Fresh and Saltwater Systems Comprehensive Unit Review

  • Diversity: This means how many different types of species live in a specific area.

  • High Diversity: This is when there are many different species in an ecosystem.

  • Low Diversity: This is when there are not many species (only a few) in an ecosystem.

  • Population: This refers to the total number of one specific species in a certain area.

  • Species: This is a group of organisms that share similarities and are classified together.

Global Water Distribution and Management

  • Global Water Ratios:

    • Saltwater: Makes up 97\text{\text{%}} of all water on Earth.

    • Fresh Water: Only 3\text{\text{%}} of the water on Earth is fresh.

  • Different Water Bodies:

    • Fresh Water: Includes sources like underground water, lakes, and rivers.

    • Salt Water: Mainly refers to oceans.

  • Water Management Policy: To keep water systems healthy and plentiful, policies need to balance the needs of people, industries, wildlife, and the environment.

The Water Cycle and Energy Processes

  • Major Processes driven by the Sun:

    • Evaporation: When the sun heats water, turning it into vapor.

    • Condensation: Water vapor cools and forms clouds.

    • Precipitation: Water falls to the Earth as rain, sleet, hail, or snow.

    • Run-off: Water flows back into larger bodies of water.

    • Transpiration: Plants release water vapor into the air.

  • Wave Energy: Energy that moves through the water but does not move the water itself.

  • Tsunami: A large wave caused by an underwater earthquake, which can cause great damage when it reaches shore.

Water Quality, Composition, and Measurement

  • Potable Water: Clean water that is safe to drink.

  • Salinity: The amount of dissolved salts in a certain amount of water.

  • Characteristics of Saltwater:

    1. Salinity

    2. Brightness

    3. Temperature

    4. Dissolved Gases

  • Hard Water vs. Soft Water:

    • Hard Water: Water with a lot of minerals like magnesium and calcium.

    • Soft Water: Water with fewer minerals.

    • Scales: A white build-up on faucets from minerals in hard water.

  • Sediment Load: The amount of dirt, tiny rocks, and debris suspended in water.

  • Types of Water by Cleanliness:

    1. Potable water: The cleanest; safe for drinking.

    2. Effluent: Treated sewage that is still dirty.

    3. Sewage: Very dirty water containing human waste.

  • Chemical Affinities:

    • Hydrophilic: Meaning "loves water."

    • Hydrophobic: Meaning "hates water."

Glacial Landforms and Features

  • Kettle Lake: A lake formed when a piece of ice melts after falling off a glacier.

  • Drumlin: A hill shaped like a tear formed by glacier movement.

  • Moraine: A feature created by a glacier moving and shaping the land.

  • Esker: A ridge of sand and gravel left by a melting glacier.

  • Striation: Lines or scratches on the ground caused by glacier movement.

Groundwater and Aquatic Ecosystems

  • Aquifer: An underground reserve of fresh water.

    • Paskapoo: A large aquifer found in Alberta.

  • Ocean Diversity Zones:

    • Continental Shelf: A very diverse area with many plants and animals. It is warm and gets a lot of sunlight.

    • Estuary: Where fresh and saltwater meet, has medium diversity.

    • Intertidal Zone: The area where waves crash on the shore.

    • Oceanic: The deep ocean with little biodiversity.

  • Brackish Water: A mix of fresh and salt water, found in estuaries.

Human Interaction and Environmental Change

  • Human Use Categories:

    • Domestic Use: 5\text{\text{%}}

    • Agricultural Use: 73\text{\text{%}}

    • Industrial Use: 22\text{\text{%}}

  • Water Technicians: Experts who study water quality.

  • River Research: Researchers who study rivers to prevent erosion and flooding.

  • Environmental Changes:

    • Short-term Change: Changes that can be fixed quickly, like flooding.

    • Long-term Change: Changes that take a long time to fix, like earthquakes.

  • Algal Bloom: When algae grows rapidly on the water surface, using up oxygen and harming fish.

  • Thermal Pollution: When warm water from industries warms bodies of water and helps algae to bloom, upsetting the ecosystem.

Importance of Glaciers

  • Glaciers are important because:

    • They give clues about Earth's past.

    • They help control water flow in the global water cycle.

    • They provide fresh water for rivers.

    • They are essential for hydroelectric power, irrigation, and drinking water.