Freshwater Systems and Resources - Lecture Review

30 flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on Freshwater Systems and Resources.

What percentage of Earth's water is considered fresh water?

Only 2.5% of Earth's water is considered fresh water.

What is the water cycle?

The process of water being renewed and recycled as it passes through precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.

What is hydraulic fracturing?

A process of drilling for petroleum and natural gas within non-porous shale that exacerbates water issues.

What is a recharge zone?

An area where water can infiltrate through the surface and reach an aquifer.

What is the Ogallala Aquifer?

The largest known aquifer located under the Great Plains of the United States.

What are the major types of freshwater systems?

Rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater.

What are unconfined aquifers?

Aquifers that are not trapped between impermeable layers.

What is water mining?

The withdrawal of water from an aquifer at a faster rate than it can be replenished.

What type of wetland is formed from snowmelt in spring?

A vernal pool.

What is the littoral zone in a lake?

Shallow areas along the edges where aquatic plants can grow.

What process creates thermal pollution?

Returning warm water used for cooling in factories back to water bodies.

What impacts does excessive water withdrawal have?

It can lead to rivers running dry and alter river ecology.

What is the main source of water pollution?

Human activities that change the chemical, physical, or biological properties of water.

What are examples of point sources of pollution?

Discharge pipes from factories or sewage treatment plants.

What is eutrophication?

The process where nutrient pollution leads to excessive algal growth and oxygen depletion in water.

What is xeriscaping?

Landscaping using plants adapted to arid conditions to conserve water.

What chemical treatment is commonly used for drinking water?

Chlorine disinfection.

What is a biosolid?

Solid organic matter recovered from sewage treatment, used as fertilizer.

What successes have been achieved with the Clean Water Act?

Significant reductions in toxic chemicals and pollutants in major water bodies.

What is the primary use of freshwater worldwide?

Agriculture accounts for about 70% of freshwater use.

What happens when groundwater is overextracted?

It can lead to saltwater intrusion and land subsidence.

What form of wastewater treatment involves aeration and bacteria?

Secondary treatment.

What is the limnetic zone in a lake?

The upper layer of water that receives sunlight and supports photosynthesis.

What role do wetlands play in the ecosystem?

They slow runoff, reduce flooding, recharge aquifers, and filter pollutants.

What are the ecological impacts of constructing dams?

They alter habitats, displace people, and disrupt natural sediment flow.

What are the benefits of aqueducts?

They channel water from distant sources to agricultural areas and cities.

What is desalination?

The process of removing salt from seawater to produce fresh water.

How does climate change affect freshwater distribution?

It creates variations in groundwater, surface water, and precipitation.

What are common contaminants in groundwater?

Chemicals from leaking storage tanks and agricultural runoff.

What is biological pollution?

The introduction of pathogens or disease-causing organisms into water.