Water Cycle
This part of the water cycle is when water vapor turns into a liquid and creates clouds in the sky.
condensation
An underground layer of rock that is permeable to water is called a ______?
aquifer
This process in the water treatment kills germs, parasites, and viruses.
disinfection
An area where plant roots are submerged under water for most of the year is considered a _________ (name a specific type).
estuary, marsh, bog, swamp, mangrove forest, etc.
When precipitation hits the ground it does one of two things..... it either runs off over the surface or _______ into the ground.
infiltrates
There are 3 main consequences to overusing aquifers. Name one of them.
subsidence, sinkholes, saltwater intrusion
Provide an example of NON-POINT source pollution.
runoff, acid rain, etc.
Name ONE major cause of flooding.
snow melt in the spring, heavy rains, etc.
The water table separates which two zones?
zone of aeration & zone of saturation
A layer of impermeable rock that water cannot flow through is referred to as _____.
aquitard
In North Carolina, hog farms are a huge source of water pollution. When nutrients from hog feces enters a water source, it can cause ________ to occur, which ends in the death of all fish/plant life.
eutrophication
Rivers meander back and forth, which creates unique erosion and depositional features. In a meandering river, where will erosion occur?
A _____ well extends past an aquitard, into a confined aquifer. Some of the purest cleanest water on Earth is found here.
artesian well
It can take decades & centuries for aquifers to recharge all its water. Due to human urbanization and increased ______ this process has been slowed even further.
runoff
Unfortunately, polluted water can enter into unprotected water sources. To protect our water sources humans turn to mother nature and natural _____ ________ to protect our water.
riparian buffers
Wetlands are crucial ecosystems to many species, including some endangered ones. But wetlands are also beneficial to humans. What impact will humans feel if wetlands are depleted?
increased pollution in freshwater systems.
The water table can ebb and flow during dry and wet seasons. Sometimes the water table and the surface will intersect causing these to occur.
natural springs
A side effect of mining, coal burning, and smelting is the release of this natural element. When ingested it can cause neurological shutdown and is considered extremely poisonous to humans. It is crucial we keep our aquifers clear of this element.
arsenic
Rachael Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring, detailing the effects of water pollution and the need to keep our waters clean. She took her findings to Congress and convinced them to pass this law protecting our water systems.
1972 Clean Water Act
There can be many rivers, streams, and creeks in a watershed, but they all must flow to single point, usually a major river. In the Catawba Watershed where we live, Briar Creek and Sugar Creek are ________ for the Catawba River.
tributaries