Earth Science 9 Fruitvale Study Guide

Evaporation

The process where liquid water turns into water vapor.

Condensation

The process where water vapor cools and turns back into liquid water.

Transpiration

The release of water vapor into the atmosphere from plants.

Infiltration

The movement of water into rock or other earth materials through pore spaces.

Surface Runoff

Water that flows over land, typically after precipitation.

Watershed

The entire land area that drains into a given river, stream, or wetland.

Watershed boundary

Elevated terrain that separates neighboring watersheds.

Porosity

The amount of space available to hold water in a material.

Permeability

The ability of a material to allow water to pass through it.

Aquifer

Loose earth materials or rock zones through which groundwater can collect and easily move.

Point-source contamination

Pollution that comes from a single, identifiable source, such as a leaky tank.

Non-point source contamination

Pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources, such as fertilizer applied over a large area.

What is the role of precipitation in a water cycle?

Precipitation is water released from clouds in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail.

What happens to the water table when more wells are added?

The water table lowers as more water is pumped out.

What leads to an increase in the water table?

Above normal precipitation can raise the water table.

What material has the highest porosity?

Gravel has the highest porosity because it has more pore space.

What material has the highest permeability?

Gravel has the highest permeability due to its connected spaces for liquid to pass through.

How does clay compare to gravel in terms of porosity and permeability?

Gravel has higher porosity and permeability because of its larger particle size, while clay has smaller, more compact particles.

Surface runoff

The process by which excess water from precipitation flows over land, potentially contaminating drinking water supplies.