Watersheds & Runoff
What is an area of land where all water drains to a common point called?
Watershed
What causes "dead zones" where fish cannot survive?
Lack of oxygen (caused by algae blooms)
Water stored in the spaces between rocks underground is called
Groundwater
What gas is primarily responsible for ocean acidification?
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Where is the least damaging place to put a factory on a river (locally)?
At the mouth (bottom) of the river
What would most likely increase runoff the most in a town?
Building a new parking lot (impermeable surface)
Surface water cannot soak through (like concrete or asphalt)
What is the main cause of nutrient pollution?
Fertilizer runoff and sewage
What is the top level of the saturated zone in an aquifer called?
Water Table
What happens to coral reefs when the water gets too warm?
Coral Bleaching
What is a sustainable way to prevent overfishing?
Setting catch limits or "seasons"
True or False: Pollution always stays where it is dumped and does not move downstream.
False
Which famous book by Rachel Carson warned about the dangers of pesticides?
Silent Spring
If a well runs dry, it is usually because:
Humans are pumping water out faster than rain can refill it
Why is ocean acidification bad for marine life?
It weakens shells and skeletons of clams, oysters, and coral
Why are artificial reefs beneficial?
They provide new habitats for marine life
What drives the flow of water in a watershed?
Gravity/Elevation
What happens when algae from a bloom die and decompose?
Bacteria use up all the oxygen in the water
True or False: Groundwater and surface water are completely separate and never mix.
False (Springs feed rivers, rivers feed aquifers)
What is a major danger of plastic pollution in the ocean?
Animals mistake it for food or get tangled in it
What is an "impermeable surface"?
If a river is polluted in Houston, where did the pollution most likely come from?
Upstream sources (like Dallas or farms to the north)
Pouring used motor oil on a fence post is an example of what?
Improper disposal/Groundwater pollution
What is the biggest human use of groundwater that causes depletion?
Crop irrigation (Farming)
Besides food, what is another major resource we get from the ocean?
Oxygen (from phytoplankton)
How can you personally help reduce watershed pollution?
Pick up dog waste, recycle plastics, or use less fertilizer