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Water Table

The depth at which water should always be available.

Aquifers

Rock or sediment that stores water and allows it to move downhill.

Recharge Zones

Areas where water infiltrates the ground to replenish aquifers.

Unconfined Aquifers

Aquifers that are open at the top, allowing water to infiltrate from the surface.

Confined Aquifers

Aquifers trapped between layers of impermeable rock or clay, preventing water from easily entering or exiting.

Ogallala Aquifer

A huge, old aquifer in the North American prairie region that impacts agriculture and human life.

Global Water Cycle

The dynamic and complex processes that facilitate water movement and storage.

Infiltration

The process of water soaking into the ground.

Surface Water

Water that collects in rivers, lakes, and streams.

Desalination

Process to remove salt from seawater to produce freshwater.

Eutrophication

The natural process of nutrient accumulation in lakes; human-induced acceleration is termed cultural eutrophication.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution that comes from a single identifiable source.

Non-point Source Pollution

Pollution that originates from diffuse sources and is hard to trace.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Chemical substances that resist environmental degradation and can bioaccumulate in the food chain.

Biomagnification

The increase in concentration of toxins as they move up the food chain.

Thermal Pollution

The discharge of heated water from industrial processes, which can harm aquatic ecosystems.

Flowing Artesian Well

A well where water rises to the surface due to pressure in confined aquifers.

Water Treatment Process

Includes stages such as preliminary treatment, coagulation, filtration, and disinfection to make water safe for drinking.

Xylem

A system of tubes that transports water from the roots to the leaves of plants.

Phloem

A system of tubes that transports dissolved biomolecules (sugar) throughout the plant.

Microplastic Pollution

Pervasive pollutants that can accumulate in the food chain, affecting marine life and human health.

What is condensation?

Condensation is the process where water vapor in the air changes into liquid water, often forming clouds.

What is precipitation?

Precipitation is any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from clouds and reaches the Earth's surface.

What is collection in the water cycle?

Collection refers to the process where water gathers in rivers, lakes, and oceans after precipitation.

What is transpiration?

Transpiration is the process by which moisture is carried from plants to the atmosphere as water vapor.

How does the sun influence the water cycle?

The sun provides energy that drives evaporation and helps to keep the water cycle in motion.