env biol week 6 water

Permafrost

Frozen layer of soil that remains below freezing throughout the year.

Evapotranspiration

The process of water vapor being released to the atmosphere from the soil and plant surfaces.

Groundwater

Water stored beneath the Earth's surface in soil pore spaces and fractures of rock.

Recharge

The process through which water is added to an aquifer.

Green Water

Soil moisture from precipitation that is available for plant use.

Blue Water

Surface water found in lakes and rivers.

Runoff

Water that flows over the ground surface rather than being absorbed into the ground.

Discharge

The volume of water that flows through a given point over a specific period of time.

Condensation

The process of water vapor cooling and changing back into liquid water.

Flux

The flow or movement of water in and out of different reservoirs in the hydrological cycle.

Hydrological Cycle

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

Aquifer Depletion

The reduction in groundwater supplies due to over-pumping.

Saltwater Intrusion

The movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers, saltwater percolates up, and damages building structures and contaminates aquifer

Baseline Water Stress

A measure of the ratio of total water withdrawals to available flow.

Water Balance Coefficient

precipitation minus evaporation

Glaciers and Ice Caps

Large masses of ice that cover land and store freshwater.

Evaporation

The process of water turning from liquid form into vapor.

Surface Water

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

Atmospheric Water Transport

The movement of water vapor in the atmosphere from one location to another.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.

Where water is?

almost entirely all is from oceans, 96%. 2% is fresh water, and 70% of fresh water is in glaceirs, 30% grounwater, 1% surface/other, where ice and snow is 70% off surface water, and rivers are a mere 0.4%. rivers are an extremely small portion of water on earth, but very important.

forests

have positive water balance coefficients

savannas, desets and grasslands

have negative water balance coefficients

subsistence

sinking of the land enhanced by aquifer depletion

urbanization increases?

runoff and flooding due to concretesurfaces that prevent water absorption.

streams and rivers

follow a path of least resistance, high elevation to low elevation, characterized by flow

floodplain

the flat land adjacent to a river that is prone to flooding, often fertile and used for agriculture.

watershed

area of land from which rainfall drains into a river or lake, impactful like land that drains like sediment or agri. things

nonconsumptive use

activities that use water then return it to the source

consumptive use

activities that result in water loss by evaporation

open watersheds

drain into the ocean

closed watersheds

do not drain into ocean

river deltas

landforms at the mouth of a river where sediment is deposited as the river meets a body of water. deep highly fertile soils, diversity of life, rich cropland

dams and diversions issues

fragment habitats, reduce natural flow of sediment, dam repair/removal for conservation

channelization

straightening streams, water faster, more land utilized, but increases erosion and sedimentation, and decreases infriltration and habitat types

lake

larger than 5 ha, fed by stream

pond

smaller than 5ha