Hydrosphere
Low dissolved oxygen levels in a body of water can cause...
a) algal blooms.
b) diversity of species.
c) fish to die.
c) fish to die.
Which factors can greatly affect the health of a river system?
a) natural disasters & changes in the tides
b) type of soil and salt level
c) nitrate levels and turbidity
c) nitrate levels and turbidity
Pollution that can be traced back to a single source is called...
a) Point Source
b) Non-Point Source
c) Contamination
a) Point Source
What percentage of Earth's water is saltwater?
a) 75%
b) 3%
c) 97%
c) 97%
Aquifers have cleaner water because...
a) they receive rainwater directly.
b) rock and soil deep in the Earth act as filters.
c) they form where freshwater meets saltwater.
b) rock and soil deep in the Earth act as filters.
Which two elements cause algal blooms in aquatic systems?
a) nitrogen & hydrogen
b) phosphorus & nitrogen
c) carbon and phosphorus
b) phosphorus & nitrogen
(also referred to as nitrates & phosphates)
What is it called when a plant releases water into the atmosphere through the photosynthesis process?
a) sublimation
b) evaporation
c) evapotranspiration
c) evapotranspiration
Which word describes to drip or filter through permeable soil and rock? (HINT: drip is a key word)
a) permeability
b) potable
c) percolate
c) percolate
(drip is a synonym)
Which describes the work brackish?
a) the level of cloudiness of the water
b) water that is a mix of both freshwater and salt water
c) water with an acidic pH
b) water that is a mix of both freshwater and salt water
A massive explosion of algae growth is called...
a) green slime
b) algal bloom
c) red tide
b) algal bloom
What is one way to describe a river basin?
a) the land at the point where the river meets the ocean
b) land formed as a result of a river flooding
c) the land drained by a river or its tributaries
c) the land drained by a river or its tributaries
When solid ice turns to water vapor (gas), we call it...
a) sublimation
b) condensation
c) precipitation
a) sublimation
Which word is a synonym for pollution?
a) percolate
b) contaminant
c) potable
b) contaminant
Of all the freshwater on Earth (3% of Earth's water), only 1% is available for use, where is the other 2% of freshwater found?
a) streams/rivers
b) upper atmosphere
c) frozen in glaciers
c) frozen in glaciers
An element found in Earth's crust that can be toxic and cause cancer is...
a) arsenic
b) carbon
c) iron
a) arsenic
What can we conclude if a body of water is turbid?
a) it is unsafe to drink
b) it contains chemicals
c) it has a low pH
a) it is unsafe to drink
Which word describes allowing liquids or gases to pass through?
a) infiltration
b) permeability
c) aquifer
b) permeability
An underground gas tank leak is an example of which type of pollution?
a) Point Source
b) Non-Point Source
c) Contamination
a) Point Source
Which law was passed to establish a plan to decrease industrial pollution?
a) Clean Water Act
b) Safe Drinking Water Act
c) Industrial Waste Water Act
a) Clean Water Act
Runoff from a local farm is draining into a lake. What is likely to occur in the lake?
a) the lake will be healthier
b) the lake will dry up
c) algae will grow in the lake
c) algae will grow in the lake
How can we determine the health of a freshwater source?
a) how deep and wide the body of water is
b) its temperature and pH
c) its temperature and location
b) its temperature and pH
Which describes what we use to kill unwanted plants?
a) herbicide
b) pesticide
c) insecticide
b) permeability
Which is NOT an example of non-point source pollution?
a) fertilizer run-off
b) soil erosion from construction sites
c) municipal water waste discharges
c) municipal water waste discharges
Water is cleaned, filtered, and disinfected...
a) in the human body when we drink water.
b) in swimming pool filter systems.
c) in water treatment facilities.
c) in water treatment facilities.
What is a likely consequence of drilling for freshwater in coastal areas?
a) an intrusion of saltwater into aquifers
b) destruction of estuaries due to increased sea levels
c) a decrease in salt concentration in inlets
a) an intrusion of saltwater into aquifers