Why are Earth's Water Systems Important?
How much of earth's water is considered fresh water?
3%
In what 2 ways do rivers change land?
Erosion and deposition
What are 3 ways in which we change rivers?
Canals, dams, other river channels
What does biodegradable mean?
Able to break down into natural parts by natural processes.
Why was the Aral sea drying up?
Water had been diverted to irrigate farmland. No freshwater was flowing into the ocean anymore.
What is ground water and what is the water table?
Ground water: water that is held or flowing beneath Earth's surface.
Water table: upper level of ground water.
What is an estuary and where is the largest estuary in Canada?
Estuary: water that has both salt and fresh water mixed in.
Gulf of St. Lawrence.
How could a community benefit from a reservoir?
Swimming, fishing, irrigation, etc.
How does consumer awareness help protect earth's rivers and oceans?
If they are aware, they can make better choices.
A dam was built.
Why is the water saltier near the equator?
How does a Delta form?
River slows down before it enters a ocean/lake. This causes it to drop sediments on the floor. Over time this forms land.
How do people change oceans?
Add pollutants to rivers which flows to oceans, litter, poor fishing habits, tour boats colliding with reefs.
What is a levee and what are the benefits of this?
Raised land either natural or man made.
Prevents flooding
How was the great pacific garbage patch formed?
Gyres.
Dumping of garbage into oceans/rivers.
Why are rivers that flow into the oceans so important?
They provide fresh water.
Name and explain 3 parts of a river.
See pg 108
Name 3 types of toxins that can enter rivers/oceans.
Fertilizers, oil spills, chemicals, pesticides, toxic waste.
How is it possible that you could be drinking the same water as your great grandfather?
What was happening with Lake Tai in China?
Overgrowth of algae damaged drinking water, caused cancer, birth defects, etc.
What would happen if many rivers that flowed into the ocean dried up?
Oceans would not have fresh water, making ocean water saltier, fish would die, etc
Explain what El Nino and La Nina are.
El Nino: happens every 2-7 years. Warm water is pushed from the western Pacific across Eastern Pacific bring warm, wet conditions to SA and warm, drier conditions to NA.
La Nina: Cooling of surface water near SA. Happens every 3-5 yrs. Cold conditions to NA and warm conditions for Australia, Asia
List 2 benefits of canals.
Transporting materials, recreation, tourism, use for irrigation.
Name 1 positive and 1 negative outcome of a river diversion.
Loss of habitat, drying up of another river, animals dying, etc.
Jobs while the diversion is being built, prevention of flooding, movement of goods, etc
Name 4 ways you can take action to help against further pollution.
Buy items with less packaging.
Don't litter.
Recycle, reuse when possible.
Volunteer