Hydrosphere Notes Parts 4- Watersheds
What’s a Watershed? An area of land that drains into a common body of water
What are Tributaries? Tributary are smaller streams that flow into larger streams and rivers Stoney Creek is a tributary of Clinton River
Why are tributaries important? Whatever happens to the tributaries will affect related streams they feed into
How does topography affect the flow of water? Water flows from higher elevations to lower elevations
How does water flow between the elements of a watershed. Watersheds are made up of rivers or streams; lake or ponds; wetlands; ocean coastlines and estuaries. The boundaries of a watershed are determined by the elevation of surrounding land Natural and human-made pollutants are carried with the water, affecting the health of the river and the watershed as a whole.
What affects the amount of surface runoff? Type of soil Condition of soil Amount of vegetation Amount and duration of rain or snowmelt The slope of the land surface Pore space of soil
Parts 5-Watershed Model Hydrosphere Notes Parts 5-Watershed Model
What is pollution? Anything that doesn’t belong
What is a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)? When excess flow of untreated water bypasses treatment due to rainfall and often goes directly into rivers, streams, or lakes
Why are Industrial Plants, Sewage Treatment Plants, and Stormwater Drains potentially harmful? Because they are directly connected to storm sewers and could drain to a river
Point and Non-point Sources of Water Pollution Point = water pollutants discharged from a pipe into lakes and rivers. Nonpoint = water pollutants carried by runoff over land and into lakes and rivers.
What are some examples of point source and non-point source pollution? Roads, Soil erosion, Runoff from golf courses and lawns, Construction sites, Deforestation, Agriculture Point Source: Sewage treatment plants Industrial plants Storm drains
What are sources of pollution for the following: Construction Site: Soil, Trash, Oil Lawns and Golf Courses: Fertilizers and Pesticides Highways, Roads, and Parking Lots: Salt, Oil, and Trash Forest Clearing: Soil Agriculture; Fertilizers and Pesticides, Bacteria Waste Water Treatment Plant: Fertilizers and Bacteria Factories: Toxic Substances
Why are excessive nutrients a potential problem in the water? Nitrogen and phosphorus can speed up the aging process of lakes called Eutrophication
What problems can bacteria pose in the water? They can cause diseases such as Typhoid Fever, Dysentery, and Swimmers Itch also harmful to aquatic organisms
What are toxic substances found in the water and what problems can they cause? Poisonous substances They can cause allergic reactions, illness or death in humans When fish ingest toxins they get into the food chain
How can soil become a problem in the water? Depth of lakes decreases, affecting recreation and/or causing flooding it can kill fish and disrupt reproduction habits