Water Test Review

Water Cycle parts and description

Water Cycle Evaporation: L  G (most occurs over ocean) Condensation: G  L (forms clouds, fog) Precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, etc. Most occurs over ocean Runoff: preciptation that runs along surface of earth Infiltration: precipitation sinks into the ground Percolation: movement of infiltrated water into ground water (aquifer)

Water Quality Indicators Define them pH Turbidity Temperature Nitrates/phosphates Dissolved Oxygen Bioindicators

Water Quality Indicators Define them pH How acidic is the water (0-6= acid, 7= neutral, 8-14 = basic) Turbidity murkiness of the water, how well does light travel through the water, the amount of suspended particles in the water Temperature energy level of water molecules Nitrates/phosphates nutrients (fertilizer, waste) in the water Dissolved Oxygen the amount of oxygen gas in the water Bioindicators the quantity and variety of living organisms in the water

Water Quality Indicators cause and effect of unhealthy levels? pH Turbidity Temperature Nitrates/phosphates Dissolved Oxygen Bioindicators

Water Quality Indicators cause and effect of unhealthy levels? pH acid rain caused by greenhouse gases in the air dissolving into rainwater, reduces biodiversity of bioindicators, damages plant life, ocean acidification Turbidity caused by runoff carrying dirt (erosion), fertilizer and waste runoff from homes/farms/construction. Effect is increased temperature  lower oxygen  decrease in bioindicators Temperature caused by removal of stream bank vegetation/increased amount of sunlight on the water or thermal pollution from industry (dumping hot water into streams). Effect is increased temperature  lower dissolved oxygen  decrease in bioindicators Nitrates/phosphates caused by fertilizers or waste (animal or sewage) in the water. this increase in nutrients causes eutrophication (overgrowth of algae). This increases trubidity, reduces oxygen in the water and death of organisms living in the water Dissolved Oxygen low oxygen levels are the result of increases in temperature or turbidity. The effect is fish kills, death of bioindicators Bioindicators small living organisms in the water. The is the best indicator of water health. Healthy water has a great diversity and number of these organisms. Unhealthy water has low diversity and low numbers.

What is the water quality indicator at poor levels in the pictures below and what activities created it?

Turbidity removed vegetation, erosion from construction, livestock in creek

What is eutrophication? What causes eutrophication?

What is eutrophication? Excess nutrients (fertilizer, waste, sewage)  algae bloom  darkness under the surface  no photosynthesis  no photosynthesis  oxygen depleted by bacteria and other organisms in the water  pond/lake becomes a meadow as it fills in with decomposing matter What causes eutrophication? Excess nutrients, usually found in runoff

How does acid rain affect surface water?

Acidic rain lowers the pH of the water As a result, many forms of aquatic life (fish species or the organisms they eat) that are intolerant of lower pH die. The result, less aquatic life (bioindicators) and less diversity of aquatic life pH levels can be either too high or too low, either extreme is harmful to life, neutral is just right!

Temperature is an indicator of water quality, how does increased temperature affect water quality? How are bio-indicators used to determine water quality (what do we want to see)?

Temperature is an indicator of water quality, how does increased temperature affect water quality? Increased temperature = thermal pollution Increase in temperature results in decrease in O 2 How are bio-indicators used to determine water quality (what do we want to see)? A large variety and large numbers

What would be effect of the following ? Dumping hot water into a stream/river? Removing vegetation from a stream/river? Allowing livestock into a stream/river? Dumping toxic materials into a stream/river?

What would be effect of the following ? Dumping hot water into a stream/river? This is thermal pollution, it increases temperature, lowers dissolved oxygen, increases bacteria growth Removing vegetation from a stream/river? Increased temperature, turbidity, low oxygen Allowing livestock into a stream/river? Increased turbidity, increased temp, BACTERIA Dumping toxic materials into a stream/river? Mutations or disease in aquatic life

Difference between point source and nonpoint source pollution? Give some examples of each

Point source comes from a specific pipe/location…discharge of sewage from a pipe, oil rig explosion, factory waste from a single pipe Nonpoint source is from a large geographical area, difficult to clean and identify. Runoff is the largest carrier of nonpoint source pollution. Storm water is an example

Why do we monitor the hydrosphere? What is meant by stewardship? Give some examples What is the purpose of having water quality standards?

