Water Quality
What things are affected by water?
Basically EVERYTHING!
What are waves
They are movement of energy through the water
What are the four spheres of the earth
lithosphere
atmosphere
hydrosphere
biosphere
What are eskers?
Melted glacial water that flows in tunnels, depositing sediments that build up in the pattern of a winding river.
What are currents?
A stream of water that moves within a larger body of water
Where is most of the fresh water on Earth?
Locked in ice caps and sea ice (glaciers)
How do waves affect the environment?
Waves erode the shore and also deposit sediments along the shore line
What is the continental shelf
Sediementary deposits of materials eroded off the continents
What are moraines?
They form from rocks and gravel that build up along the sides and at the end of a glacier
What are currents caused by?
It is caused by salinity, temperature, and earths rotation.
What is potable water
type of fresh water that is drinkable
What causes tides?
Tides are caused by the gravitational force of the moon and earths rotation
What are volcanic islands?
They are volcanoes that grow up all the way from the ocean floor?
What are drumlins?
They are a small teardrop shaped hills that point in the direction of the glacial movement
How do currents effect the climate?
If the currents flow close to shore, the air they carry will influence climate
How much fresh water is actually available for us to drink?
Under 1% (0.003%)
How does the speed of water flow affect the size of sediment load?
Fast flowing - large sediment load
slow flowing - small sediment loads
Still - no sediment load
How were the Rocky Mountains formed?
Two plates were pushed against each other and the continent surface wrinkles and is pushed up
What is climate?
The average weather measured over a period of time
How do currents effect the precipitation?
Warm air hold more moisture than cold air therefore wind blowing over a warm ocean current will carry moisture and wind blowing over a cold ocean current will be dry.
What is salinity
Total amount of salts dissolved in water
What are two stream characteristics
rate of water flow
slope of the stream's bed
What are seamounts?
Underwater volcanoes that do not come up out of the water
How are rounded hills formed?
They are formed when glaciers move over mountains and wear down jagged peaks.
A band