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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