Water Distribution
What percentage of Earth’s water is freshwater?
About 2.5% of Earth’s water is freshwater.
What makes water "potable"?
It is safe to drink and free of harmful substances.
What is the main difference between freshwater and saltwater?
Saltwater contains high amounts of dissolved salts; freshwater does not.
Name one method to purify salt water.
Distillation.
What causes erosion?
Moving water, wind, or ice wearing away rock and soil.
Name three sources of freshwater on Earth.
Glaciers, groundwater, and surface water (lakes/rivers).
Name a test for water salinity.
Use of a salinity meter or evaporation test.
Name two dissolved materials found in saltwater.
Sodium chloride (salt) and magnesium.
How does distillation work?
Water is boiled, steam is collected, and then cooled to form clean water.
What is a sediment load?
The amount of soil, sand, and minerals carried by water.
Where is most of Alberta’s freshwater stored?
In groundwater and glaciers.
What does water hardness mean?
The amount of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Can freshwater contain salt or particles?
Yes, in small amounts from natural or human sources.
What is reverse osmosis?
A process that forces water through a membrane to remove salts and impurities.
What is a continental shelf?
The underwater edge of a continent, extending into the ocean.
What is groundwater?
Water stored underground in soil and rock layers.
Why does water clarity matter?
It affects aquatic life and indicates cleanliness.
What are particulates in water?
Tiny solid particles like dirt or organic matter.
Why is desalination not used everywhere?
It is expensive and energy-intensive.
How do glaciers shape the land?
They scrape and carve valleys as they move.
Why is only a small percentage of freshwater usable?
Most is trapped in icecaps or too deep underground to access easily.
What are biological water tests used for?
To detect bacteria, parasites, and microorganisms.
How can high salt levels affect living things?
They can dehydrate organisms and disrupt ecosystems.
Compare evaporation and distillation.
Both involve water turning to vapor; distillation collects the vapor to purify it.
What causes ocean trenches to form?
Subduction of one tectonic plate under another.