Water Resources, Water Scarcity, and Landforms

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering water bodies, the water cycle, water scarcity, water value and use, and landforms/landscapes from the lecture notes.

Catchment

Land where water drains to a lake.

Basin

An area where water collects.

Ocean

A huge body of salt water.

River

A flowing stream of water.

Harbour

A sheltered place for a single entry point to an ocean.

Lake

Water surrounded by land.

Sea

A large body of salt water.

Runoff

Rain water flowing over land that cannot soak into the ground and flows across the surface.

Resource

Something useful from nature, or something needed for needs.

Spatial distribution

How things are spread out.

Impervious surface

A surface water cannot soak through.

Renewable resource

Resource that can be naturally replaced.

Non Renewable resource

Resource that cannot be replaced.

Percentage of Earth's surface covered by water

$$71\%$$

Percentage of Earth's water usable to sustainable life

Only $0.5\%$

Water scarcity

Happens when there is not enough accessible and usable freshwater to meet the needs of people and the environment.

Evaporation

Liquid water turns into gasses after it is heated up.

Transpiration

Plants release water into air through their leaves.

Condensation

Tiny water droplets form when water rises into air.

Precipitation

When clouds become too heavy water falls back to earth.

Collection

Water collects into rivers, lakes and oceans.

Infiltration

Some water soaks into the ground.

Australian Water sources

Most water sources are based near NSW and the coast, with none in Western Australia and Northern Territory.

Agriculture (water use)

Water used for farming.

Domestic (water use)

Water used in home for everyday needs.

Industrial (water use)

Water used in manufacturing and production.

Recreational (water use)

Water used for leisure and enjoyment.

Economic value of water

Water is valued because it supports money and jobs.

Cultural value of water

Water is valued because it is connected to traditions and history.

Spiritual value of water

Water is valued because it has sacred or spiritual meaning.

Aesthetic value of water

Water is valued because of its beauty and scenery.

Desalination

Turns sea water into fresh water.

Water recycling

Treats used water by removing dirt, waste and harmful substances.

Physical water scarcity

Happens when the demand for fresh water from people, agriculture, and industry is higher than the natural supply available from a region.

Economic water scarcity

Happens when water is available in nature, but people cannot use it because of lack of money, infrastructure or poor management.

Natural causes of water scarcity

Drought, low rainfall, and population.

Human causes of water scarcity

Agriculture, deforestation, and overgrazing.

Mountain ranges

Groups of mountains connected together.

Deserts

Very dry areas with little rainfall.

Polar regions

Extremely cold areas near the North and South Poles.

Rainforests

Forests with lots of rainfall and many plants and animals.

Plains

Large, flat areas of land.

Wetlands

Areas of land covered with water for some or all of the year.

Plateaus

High, flat areas of land.

Hills

Raised areas of land, smaller than mountains.

Valleys

Low areas of land between hills or mountains.

Mountains

Very high areas of land with steep slopes.

Canyons

Deep, narrow valleys with steep sides.

Glaciers

Large, slow-moving masses of ice.

Deltas

Land formed by sediment at the mouth of a river.

Dunes

Hills of sand formed by the wind.

Waterfalls

Water that drops over a steep edge.

Cliffs

Steep, high faces of rock or land.

Landscapes

Large areas of the Earth’s surface that have a particular appearance and set of features, shaped by natural processes and sometimes modified by humans.

Landforms

Natural shapes or features that make up the Earth’s surface, found within a landscape.