Hydrosphere Earth ‘s Water

Water World How is water distributed on earth? Two thirds (71%) of our planet is covered by water. 97.2% of the water is saltwater (found in oceans). Only 2.8% of the water on Earth is Freshwater The majority of freshwater is beyond our reach, locked into polar snow and ice. Less than 1% is available for consumption.

Check for Understanding Where is most of Earth’s water located? What percent of the water on Earth is fresh? What percent of fresh water is available for human consumption?

What is Salt water? Salt water is water that contains dissolved salts and other minerals. The water of the seas and oceans is salty Most human beings and other land animals can not survive by drinking salt water.

Check for Understanding Why do you think that most animals can’t survive by drinking salt water? (Hint: Osmosis)

What is Fresh Water? Fresh water is water that is not salty and has little or no taste, color or smell Lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams are freshwater habitats. So too are swamps, bogs, and marshes.

Water is amazing because it can exist in various forms on Earth Solid Liquid Gas

Check for Understanding What are forms of water on Earth? Elaborate.

How is water moved and maintained on Earth? The unending circulation of the earth’s water is called the hydrologic or water cycle. The water present on the earth today is the same water that was formed with the planet itself. The amount of water cannot be increased or decreased.

What processes drive the Water cycle Evaporation is when water heats up and changes from liquid to vapor (Gas). Condensation is when water vapor in the atmosphere cool to become a liquid. Precipitation is when water that falls from the clouds. Examples are rain, sleet, hail, and snow.

What is a divide? The divide is a ridge that allows water to flow in different directions (Runoff).

Fresh Water Locations—Rivers, Streams, and Lakes What is a stream? A small channel along which water is continually flowing down a slope—made of small gullies.

Fresh Water Locations—Rivers, Streams, and Lakes What is a river? A large channel along which water is continually flowing down a slope—made of many streams that come together.

Fresh Water Locations—Rivers, Streams, and Lakes What is a lake? A body of water of considerable size contained on a body of land.

Runoff collects on Earth’s Surface River Basin: the term used to describe an area that drains into a large river Watershed: the term used to describe an area that drains into a smaller river or stream.

What is a drainage basin? A drainage basin is a an area where all of the water on one side of a divide flows.

Fresh Water Locations—River Basins and Watersheds Larger river basins are made up of many interconnected watersheds Example: Cape Fear and Neuse River Basins are made of many small watersheds. The water in a watershed runs to the lowest point—a river, stream, lake, or ocean

Watershed A watershed is a geographic area in which all water running off the land drains to a specific creek, river or stream

Check for Understanding What is the difference between a watershed and a drainage basin? What determines how a river or stream flows?

Understanding Where Your Water Is Located—Oceans and Ice Icebergs: a large piece of freshwater ice floating in open waters. Icebergs start out as part of a glazier. 80% of an iceberg is under water.

Understanding Where Your Water Is Located—Oceans and Ice What features house water as ice? Glaciers: any large mass of ice that moves slowly over land *permanent snow areas also “house” water as ice

A mass of ice floating in the ocean is called an iceberg A mass of ice floating in the ocean is called an iceberg. Icebergs start out as part of a glazier. Thousands of icebergs break off from ice sheets every year.

Fresh Water Locations--Groundwater What is groundwater? The water found in cracks and pores in sand, gravel and rocks below the earth’s surface.

What is lake Turnover? Lake turnover is the result of the rising and sinking of cold and warm water layers. The denser water is heavier and will be at the bottom of a lake while the less dense water is lighter and will generally be at the top of the lake. During spring and summer the sun heats the top layer of a lake which causes it to become less dense. The bottom layer of the lake does not receive sunlight and therefore remains cold. Since the top layer of the lake is less dense, it floats on top of the bottom layer and the two do not mix. In the fall and winter the sunlight is not as strong and the nights become cooler. The top layer of the lake cools off, becomes heavy and sinks. This sinking pushes nutrients and minerals up from the bottom of lake.

lake Turnover

What is Eutrophication? The increase of nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) in a lake or pond due to the additions of fertilizers or sewage. This causes a decrease in the oxygen level due to increase of scum or phytoplankton in the water. This eventually kills fish and other organisms.

Eutrophication

What is groundwater? Water that is held underground because it has soaked into the ground and percolated (water that is filter by porous rocks)

What Properties of Earth’s Materials Allow Them to Absorb Water? Permeability • pore spaces allow a liquid to flow through it. Impermeable pore spaces are so close that water can not flow through it

What is the Water Table? Zone of aeration • pore spaces contain mostly air Zone of saturation • pore spaces contain mostly water Water table •the top of the zone of Saturation

Aquifer What is aquifer? Is a rock layer that stores water and allows water to flow through it.

What is an aquifer? Underground bed or permeable rock layer that contains ground water for wells and springs etc… Types Artesian well- water flow to the surface naturally because it is under pressure Spring - water that flows to the surface of the earth from underground. It's a site where the aquifer surface meets the ground surface.

Water is essential to life on earth.

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

Other Surface Waters What are the 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

Additional Vocabulary Artesian Well – a well in which water rises because of pressure within aquifer. Reservoir – a lake that stores water for human use. Tributary-a stream feeding a larger stream or a lake

Water Pollution