Esci: Water & Soil Resources

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

1. Sand
2. Silt
3. Clay
4. 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