Water Wonders
This process describes how water moves from earth to atmosphere and back again.
What is the water cycle?
This layer of the atmosphere is closest to Earth's surface.
What is the troposphere?
Name the three major greenhouse gases.
Carbon dioxide, methane and water.
Define the difference between weather and climate.
Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions, whilc climate is long-term weather patterns.
Where does Denver's water primarily come from?
Snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains.
These underground rock formations store and transmit groundwater.
What are aquifers?
This effect causes wind to curve due to Earth's rotation.
What is the Coriolis Effect?
How do greenhouse gases impact climate?
They trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise.
Name two tools used to predict weather.
Satellites, radar, weather balloons, computer models
Water scarcity, competing water rights, drought conditions.
This type of water movement occurs when water flows through soil layers.
What is groundwater?
Explain how wind forms.
Wind forms due to differences in air pressure caused by uneven heating of Earth's surface.
Describe how latitude impacts climate.
Areas closer to the equator receive more direct sunlight and are warmer, while areas near poles receive less direct sunlight and are cooler.
Explain how tree rings provide climate evidence.
Tree ring width and density can indicate past temperature and precipitation conditions.
What causes drought?
Prolonged periods of below-average precipitation.
Explain two ways humans directly use water.
Possible answers: drinking, cooking, bathing
Describe how temperature and humidity are related.
Warm air can hold more moisutre; as temperature increases, air can contain more water vapor.
Explain how volcanic activity can impact climate.
Volcanic eruptions can release particles that block sunlight potentially causing temporary cooling.
Describe how the Sun's activitiy impacts climate.
Changes in solar radiation (sun spots, luminosity, Milkankovitch cycles) can affect Earth's temperature and weather patterns.
Explain how human water usage impacts groundwater.
Overuse of groundwater, pollution, reduced recharge can deplete groundwater resources.
Describe how surface water can shape landforms.
Possible answers: create deltas, waterfalls, V-shaped valleys, and floodplains through erosion and deposition.
Explain the formation of different types of precipitation.
Precipitation forms when water vapor condenses and becomes too heavy to remain in the atmosphere, with the type depending on the air temperature.
Describe potential effects of climate change.
Possible answers: rising sea levels, loss of land and sea ice, ocean acidification, extreme weather events, ecosystem changes.
Explain how thermohaline circulation works.
Ocean currents driven by differences in water temperature and salinity distribute heat around the planet.
Describe two potential solutions to water issues.
Conservation, water recycling, improved infrastructures, sustainable agricultural practices.