Chem Water Cycle- Unit 3b

Water Polarity meaning

have unequal sharing of electrons  (neg O pos H)

Adhesion

water with other molecules

Cohesion

water with water

Characteristics of Water

Is a strong solvent with a high specific heat

Transpiration

plants getting water from their soil

Evapotranspiration

evaporation from soil and water + plants to the atmosphere 

Precipitation

rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground

Collection

water is temporarily collected and stored

Runoff

precipitation that does not soak into the soil but instead moves on the Earth's surface toward streams.

Interception

interrupting the movement of water in the chain of transportation events leading to streams

Infiltration

precipitation that soaks into the soil

Percolation

The movement of water through the soil itself

Discharge

water in the soil moving towards bodies of water

Water’s importance:

unique properties, its structure & shape result in many functions and properties of water is important to our survival

Hydrosphere

water is found in rocks below the surface, ice above the surface and in the atmosphere as water vapor 

• Travels around earth through the water cycle 

• 70% of earth's surface is covered with water, and most of that is the ocean 

Fresh water

 only a small portion of earth's water which is found in rivers, lakes, ice & groundwater 

• Needed for drinking, farming, washing

Weather

state of the atmosphere at a given time & place (usually troposphere aka lowest layer in the atmosphere) 

Climate

 the long term weather patterns in a region

Ocean Chemistry

Water flows in rivers -> sea carrying minerals in rocks & when the water evaporated back out of the ocean it leaves the minerals inside the ocean making it slaty

Climate change

occurs when energy balance of the atmosphere is disturbed caused by natural and human activities

Natural causes

volcanic eruptions, fluctuations in solar radiation, tectonic plates & small changes in our orbit

Human Impacts

 have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere  accelerating the natural climate shifts 

Sources of Greenhouse gases 

Consumption of fossil fuels account for most CO2 emission : commercial, industrial, residential, transportation, electric power

Results of Human Impacts

• global temperature is rising

• extreme weather events increasing

• ocean

  • getting warmer, sea level rising, arctic sea declining, Acidification increasing

• Ice

  • sheets shrinking, glaciers shrinking, snow covers decreasing

The Sun

unlikely that it has caused the observed global temperature warming over the past half century 

Condensation

process by which water vapor (water in its gas form) turns into liquid.