Order
Human Impact
Terms
Sinks and Reservoirs
100
The step in the cycle that immediately follows Erosion

What is Runoff?

100

Human Impact that alters precipitation patterns, increases the frequency of extreme weather events (droughts and floods), and affects water storage in glaciers and snowpacks

What is Climate Change?

100

The step in the cycle when rain, snow, sleet, or hail falls to the ground from clouds

What is Precipitation?

100

A Sink/Reservoir that is a very large expanse of sea, in particular each of the main areas into which the sea is divided geographically

What are Oceans?

200

The two steps in the cycle that could immediately follow plant uptake

What is Runoff and Transpiration?

200

Human Impact that includes agriculture runoff (fertilizers, pesticides), industrial waste, and sewage contaminate water sources, impacting water quality and aquatic ecosystems

What is Water Pollution?

200

The step in the cycle where water turns into vapor

What is Evaporation?

200

A Sink/Reservoir that is water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock

What is Ground Water?

300

The step in the cycle that immediately follows Evaporation

What is Condensation?

300

Human Impact that disrupts the natural flow of rivers, altering downstream ecosystems and affecting water availability

What is Damming?

300

The step in the cycle where plants absorb water and essential nutrients from the soil through their root systems

What is Plant Uptake?

300

A Sink/Reservoir that is a body of running water (such as a river or creek) flowing on the earth

What are Streams?

400

The two steps in the cycle that could immediately follow Condensation

What is Precipitation and Erosion?

400

Human Impact where over-extraction of water from rivers and groundwater sources can lead to depletion of these resources, potentially impacting downstream ecosystems and communities

What is Water Abstraction?

400

The step in the cycle where there is too much water to be absorbed by the earth, so it flows across the surface into a body of water

What is runoff?

400

A Sink/Reservoir that is a slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles

What are Glaciers?

500

The three steps in the cycle that could immediately follow Runoff

What is Infiltration and Percolation and Evaporation?

500

Human Impact that reduces transpiration, increases runoff and leads to soil erosion and flooding

What is Deforestation?

500

The step in the cycle where liquid moves through a porous material like soil

What is Percolation?

500

A Sink/Reservoir that is a covering of ice over a large area, especially in the polar region of a planet

What are Ice Caps?

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