Surface Water & Watersheds
The area of land that drains into a stream, river, or lake is called...
Watershed
Name one harmful impact of dams on rivers
• Less sediment downstream
• Habitat destruction
• Changed water flow
Water found below Earth’s surface is called...
Groundwater
A gas produced by ocean plants that living things need to survive
Oxygen
Large floating areas of plastic waste in the ocean is called...
Garbage patches
Any body of water that is above ground is called...
Surface water
How can people best protect surface water? (Choose one action)
• Conserve water
• Monitor what enters drains
Layers of rock that store groundwater is called...
Aquifers
The process used to remove salt from ocean water to make it drinkable
Desalination
When plastic is eaten by ocean animals or they become trapped in it, what can happen to them?
Injury or death
A smaller stream or river that flows into a larger river is called...
Tributary
When glaciers melt and disappear over time, what happens to the surface water supply?
Decreases
The upper level of the saturated zone underground is called...
Water Table
The water table is the upper level of underground water. It is the point below Earth’s surface where the soil and rock are completely filled with water. Above the water table, the ground contains both air and water; below it, all spaces are saturated with water.
Name the four things humans rely on the ocean for
• Air (oxygen)
• Food source
• Transportation & recreation
• Drinking water
If our city banned the use of plastic bags in grocery stores, how would this affect surface water and oceans?
Fewer plastic bags would be thrown away or blown into streets, where rainwater can carry them into storm drains, rivers, lakes, and streams. These waterways often lead to the ocean, so less plastic would end up there.
A large body of freshwater surrounded by land is called...
Lake
__________ from farmers can carry fertilizers and pesticides into rivers, causing pollution
Runoff
If a chemical spills into a river, how can this affect groundwater?
Pollutants can seep into the ground and contaminate groundwater, which we use for drinking and watering crops.
A method used to increase seafood production by raising organisms in controlled environments is called...
Aquaculture
Areas of the ocean with very little oxygen where organisms cannot survive is called...
Dead zones
A system made up of connected rivers and tributaries is called...
River system
How can human actions protect the Ogallala Aquifer for future use?
Water conservation
One way people can protect groundwater supplies...
• Closing underground fuel tanks
• Reducing water use
Catching too many fish so populations cannot recover is called...
Overfishing
How do oysters help clean ocean water?
Filtration
Filter contaminants from water.