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Surface Run-off
Precipitation on land surfaces that flows into bodies of water.
Reliable Run-off
The percentage of usable (unpolluted) surface run-off.
Watershed
The land area from where water drains into a body of water.
Groundwater
Water in the pores and crevices of soil and rock, through which the water slowly flows.
Zone of Saturation
The area where the ground is saturated with water, filled with groundwater.
Water Table
The upper layer of the zone of saturation, indicating the depth at which soil is saturated.
Aquifers
Porous saturated layers of rock or sediment that store and transmit groundwater.
Desalination
The process of removing salt from seawater to produce fresh drinking water.
Drought
A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to water shortages.
pH Scale
A scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution, ranging from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic).
Aqueducts
Artificial channels or pipelines used to transport water from one location to another.
Ecological Ignorance
Lack of understanding or knowledge about ecological principles that leads to wasteful and damaging water use.
Freshwater Shortage Causes
Factors contributing to the scarcity of freshwater, including drought, desiccation, and over-extraction of groundwater.
Groundwater Recharge
The process where water moves downward from surface water to groundwater, replenishing aquifers.
Percentages of water in the World
97.4% in Oceans
97% is saltwater
2.6 is freshwater
1.8% is frozen in glaciers and ice caps
0.02 is readily usable water
0.7 is groundwater
Ocean Percentages of Water
Pacific 45%
Atlantic 22.2%
Indian 20%
Southern 9.5%
Arctic 3.3%
Surface Water Percentages
The Great Lakes hold 22%
Lake Baikal in Siberia contains 20%
Properties of Water
Water is a polar covalent molecule and the universal solvent, polar covalent molecule, hydrogen bonding gives water cohesion, Adhesion allows, a liquid at most temperatures, demonstrates thermal expansion, water becomes less dense when it freezes, water has a high specific heat, water ionizes and into ions to produce pH
Recharge Area
An area that gives an aquifer its water through precipitation and surface water infiltration.
Discharge Area
The place where water escapes
Water from a recharge area comes from…
Precipitation, Runoff, Infiltration, Evaporation, Transpiration,
Freshwater Uses
Irrigation for agriculture (70%)
Industrial use and manufacture of products (20-22%)
Domestic use (in our houses, offices, and school) (8-10%)
What percentage do humans withdraw of the world’s reliable run-off?
54%
What causes freshwater shortages?
Dry Climate
Drought
Desiccation
Removal of groundwater faster than it replenishes
Waste of ecological ignorance
Effects of water shortages
Decrease in plant life can mean increase in grain prices
Water-stressed countries must import more grain
Malnutrition and sickness
Females must walk longer distances to retrieve less water
Aral Sea Disaster
A significant environmental disaster resulting from the diversion of rivers for irrigation, led to the dramatic shrinkage of the Aral Sea, affecting local climate and livelihoods.
Ways to stop wasting water
Use rain barrels and reservoirs to collect water for later use
reuse “gray” water (semi-dirty water from laundry or dishes) for plant life
composting toilets
capture water when faucet is on
Floods
Provide more water for crops, recharge groundwater, and help refill wetlands
Human causes of Floods
Removal of vegetation
Destruction of wetlands
Impervious surfaces
Natural causes of Flooding
Heavy Rainfall
Hurricanes
Rapid Snowmelts
Drift Net Fishing
Uses long nets that hang in the water
Trawlers
Uses baskets that are dragged along the ocean floor. Disturbs smaller aquatic habitats
Purse-seine
Uses large circular nets to catch fish. Designed to catch surface feeding schools of fish
Long line fishing
Uses long extensions of fishing wire with baited hooks
