science quiz- unit 1 freshwater

Condensation

The process through which water vapor changes into liquid water.

Condensation Nuclei

Small particles in the atmosphere that provide a surface for water vapor to condense.

Continental Divide

Higher landforms, such as hills or mountains, that separate watersheds by forcing water to flow downhill to one common body of water or another.

Deficit

A deficit occurs in a water budget when the amount of water leaving a watershed exceeds the amount of water entering it, leading to water scarcity.

Desublimation

The process through which water vapor changes directly into ice without passing through the liquid phase.

Dew

Water droplets that form on surfaces overnight when the temperature drops, usually due to condensation of water vapor in the air.

Evaporation

The process through which liquid water changes into water vapor.

Evapotranspiration

The combined process of water evaporation from the soil and transpiration from plants into the atmosphere.

Fog Drip

The precipitation that occurs when fog water droplets collect on vegetation and then drip to the ground.

Groundwater

Water that is found beneath the Earth's surface in soil or rock layers.

Groundwater Recharge

The process by which water from precipitation seeps into the ground to replenish underground water sources.

Infiltration

The movement of water from the surface into the soil.

Land Use

How a particular area of land is utilized, such as for agriculture, residential, commercial, or industrial purposes, and how it impacts the surrounding watershed.

Permafrost

Ground that remains frozen for two or more years, often found in polar regions and affecting the water cycle.

Reservoir

A natural or artificial storage space for water, such as lakes or dams, used for drinking water, irrigation, and hydroelectric power.

Saline Lakes

Lakes with high salt content, affecting the organisms that can survive in them and the cycling of water and nutrients.

Seepage

The slow movement of water through porous materials, such as soil or rock, often leading to the loss of water from reservoirs or dams.

Springs

Natural sources of water that flow from the ground, often resulting from the emergence of groundwater through the surface.

Sublimation

The process through which ice changes directly into water vapor without passing through the liquid phase.

Surplus

A surplus happens in a water budget when the amount of water entering a watershed is greater than the amount leaving, resulting in an excess of water resources.

Transpiration

The release of water vapor from plant leaves into the atmosphere, contributing to the water cycle and plant cooling.

Water Budget

The balance between the amount of water entering and leaving a watershed, helping to understand water availability and usage.

Water Cycle

The continuous process of water movement on Earth, involving evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff, crucial for sustaining life and ecosystems on the planet.

Watershed

An area of land where all the water that falls onto it, including rain and snow, flows into a specific body of water such as a river, lake, or ocean.

Watershed Divide

An elevated boundary that separates one watershed from another, determining the direction in which water flows.