Why do we monitor the hydrosphere? There is a lot of water on the earth, but only 3% is fresh, and most of that is frozen! The largest amount of freshwater is groundwater (aquifers). What is meant by stewardship? Give some examples Taking care of the water we have, taking personal responsibility for how each of us use and treat water, programs and regulations to protect and monitor quality of water What is the purpose of having water quality standards? Poor water quality can negatively affect the health of humans, organisms in nature that depend on the water for drinking or habitat, guidelines for industry and business to safely and responsibly use water

Stewardship implies that we are caretakers of our water for future generations. The EPA established the Clean Water Act to ensure oversight and testing of surface waters

Advantages and disadvantages of a dam?

Control flooding Create a reservoir of water for future use Very cheap, non-polluting energy source Damages ecosystems (those flooded behind the dam) Creates enormous barrier for fish and other water organisms that must migrate up river, through the dam

What affects the level of water (water table) in an aquifer? What affects the quality of water in an aquifer?

What affects the level of water (water table) in an aquifer? Precipitation changes (drought, adequate rainfall/snow, flood), amount of water removed from aquifer by well pumping What affects the quality of water in an aquifer? Leaking septic systems, waste lagoons, dumping in aquifer recharge area (land above the aquifer through which water infiltrates into the aquifer)

Compare the quality of water in an aquifer with surface water

Water in an aquifer is usually cleaner than surface water, b/c it filters through rocks and sand (recharge area) on it’s way to the aquifer. Compare the quality of water in an aquifer with surface water

What is a River Basin/Watershed? How are watersheds useful in monitoring the hydrosphere?

A watershed is an area of land the drains waters into streams, that then feed into larger and larger rivers, until draining into a major river. A river basin is the large area of land that drains into a major river. (River basins are made of watersheds) How are river basins/watersheds important in monitoring the hydrosphere? River basins are bordered by divides…high areas of land (mtns) that separate one from another. Understanding river basins is vital to tracking and monitoring NONPOINTSOURCE pollution What is a Watershed/River Basin?

Water treatment process Aeration Coagulation Sedimentation

97% of earth’s water is Of the remaining 3% is Most freshwater is found in The largest % of fresh water is Fresh water moves across earth’s surface in

97% of earth’s water is in the oceans Of the remaining 3% is fresh water… Most freshwater is found in glaciers and polar ice caps The largest % of available fresh water is groundwater/aquifers Fresh water moves across earth’s surface in river basins/watersheds

Water Availability, Sustainability, Scarcity Describe

Water Availability, Sustainability, Scarcity Water availability: individuals in society have enough water to meet their needs Water sustainability: water is used, treated and monitored in ways that preserve it for future generations. Water scarcity: lack of water to meet human needs. – Physical scarcity: not enough water (demand>supply), or water is so polluted it is not potable – Economic scarcity: a society does not have the financial resources to access and/or distribute the water resources they have.

Ocean Environments The ocean is divided into regions based on light penetration and temperature Intertidal Neritic Open ocean Deep ocean

Phytoplankton Are the major producers in the ocean Zoo plankton are microscopic consumers of phytoplankton

1. Intertidal – Shallowest area – Between the low and high tide lines – Changing environment (salinity, dry, temperature, wave force) – Adaptations: closing, burrowing, attachment

Gooseneck Barnacles

Sea star Seaweed Sea anemones – closed above water, open below water Burrowing at low tide

– Always underwater – On continental shelf – (low tide  slope) – Sunlight penetrates to the bottom – Major ecosystems: Coral reef in tropical waters Kelp forest in cold waters – Densely populated due to an abundance of food/light Neritic Zone

Open Ocean Slope to slope Surface  200 meters, penetrated by sunlight Organisms are spread out, migrate/follow food

Deep Zone No sunlight Cold 4°C Very high pressure Chemosynthesis occurs at hydrothermal vents Specialized adaptations

Coelacanth Deep Sea Angler Ogrefish

Giant Siphonophore

Bloodbelly Comb Jelly

Water moves through the ocean, driven by currents. Surface currents are caused by wind Deep current is caused by differences in density. Nutrients move up from the ocean floor through upwelling. Upwelling process is a major source of food for the open ocean. M-xYlOs M-xYlOs

Technology How is sonar used? What is the advantage in using satellite imagery to monitor the hydrosphere?

Technology How is sonar used? Sound waves are used to measure distance What is the advantage in using satellite imagery to monitor the hydrosphere? You can get a large variety of data using different wavelengths, large imagery, can compare over a long period of time