Fresh and Saltwater Systems

Grade 8 Unit E

Potable

Water that is safe to drink and or ingest.

Freshwater Percentage

The percentage of fresh water on the planet is 3%

Freshwater Percentage to Humans

The percentage of freshwater accessible to the human population is 1% of that 3%

Groundwater

Fresh water located below earth’s surface and inaccessible to Humans.

The Water cycle

The continuous path water takes to create precipitation.

Glaciers

A glacier is a large moving body of ice storing large amounts of freshwater.

Icecaps

A type of glacier that cover large areas of land.

Saltwater

Saltwater is river water that picks up small amounts of minerals as it flows increasing the ocean’s salt concentration.

Freshwater

Fresh water is safe to drink and is mostly potable.

Distillation

A method to remove salt from water by boiling such that the water evaporates and leaves the salt.

Reverse Osmosis

A method to remove salt from water by forcing the water through a membrane too small for the salt to pass through.

Water quality

Water quality describes how potable the water is for human ingestion.

Water clarity

Water clarity is how clear the water is to the eye, but not necessarily clean.

Sodium Chloride

A common type of salt called table salt dissolved in most saltwater.

Hard water

Water that has high amounts of calcium and other heavy minerals.

Soft water

Water that has low amounts of calcium and heavy minerals.

PH Levels

A measure of how acidic or basic a substance is using litmus paper.

Chlorine, Fluorine, and Salts.

Can be helpful and safe in small amounts.

Currents

A stream of water that moves within a larger body of water. Move warmer and cooler water to different areas.

Surface Currents

Caused by wind, tides and the earth’s rotation.

Deepwater currents

Caused by temperature differences, salinity, and earth’s rotation.

WInds over warm currents

A current that brings more precipitation to the local area.

Winds over cold currents

A current that brings less precipitation to the local area.

Waves

A wave is an up and down movement on the surface of water, transferring energy through the water.

Erosion

The process in which large waves can cause increasing damage to the shoreline.

Tides

Tides are the daily changes of the water level of the oceans. Caused by the moons Centripetal force on the earth.

High tides

The highest water level along the coast

Low tides

The lowest water level along the coast.

Riptides

A ride that happens when water is quickly pulled through a small gap.