Hydrosphere

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saltwater

water that contains a significant concentration of dissolved salts, primarily sodium chloride, typically found in oceans and seas.

freshwater

Water that has low concentrations of dissolved salts, typically found in rivers, lakes, and ponds.

brackish water

A mix of saltwater and freshwater, typically found in coastal areas where rivers meet the sea.

estuary

A coastal water body where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

ice caps and glaciers

Large masses of ice that accumulate on land, storing freshwater and influencing global sea levels.

groundwater

Water that is found beneath the earth's surface, stored in aquifers and soil, and is a critical resource for drinking and irrigation.

confined aquifer

A type of groundwater aquifer that is sandwiched between two impermeable layers, preventing water from easily draining out, leading to higher pressure.

unconfined aquifer

A type of aquifer that is overlain by permeable material and open to the surface, allowing water to seep downward from the ground surface. It is more susceptible to contamination compared to confined aquifers.

surface water

Water that collects on the surface of the ground, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

water table

The upper surface of saturated soil or rock in which the groundwater is located; it marks the boundary between the unsaturated zone above and the saturated zone below.

permeable

Describes a material that allows fluids to pass through its structure easily, which is important in the context of groundwater movement and aquifer properties.

impermeable

Describing a material that does not allow fluids to pass through it, effectively blocking water movement.

river basin

The land area drained by a river and its tributaries, characterized by the network of streams and rivers that collect water from surrounding areas.

creek

A small stream or minor tributary of a river, often intermittent and typically found in rural or natural settings.

spring

A natural source of freshwater that flows from the ground, often forming streams or rivers.

watershed

An area of land that drains rain and snow into a common body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean.

precipitation

The process through which water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid or solid form and falls to the ground, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

evaporation

The process by which water is converted from liquid to vapor and released into the atmosphere.

transpiration

the process by which water is absorbed by plants and released as vapor through small openings in their leaves.

runoff

The process by which water, typically from rain or melting snow, flows over the land surface and returns to rivers, lakes, and oceans.