or surface water body and do not return it.
Nonconsumptive use
Water is temporarily removed from a water body.
Dam
Any obstruction placed in a river or stream to block the flow of water so that water can be stored in a reservoir.
-slows river flow,necessary for wetlands, sediments get trapped
Benefits of dams
Power generation, emissions reduction, crop irrigation, drinking water, flood control, shipping, new recreational opportunities.
Costs of dams
Habitat alteration, fisheries declines, population displacement, sediment capture, disruption of flooding, risk of failure, lost recreational opportunities.
Sinkholes
Areas where the ground gives way with little warning, occasionally swallowing people's homes.
Desalination
The removal of salt from seawater or other water of marginal quality.
Xeriscaping
Landscaping using plants adapted to arid conditions.
Pollution
the release of matter or energy into the environment that causes undesirable impacts on the health and well-being of organisms.
Nutrient pollution
Can be caused from fertilizers and other sources. Can lead to eutrophication and hypoxia.
Thermal pollution
Increase in water temperature due to human activities.
Point sources
Discrete locations of water pollution, such as factories or sewer pipes.
Non-point sources
Pollution that arises from multiple cumulative inputs such as farms, city streets, and neighborhoods.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Started a nationwide cleanup program to unearth and repair leaky tanks before they do further damage to soil and groundwater quality.
Wastewater
Water that has been used by people in some way. Water carrying sewage, water from showers, sinks, etc.
Septic systems
Wastewater runs from the house to an underground septic tank, inside which solids and oils separate from water.
Primary treatment
The physical removal of contaminants in settling tanks or clarifiers.
Secondary treatment
Water is stirred and aerated so that aerobic bacteria degrade organic pollutants.
tributaries of Mississippi
Des moines river, ohio river, illinois river
states in Mississippi watershed
Louisiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee
how many dams are on the mississipi
over 2000
body of water mississippi flows into
gulf of mexico
where does the Mississippi originate
lake itasca in Minnesota
levees
long raised mounds of earth, prevent flooding, provide deep water channels for shipping-impact water moves to gulf of mexico
canals
needed for shipping lanes, fragment wetlands, allow saltwater to penetrate freshwater,wetlands and damage wildlife
RESTORE act
-resources and ecosystems, sustainability, tourist opportunities and revised economies of the gulf states act
-gulf of mexico restoring from deepwater horizon oil spill
deepwater horizon oil spill
oil spill disaster in gulf of mexico, spilled 87 days, 11 people died, many harmed, wildlife harmed, supply 25% nations crude oil, blew up
braided river
runs through steeply sloped region and carries great deal of sediment, flow in interconnecting series of watercourses
meandering river
flows through flatter regions (yadkin) and carries lots of sediment thats deposited along inside of bends due to erosion of the outside of bends
benefits of wetlands
slows runoff
reduce runoff
recharches aquifers
filtering pollutants
habitat for wildlife
4 ways water used
homes
our bodies
farms
industry
3 gorges dam
largest dam in world
39 billion to make
flooded
distillation
process evaporates water from saltwater then condenses water vapor, lots of energy and fossil fuels req
reverse osmosis
forces saltwater through membranes that remove the salt, lots of energy and fossil fuels reg
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