River Systems
What do we call land where all water drains to one common place?
watershed
Where is most of Earth’s freshwater stored?
Glaciers and ice caps
What type of water is found in estuaries?
Brackish
Does land or water take longer to change temperatures?
water
List a household action that was help our local wastewater treatment facilities?
flush only human waste and toilet paper
What two river basins is Holly Springs located in?
Cape Fear River Basin and Neuse River Basin
Where is the safest and least polluted freshwater usually found?
Aquifers
Why are estuaries productive ecosystems?
They receive nutrients from rivers and the ocean
What carries warm water from the U.S. East Coast toward Europe?
The Gulf Stream
Which government agency monitors water quality?
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Why does water use upstream matter?
What happens upstream affects downstream areas
What is the difference between a confined aquifer and unconfined aquifer?
confined is trapped between impermeable layers and unconfined is not and can be easily recharged
Why are estuaries good nursery habitats?
They provide shelter and a mix of fresh and saltwater
What drives deep ocean currents?
Density differences caused by temperature and salinity
Explain the chain reaction when an excess of nutrients are found in water.
excess nutrients --> excess algal blooms caused by eutrophication --> algae blocks sun -->kills aquatic plants below --> algae dies too and decomposes --> dissolved oxygen decreases --> aquatic organisms die
Which factor most affects how water drains into watersheds?
Differences in elevation
What happens when groundwater is overused near the ocean?
Saltwater intrusion occurs
How do estuaries prevent erosion and flooding?
sand bars (buffer waves), plants and shellfish beds (shield again tides), swamps and marshes (protects against high winds and soak up heavy rains)
List at least 3 importances of ocean circulation.
- Distributes nutrients, minerals and dissolved gasses
- supports marine life
- moderates weather and climate
What does a secchi disk measure? How does it work?
Measures turbidity, patterned disk that is lowered in water and slowly brought to the surface