Blue and Green Water
Water as a Renewable Resource
Synoptic Charts
Climate Graphs
The Water Cycle
100
What is blue water in the context of water resources?
A. Water stored in glaciers and ice caps
B. Water in rivers, lakes, and aquifers
C. Water in the atmosphere
D. Water used by plants during photosynthesis
B. Water in rivers, lakes, and aquifers
100
Define 'renewable resource'
A renewable resource is one that can replenish or replace itself in a relatively short period of time.
100
What is the name of the weather system approaching Western Australia?
A cold front is approaching Western Australia.
100
What two things does a climate graph show us?
Climate graphs show us the average temperature and precipitation (rainfall) for a particular location.
100
True or False: The water cycle, which includes processes like evaporation and precipitation, ensures that water is constantly recycled on Earth.
True. The water cycle, which includes processes like evaporation and precipitation, ensures that water is constantly recycled on Earth.
200
Why is green water important for ecosystems?
A. It supports aquatic life in rivers and lakes.
B. It is used for industrial cooling.
C. It provides necessary soil moisture for plants and contributes to ecosystems.
D. It is the main source of drinking water for humans.
C. It provides necessary soil moisture for plants and contributes to ecosystems.
200
What are the three states of water?
The three states of water are solid, liquid and gas.
200
What is a synoptic feature that doesn't appear on the map above?
A synoptic feature that doesn't appear is a warm front.
200
Describe the difference between weather and climate.
Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place at a specific time (usually day to day). Climate refers to the long-term average of weather patterns and trends over a period of time (months, years, decades) for a specific location.
200
What term is used for water vapour released from plants into the atmosphere?
A. Evaporation
B. Transpiration
C. Precipitation
D. Condensation
B. Transpiration
300
Why is grey water reuse beneficial?
A. It reduces the demand for freshwater resources
B. It eliminates the need for water treatment plants
C. It increases the water temperature in rivers
D. It increases the level of groundwater
A. It reduces the demand for freshwater resources
300
True or False: A glacier is considered an available water resource.
False. A glacier is not an available water resource.
300
There is a high pressure system over Tasmania. Select the weather conditions that they might be experiencing (hint: there may be more than one).
- Sunny
- Cloudy
- Windy
- Clear skies
- Stable weather
- Rain
Tasmania would be experiencing sunny weather, with clear skies and stable weather.
300
Which location has the most rainfall?
Innisfail has the most rainfall.
300
What are the three main steps in the water cycle?
The three main steps are evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
400
Provide definitions for blue, green and grey water.
Blue water is a term commonly used to describe the Earth's fresh surface water and groundwater.
Green water is the water that does not run into streams or recharge groundwater but is stored in the soil or stays on top of the soil or vegetation.
Grey water is reusable wastewater from washing machines, showers, baths and basins that can be used for irrigation (watering plants) all year round.
400
Answer the following true or false questions using the information above and your understanding of the 'Water in the World' topic:
- True/False: Over 90% of the world's water is in oceans (saltwater)
- True/False: 10% of the world's water is usable
- True/False: 70% of the world is covered in water
- True/False: It is easy to desalinate ocean water to use for human consumption
- True/False: Over 90% of the world's water is in oceans (saltwater)
- True/False: 10% of the world's water is usable
- True/False: 70% of the world is covered in water
- True/False: It is easy to desalinate ocean water to use for human consumption
400
Describe the weather conditions that Western Australia may experience once the cold front crosses the coast.
The cold front will bring a decrease in temperature, and may bring rain and storms
400
Which location has the most variation in temperature. Explain how you know this.
Alice Springs has the most variation in temperature. Highest temperature is approx. 38-40 degrees. Lowest temperature is 20 degrees.
400
When water runs off the land surface, it can flow into various destinations. Identify all the places where runoff can go. Select all that apply.
- Oceans
- Rivers
- Groundwater
- Lakes
- Atmosphere
- Wetlands
- Urban storm drains
- Soil surface
- Oceans
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Wetlands
- Urban storm drains
- Groundwater (through infiltration into the soil)
500
Sort the following examples into blue water, green water, and grey water categories.
- Water in rivers and lakes
- Soil moisture used by plants
- Wastewater from showers
- Groundwater in aquifers
- Water from washing machines
- Water used for irrigating crops from rainfall
- Water stored in reservoirs
- Water from bathroom sinks
Blue Water:
Water in rivers and lakes
Groundwater in aquifers
Water stored in reservoirs
Green Water:
Soil moisture used by plants
Water used for irrigating crops from rainfall
Grey Water:
Wastewater from showers
Water from washing machines
Water from bathroom sinks
500
Using the information above, answer the following questions:
1) Which continent has the least amount of average rainfall per year?
2) Which continent has the most amount of average rainfall per year?
3) Which continent sees the biggest percentage of rainfall that evaporates?
4) Which two continents have the same percentages for rainfall that evaporates and rainfall in runoff?
1) Which continent has the least amount of average rainfall per year?
Australia/Oceania
2) Which continent has the most amount of average rainfall per year?
South America
3) Which continent sees the biggest percentage of rainfall that evaporates?
Africa
4) Which two continents have the same percentages for rainfall that evaporates and rainfall in runoff?
Australia/Oceania and Europe
500
Give your best weather report for 500 points!
Use the information from our synoptic chart lesson to discuss the weather conditions happening in Australia.
Answer to include:
- A cold front will bring cold and rainy conditions for parts of Western Australia
- A high pressure system over Tasmania is keeping much of the east coast of Australia clear and dry
- Any other information relevant to the map
500
What assumptions could we make about water availability in all three locations using the climate graph data?
Answers may vary.
500
Describe the process of the water cycle using the following words: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, transpiration.
The water cycle is a continuous process by which water circulates through the Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans. It begins with evaporation, where water from oceans, rivers, and lakes turns into water vapour due to the heat from the sun. Plants also contribute to this process through transpiration, where they release water vapour into the air. The water vapour rises and cools, undergoing condensation to form clouds. When these clouds become heavy with moisture, they release water back to the Earth’s surface as precipitation in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Some of this water flows over the land as runoff, eventually making its way back into bodies of water, while the rest seeps into the ground, replenishing groundwater supplies and completing the cycle.