Rivers, Streams, and Groundwater Unit 5: Hydrosphere Rivers, Streams, and Groundwater

The Water Cycle or the Hydrologic Cycle

Precipitation- Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground Condensation- Conversion of water vapor (gas) to a liquid Evaporation- Process of turning liquid into water vapor (gas) The water cycle Condensation Sunlight is need to evaporate water

Runoff- draining of away of water from the surface of land. Infiltration- permeation (entering) of liquid into the ground The water cycle Runoff Infiltration

Transpiration- Plants lose water through pores in their leaves. “Plant sweat” The Water Cycle

Hydrosphere: The part of Earth that contains water. Land is ~29% of Earth Water is ~ 71% of Earth Water on Earth

Oceans cover about ~71% of Earth 97% of Earth’s water is ocean water or saltwater Freshwater is about ~3% of all of the water on Earth. 2/3 of that is frozen in glaciers, ice caps, and icebergs (ice floating in the ocean) 1/3 of that water is in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and found underground Water on Earth

What type of freshwater if difficult to access? _____________ Water on Earth Frozen water in glaciers & icebergs What type of freshwater if difficult to access? _____________

Which is denser (salt water/ freshwater)? Salinity = the amount of salt in water Water on Earth

A river is a channel of water that flows downward toward an ocean or lake. River Terms Tributary is stream connecting to a river Delta is sediment carried to the mouth of a river Meander is a bend in a river Ox Bow Lake was part of the river

Most rivers start out as a tiny stream running down a mountain slope. The tiny stream is feed water by snow melt or rainwater. The water follows cracks in the land as it travels downhill. Small streams meet and join other growing larger over time. Weathering and erosion of rock from the water also helps to increase river size. River Formation

River Basins & Watersheds Both terms describe land that drains into a river, stream or lake. River Basin is an area that drains into a larger river Watershed is an area that drains into a smaller river or stream River Basins & Watersheds

River Basins & Watersheds Larger river basins are made up of many interconnected watersheds Example: Cape Fear and Neuse River Basins are made up of many small watersheds. River Basins & Watersheds

How many river basins are in North Carolina? NC River Basins

North Carolina River Basins