8th Grade Hydrosphere Rapid Review

What is the “ Hydrosphere ” ? all the water on the planet

What is the most dominant physical feature of our planet? the ocean

What process circulates water on Earth? The Water Cycle

Name the processes involved in the water cycle evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration

What do you call a liquid that dissolves other materials? Solvent

What percentage of Earth ’ s surface is covered by water? Approx 75%

Where do we find “ Freshwater ” on Earth ’ s surface? rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, etc

What percentage of Earth ’ s total water is considered to be Freshwater? 3%

Of that Freshwater, what percentage of that water is accessible for daily use? 1%

What prevents the other 2% from being used? trapped in glaciers and polar ice caps

Surface water moves into river basins from where? Watersheds

What is a watershed? area of land that water drains into when the ground is saturated or impermeable

Name two examples of impermeable ground. parking lots, building areas, sidewalks, driveways, etc

What does it mean to be “ saturated ”. Full of water, soaked

All water eventually flows to where? The Ocean

What is a river basin? all the area that drains into a particular river

How many river basins are there in NC? 17

What determines the rate of underground flow of groundwater? what it has to pass through:rocks, soils, sands, clay, etc

Why is groundwater one of Earth ’ s most valuable resources? finite amount, clean drinking water, Agriculture

What is an aquifer? natural storage area underground for water, accessible by wells

All major lakes, watersheds, and waterways drain to where? The Ocean

What is carried to the ocean in rivers and streams? nutrients, salts, sediments, and pollutants from watersheds

There is only ONE ocean. How many Ocean Basins are there? Name Them. 6. according the NCDPI- North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian, Arctic 6. according the NCDPI- North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian, Arctic

How is the ocean connected to the Water Cycle? evaporation and precipitation connect all the Earth ’ s reservoirs to the ocean

What are some of the factors that set the different ocean zones apart? variations in temperature, pressure, and penetration of light

What is geochemistry? The scientific study of the chemical composition of the Earth or other celestial body and of the reactions that control the distribution of chemical elements in its minerals, rocks, soil, waters, and atmosphere.) *Many Earth materials and geochemical cycles ORIGINATE in the ocean.

Which geochemical cycles involve the ocean? Hydrologic Cycle (water Cycle), Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, etc

Where in the ocean is productivity the greatest?*Productivity is the ability to PRODUCE at the surface layers where sunlight penetrates and photosynthesis occurs

How do marine life get nutrients, minerals, and gases? currents and recycling processes

What is upwelling? a type of ocean current in which cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface from the depths. Often brings fish and is the place where the fishing industry often works their nets

What is the base of the food web in the open ocean? Think PRODUCERS! Microscopic algae/Phytoplankton

What does terrestrial mean? of the land

What does aquatic mean? of the water

How are terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems linked? birds snatch fish from the water, alligators grab prey at the shoreline, etc

What is the composition of the water in an estuary? mix of salt and fresh

Name 3 benefits of estuaries. important habitat for marine species, buffer zones for pollutants, filter out chemicals from runoff, breeding grounds for marine life, nurseries for marine life

Where does the salt in seawater come from? eroding land, volcanic emissions, reactions at the seafloor, and atmospheric deposition

Name the 3 different marine ecosystems. shore, open ocean, deep ocean

Which ecosystem doesn ’ t depend on sunlight for its producers to make food? The deep ocean

What process takes place instead of photosynthesis in these producers? CHEMOSYNTHESIS

Where do these producers get the chemicals they need to survive? hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, methane cold seeps

What is a hydrothermal vent? A fissure on the floor of a sea out of which flows water that has been heated by underlying magma. The water can be as hot as 400°C (752°F) and usually contains dissolved minerals that precipitate out of it upon contact with the colder seawater, building a stack of minerals, or chimney. Hydrothermal vents form an ecosystem for microbes and animals, such as tubeworms, giant clams, and blind shrimp, that can withstand the hostile environment. ◇ The hottest hydrothermal vents are called black smokers because they spew iron and sulfide which combine to form iron monosulfide, a black compound. +vent

Name 3 benefits of deep ocean exploration and technology. provide info on new life forms, earth resources, and geologic processes

What are 3 causes of vertical zonation patterns along the shore that influence distribution, diversity, and availability of organisms? Tides, waves, and predation

What are 4 important resources provided to humankind by the ocean? foods, medicines, minerals, and energy sources

Why is it important to conserve and protect our oceanic resources? finite ocean, most rain comes from ocean, over 50% of earth ’ s oxygen

Who are the most important primary producers in the ocean? microbes

Why are microbes such an important resource? most abundant life form in ocean, extremely fast growth rate and life cycle, primary producers feeding many consumers and fueling the food web

What determines the health of a water system? a balance in the physical, chemical, and biological variables

What are the physical variables in a water system? temperature, turbidity, and water movement

What are the chemical variables in a water system? dissolved oxygen and other gases, pH, nitrates, and salinity

What are the biological variables in a water system? Bio-indicators and any other BIOTIC (living) factors in the water

What environmental factors define an ocean habitat? salinity, temperature, oxygen, pH, light, nutrients, substrate, and circulation(currents)

What is substrate? the base on which an organism lives,the soil is the substrate of most seed plants

What are bio-indicators? organisms that are sensitive to their environment and can only tolerate/survive in certain conditions

What are some conditions that Bio-indicators can detect? water flow, pollution, vegetation

Is clear water clean water? no. It may contain odorless, colorless, and tasteless harmful contaminants

What are some hazards that water should be tested for to determine safety of the water? bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, pollutants, etc

In what year were the first drinking water standards set in the USA? 1914

In 1914, what was tested and why? Wells were tested for Coliform BACTERIA

In what year did drinking water standards begin to apply to municipal drinking water? 1940

What does EPA stand for? Environmental Protection Agency

In which year was the EPA formed? 1970

In which year was the Clean Water Act passed? 1972

What water sources were affected by the Clean Water Act of 1972? Surface Water

What 3 provisions were made by the CWA of 1972? Industrial discharge standards set, permits required for dumping, federal aid to build sewage treatment plants

What law was enacted in 1974 to improve water quality? The Safe Drinking Act of 1974

What improvements did the Safe Drinking Water Act make to water quality? Improved drinking water standards by protecting groundwater from contaminants

In 1914, what was tested and why? Wells were tested for Coliform BACTERIA

What is the major difference between the laws set in the 1940 ’ s and the laws set in the 1970 ’ s? focus was on waterborne illnesses caused by disease-causing bacteria and microbes, focus shifted to industrial waste and pollutants

What are some water treatment methods? aeration, flocculation, active carbon absorption, reverse osmosis

What are some water treatment methods? aeration, flocculation, active carbon absorption, reverse osmosis

How can groundwater be contaminated? spilling/dumping chemicals. Hazardous wastes, oil all percolated into the soil by runoff

What is point-source pollution? pollution that you can literally point to its source ie, pipe drain

What is non-point source pollution? pollution where you can ’ t determine a single source for the pollution ie runoff causing nitrates to build up in a pond could come from several sources

What is environmental degradation? the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil. It is the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife

What impact will environmental degradation have on our ecosystems? will likely decrease the diversity of a community by eliminating intolerant organisms and increasing the number of tolerant organisms

Where does most of the world ’ s population live? near coasts

How has evolving technology impacted the way we view water? Technological advances have enabled us to collect data about water systems that have led to improvements in developing standards, monitoring water-quality, and providing treatment. The more we understand and respect North Carolina ’ s aquatic systems, the more capable we are of making informed decisions and thus becoming good stewards of the environment