Chemistry- Water, Oceans, and The Atmosphere

Where is most of Earth’s water found?

oceans

Glaciers

land covered with ice that makes up much of the earth’s freshwater (glaciers are melting which causes the sea level to rise)

Groundwater

water held underground in layers of rock and sediment

Surface Water

(lakes, rivers, and ponds) when the earth’s surface dips below the groundwater level, this creates surface water.

Aquifers

a layer of rock and sediment that can hold usable groundwater, water collects between rock particles and moves freely at a rate of a few meters per second

Surface Runoff

water from precipitation that flows over the ground’s surface, this occurs when the ground is already too saturated for excess storm water or snow melt or due to impervious surfaces

Impervious Surfaces

a hard, constructed surface that does not allow water to seep into the ground (parking lots, roads, sidewalks), water typically runs off these surfaces, often picking up pollution on the way before flowing into a nearby body of water

Groundwater/subsurface flow

the movement of water underneath the earth’s surface (typically happens after precipitation has infiltrated the soil)

Evaporation

the transfer of water from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere (liquid to gaseous state.)

Transpiration

the evaporation of water from plants through small pores (stomata) on the leaves/ stems of plants/trees.

Condensation

the transition from gaseous to the liquid state, occurs when the air cools and cannot hold anymore water vapor (the water will be released in precipitation)

Precipitation

water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail

Infiltration

water soaks into the Earth’s surface moving into the pores and cracks of rocks

Runoff

Accumulation

the process of water collecting in earth’s oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water  

What are ways humans alter and affect the water cycle?

• Redirect rivers

• Build dams to store water

• Drain water from wetlands for development

• Human activities affect water quality - fertilizers, pesticides, other forms of pollution runoff into rivers and groundwater

• Climate change

What are ocean currents?

 the continuous,  predictable, and directional movement of seawater 

How do temperature, salinity, and density affect deep ocean currents?

The colder, saltier water is more dense so it sinks and is replaced by the warmer surface water which forms a vertical current. Rising sea temperature are seemingly causing the conveyor belt to slow down which is causing problems with weather systems across the globe.

How does the ocean conveyor belt form?

1. Water at the poles cools and freezes

2. Sea ice forms but the salt is left behind

3. Water that does not form ice is left saltier and colder than before

4. This water is more dense and sinks

5. Warmer water rushes in to fill its place

6. Current has formed

What makes up air?

a mix of solids, liquids and gasses, 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% Other 

How are air temperature, density, and pressure related?

Higher temperature means more molecules are moving around and spreading out which will lead to lower density and lower air pressure. 

How do air pressure and density change at different altitudes?

High density= high air pressure, low altitude = high pressure

How do hot air balloons works?

there is an opening at the bottom of the balloon with fire that heats the air (hot air expands), when hot air is surrounded by regular air, the air will rise which causes the balloon to fly!

Wind

air flowing from high to low pressure. It is air in motion.

How does wind form?

Wind is caused by unequal heating of the earth’s surface.

Why is the atmosphere important for life on earth?

protects organisms from the sun’s harmful rays, gives us oxygen to breathe, gives Carbon Dioxide for the plants, regulates climate, Winds transport clouds, precipitation and particles (like seeds) across the earth

What is the basic order for the Water Cycle?

Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation, Precipitation, Infiltration, Surface Runoff, Groundwater

Troposphere

contains 75% of all the mass in the atmosphere even though it’s the thinnest layer, thickest at the equator, thinnest at the poles, very dense layer, warmest near the earth’s surface and the air cools as it moves upward, 0 to 20 km

Stratosphere

contains ozone layer which protects the earth’s surface from UV radiation, planes cruise at the bottom of this layer because it is less dense than the troposphere, ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun, causing the temperature to increase throughout the stratosphere, 20-50 km

Mesosphere

most meteors burn up here because of the amount of friction present, this layer does not absorb energy from the sun so it starts to get cold because there’s nothing to heat up this layer, coldest layer, 50-85 km

Thermosphere

very thin air, very few particles, not dense at all, the ISS and northern lights can be found here, solar radiation hits here first so the few particles get lots of energy and move really fast which causes high temperatures, Super hot but feels cold because there aren’t enough gas molecules around to transfer, 85 to 600 km

Exosphere

extends thousands of miles and gradually fades into space, satellites orbit and spaceships travel here, temperature trends vary drastically, 600 to 10,000 km