Earth's Water Test Review

50 fill-in-the-blank flashcards generated from lecture notes on Unit 2 and Water Quality, covering key concepts for an exam retake.

When snow changes directly into water vapor without first becoming liquid water, the correct term for this process is __.

sublimation

The property of water that allows it to form droplets when in liquid form is __.

cohesion

A measure of the amount of open spaces between the particles of rock and soil is called __.

porosity

When fertilizers and pesticides make their way into water systems, this type of pollution is known as __.

chemical pollution

The main role of plants in the water cycle, involving stomata, is __.

transpiration

Solid water (ice) is different from liquid water because it is __ dense.

less

Water that moves under Earth’s surface to fill open spaces in rocks or soil is called __.

groundwater

River processes have a great impact on the land surface through the actions of __ and deposition.

erosion

A rock layer with low permeability and porosity would be recharged the __.

slowest

The most direct way to prevent erosion in a watershed is to ensure adequate __.

vegetation cover

The process that changes water into a gaseous state is called __.

evaporation

In a pH scale, a substance with the __ pH value greater than 7 is considered the strongest base.

highest

The process observed when water droplets form on grass on a cold morning is __.

condensation

Water typically moves the slowest within __ water bodies.

groundwater

In a closed terrarium, plants always have enough water because the ongoing __ cycle replenishes it internally.

water

In the water cycle, a change of state from a gas to a liquid is represented by __.

condensation

Rain, snow, and hail all have in common that they are forms of __.

precipitation

In a river, matter that is __ in the water, as opposed to solid sediment, is transported.

dissolved

The term for water that flows over Earth's surface rather than soaking into the ground or evaporating is __.

runoff

One way water reaches Earth’s atmosphere is through __ from bodies of water and land surfaces.

evaporation

Another way water reaches Earth’s atmosphere is through __ from plants.

transpiration

Water can also reach Earth's atmosphere directly from ice and snow through the process of __.

sublimation

A percentage of precipitation that doesn't become surface water, groundwater, or evaporate is most likely __ by plants and stored in their tissues.

absorbed

An example of non-point source pollution is __ runoff from agricultural fields.

fertilizer

Fertilizer from farms can cause __ in water bodies, leading to excessive plant growth.

eutrophication

The “cloudiness” of water is called its __.

turbidity

Rainwater that falls on land can be transported to the ocean without first entering the atmosphere through surface runoff and __ flow.

groundwater

Macroinvertebrates are organisms without a backbone that are large enough to be seen with the __.

naked eye

One example of a freshwater macroinvertebrate is a __.

mayfly

A second example of a freshwater macroinvertebrate is a __.

caddisfly

A third example of a freshwater macroinvertebrate is a __.

stonefly

A fourth example of a freshwater macroinvertebrate is an __.

aquatic worm

Water is made up of polar molecules due to the __ sharing of electrons between oxygen and hydrogen atoms, creating partial charges.

uneven

One property of water where molecules stick to each other is __.

cohesion

An example of water's property of __ is when water appears to 'climb' up a narrow tube or plant stem.

adhesion

Water has a high __ heat, meaning it can absorb and release large amounts of heat with only slight changes in its own temperature.

specific

Water is often called the __ solvent because of its ability to dissolve many substances.

universal

As an example of cohesion, water forms __ due to the attraction between its molecules.

droplets

When water sticks to other substances, such as glass, it is demonstrating the property of __.

adhesion

The ability of large bodies of water to moderate climate is an example of water's high __ heat.

specific

The reason many substances, like salt and sugar, dissolve easily in water is due to water's property as a __ solvent.

universal

One way urbanization can affect surface water quality is by increasing __ of pollutants from hardened surfaces.

runoff

Urbanization can also lead to __ pollution in surface water due to increased impermeable surfaces that heat up rainwater.

thermal

The process where a liquid changes to a gas is called __.

evaporation

The process where a gas changes to a liquid is called __.

condensation

The process where a solid changes to a liquid is called __.

melting

The process where a liquid changes to a solid is called __.

freezing

The process that represents water absorbing energy during a change of state, such as from liquid to gas, is __.

evaporation

The process that represents water releasing energy during a change of state, such as from gas to liquid, is __.

condensation