The Structure of Hydrosphere 8th Grade Curriculum – Developed for NCDPI - 2008

The Structure of Hydrosphere Oceans—96.5% of water found here Fresh water—3.5% of water found here Fresh water distribution: Ice: 1.762% Groundwater: 1.7% Surface Fresh Water: 0.014% Atmosphere and soil: 0.002%

Understanding Where Your Water Is Located—Oceans and Ice What bodies of water hold the largest amount of water? Oceans—the largest bodies of water on Earth (contain salt water only) What features house water as ice? Icebergs: a large piece of freshwater ice floating in open waters Glaciers: any large mass of ice that moves slowly over land

Location of Ice containing fresh water

Water Cycle Water Cycle The amount of water on the planet follows the law of conservation of mass Water is never created nor destroyed, it only changes forms.

Condensation Evaporation Precipitation Transpiration Draw a picture of the water cycle, be sure to add the following with examples Condensation Evaporation Precipitation Transpiration

Condensation Water forming tiny droplets of water, sometimes so light they form clouds

Evaporation Water turning into a gas state

Precipitation Water returning falling from the sky as snow, sleet, hail, freezing rain

Transpiration Going directly from a plant or tree to the sky as a gas

What is density? Which is more dense, salt or freshwater? What if you float an ice cube in each, what would the difference between the ice cubes in the water be and why?

Aquifers Where is most of the water located after the polar ice caps and glaciers? In the ground Ground water is located in places called aquifers

Answer these questions What does impermeable mean? What does permeable mean?

Aquifers Underground water that is trapped by impermeable rock Impermeable-water cannot flow through it Granite or bedrock Permeable-water can flow through it Sandstone or sand

Artesian Wells Artesian wells-water that can come up through a well dug into an aquifer with pressure Think of shaking a can of soda and jamming a straw into it, what happens? What happens when the pressure is gone?

Importance of Aquifers What do you think are the two most important reasons for aquifers 1. stores water for use 2. can assist the filtration of some pollutants out of the water NOT ALL HOWEVER-think back to our lab.

Fresh Water Locations—Surface Water What is the difference between a watershed and a river basin? Both terms describe land that drains into a river, stream or lake River Basin: the term used to describe interconnected rivers that lead to one large river. Watershed: the term used to describe the land that drains into a any river or stream

Watersheds and River Basins What is the largest river basin in NC (connecting rivers and streams to a large river) The Cape Fear River basin has 9,322 square miles

Many watersheds make up 1 river basin. The land around the Cape Fear River is a watershed

Cape Fear River Basin: many watersheds make up the river basin

Let’s Make a River Basin Using your finger or a pencil, draw a river basin with 1 large river and several small streams leading to it. Questions 1. Why is it important to keep those smaller streams clean? 2. Where do we get most of our drinking water in Cumberland County?

Cape Fear Watershed: The land around the river is the watershed.

Let’s Make a Watershed Make one large river running through your pans. This is the Cape Fear River. Make 8 structures to place on the land (watershed) by cutting out some paper and drawing a small picture on it. Things like gas stations, farms, stores, houses, neighborhoods, and schools

Questions! 3. What pollutants might leave these structures and drain from the watershed area into the Cape Fear River? 4. Why is it important to keep watersheds clean? (watersheds=land around a river)

Additional factors that could pollute watersheds and river basins. Runoff from farms is the biggest pollutant that runs into rivers. What is actually running off? Fertilizer and manure Cars is perhaps the 2nd biggest-oil, gas, transmission fluid, and brake fluid

Water Rights-draw a river and make two cities at different spots. Durham Fayetteville Who has the rights?

Who has the rights? This is a concern for humans. Who has the right to the water in the river in your drawing? Provide 2 reasons for your response This is a major concern in North Carolina.

Commercial Vs. Personal Uses What is the difference between personal use of water and commercial use of water? Commercial-uses for business Personal-use at home Who has priority of water? Provide two examples for your answer

Commercial Farming

Commercial Farming

Personal Use

Water Usage Make a list (at least 5 items) since your arrival to science class about all things you have encountered since you woke up this morning that have water in them. Examples: shower or bath this morning, brushing your teeth, breakfast this morning (milk’s main ingredient is water), drinks from the drinking fountain this morning, flushing the toilet ect.

Water Usage How much water (gallons) on average do you think American households use each day? 135 gallons per house or apt. Let’s find some examples of our class shall we. http://www.csgnetwork.com/waterusagecalc.html

Water Usage What are two ways that you could decrease your use of water? Example: do not leave water running while brushing teeth http://www.dwa.org/ Ways to save water

Who is in charge of keeping our rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans clean? EPA-Environmental Protection Agency What are two things you can do to help keep oceans clean? What are some ways that we could monitor how healthy our water is?

Other Surface Waters What is a wetland? An area where water is near or above the land surface, long enough during the year to support adapted plant growth

Types of wetlands Swamps, bogs, and marshes Swamp: a wetland dominated by trees Bogs: a wetland dominated by peat moss Marshes: a wetland dominated by grasses

North Carolina Wetlands

North Carolina Swamps: Notice swamps are characterized by trees and water.

North Carolina Bogs: Notice how bogs are water and peat moss (type of soil)

North Carolina Marsh: Notice how a marsh is made up of water and grass