saltwater
Most of the water on Earth is ______ • what is the percentage?
ice
• what is freshwater commonly found as?
Permafrost & Glacier
are significant sources of freshwater
0.4%
• what is the percentage of freshwater that humans can use?
Green water footprint
water from precipitation that is stored in the root zone of the soil and evaporated, transpired, or incorporated by plants.
Blue water footprint
water that has been sourced from surface or groundwater resources and is either evaporated, incorporated into a product or taken from one body of water and returned to another, or returned at a different time.
Grey water footprint
the amount of fresh water required to assimilate pollutants to meet specific water quality standards.
• Agricultural Development • Urban and Industrial Development • Drainage of the Land Surface • Modification to River Valleys • Modification to the Atmosphere
• List the 5 main activities done by humans that affect water resources
It is often readily accessible
• Why is surface water the most important water resource?
rain water
• Water that is collected on Earth in the form of surface and ground water is called _______.
Surface water
• Sources of water that are in the form of rivers, lakes and swamps
It is a limited resource
• Why do we need to conserve water?
Soil
part of regolith that supports the growth of plan
Regolith
the layer of rock and mineral fragments that covers most of Earth's land surface
• Mineral Matter • Water • Air • Organic Materials
• What is the composition of soil?
a. Erosion b. Loss of Organic Carbon c. Nutrient Imbalance d. Soil Sealing
• What are the threats to our soil resources (d) the destruction or covering of soil on the ground by an impermeable material
Soil texture
refers to the proportions of different particle sizes
Sand
Silt
Clay
Loam
• list the 4 soil textures (1) Large size (3) Small size (4) mixture of all three sizes, best suited for plant life
Platy, Prismatic, Blocky & Spheroidal
• list the 4 soil structures
It influences the amount of water the soil can hold
• Why is texture an important soil property?
Soil horizons
• layers of soil
Solum/true soils
the soil forming processes are active and that living roots and other plant and animal life are largely confined
Topsoil
consist of O and A horizons; generally, have large humus content
part of Solum
Subsoil
B horizon; generally composed of fine clay; referred to as the zone of accumulation
O Horizon
Soil horizon that contains organic matter
A horizon
Soil horizon that contains organic matter mixed with mineral material
E horizon
Soil horizon where leaching by downward percolating water occurs
B horizon
Soil horizon where clay minerals, Fe oxides and calcite accumulates
C horizon
Soil horizon where fragments mechanically weathered from bedrock and some partially decomposed
Parent material
the source of the weathered mineral matter from which soils develop
factor that affects soil formation
Residual soil
came from the bedrock as parent material
Transported soil
unconsolidated sediments that have been carried away elsewhere
Time
weathering takes ______
factor that affects soil formation
Climate
variations in temperature and precipitation determine whether chemical or mechanical weather predominates
factor that affects soil formation
Plants & Animals
influences the soil's physical and chemical properties and furnish organic matter to soil
factor that affects soil formation
Topography
the slope of a surface
factor that affects soil formation
Steep slopes
develops poor soils
Optimum slopes
flat to undulating upland surface; good soils
Slope orientation
the direction a slope is facing
A slope facing the east where the sun is gets more sunlight
• How might the direction that a slope is facing influence soil formation?
Agricultural depletion
tilling the soil, breaking it up, and loosening it so the new plants can take root. Once the plants are harvested, the loose soil remains, and wind or rain can easily wash it away.
Source of Erosion
Overgrazing Animals
They wander over the area and eat grasses and shrubs. They can remove large amounts of plant cover for an area.
Source of Erosion
Deforestation
greatly increase the rate of erosion in a region by logging which kills these plants.
Source of Erosion
Mining
major contributors to erosion, especially on a local level which involves shifting large amounts of earth, such as strip mining or mountaintop removal.
Source of Erosion
Development and Expansion
can also exacerbate erosion, especially if the developers ignore the natural state of the land, by clearing the area of any plants or other natural defenses against soil erosion.
Source of Erosion
Recreational Activities
causes erosion through activities like hiking and riding off-road vehicles.
Source of Erosion