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EnvSci Water
Question | Answer |
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The process that water takes as it moves from the atmosphere to land and back into atmosphere is called the | water cycle. |
fresh water on Earth's land surface, found in lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands | surface water |
This is formed as streams and rivers move across the land forming a flowing network of water; examples include the Mississippi, Amazon, Nile | river system |
The area of land that is drained by a river; amount that enters varies throughout the year | watershed |
Water that is found beneath Earth's surface in the spaces in sediment and rock formations | groundwater |
The level where the rocks and soils are saturated with water beneath the rocks and soil | water table |
An underground formation that contains groundwater, water table forms upper boundary | aquifer |
the percentage of the total volume of a rock that has spaces or pores; water in an aquifer is stored in the pores and flows from one to another | porosity |
ability of rock or soil to allow the flow of water through it; gravel is permeable, clay or granite are impermeable | permeability |
An are of Earth's surface from which water percolates down into an aquifer; environmentally sensitive areas because any pollution in this area can enter the aquifer | recharge zone |
a hole that is dug or drilled to reach groundwater | well |
What is most fresh water in the world used for? | irrigate crops |
term means safe to drink water | potable |
organisms that cause illness or disease | pathogens |
method of providing plants with water from sources other than direct precipitation | irrigation |
structures built across rivers to to control their flow; creates an artificial lake behind it | dams; reservoir |
method of irrigation that releases water into soil at a controlled rate; helps to conserve water loss | drip irrigation systems |
designing a landscape that requires minimal water use; way to help with water conservation | xeriscaping |
process of removing salt from salt water | desalination |
introduction of chemical, physical, or biological agents into water that degrade water quality and harm the organisms that depend on the water | water pollution |
pollution discharged from a single source; septic tank leaks, unlined landfills, pollution from mines | point-source pollution |
pollution that comes from many different sources that are difficult to identify; chemicals from salt decing agents, pesticides runoff; soil runoff from construction sites | nonpoint-source pollution |
water that contains waste from homes or industry | wastewater |
solid material that remains after wastewater treatment | sewage sludge |
occurs from excess phosphorus and nitrogen entering the water supply from sewage and fertilizer runoff from human activities | artificial eutrophication |
occurs when power plants and other industries use water in their cooling systems and then discharge the warm water into water supply | thermal pollution |
buildup of pesticides in the tissues of organisms as the food chain increases | biomagnification |