Water Cycle Basics
What is the main source of energy that drives the water cycle?
The Sun
What is the underground layer of rock that stores groundwater called?
Aquifer
What gas do humans and animals release during respiration?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
What is the main cause of ocean acidification?
Increased carbon dioxide absorption by oceans
A graph shows that as CO₂ levels increase, the average global temperature also rises. What type of relationship is this?
A positive correlation — as one increases, the other increases too.
What is it called when water changes from a liquid to a gas?
Evaporation
What do we call a land area where all the water drains to the same river or lake?
Watershed
What process allows plants to take in CO₂ from the atmosphere?
Photosynthesis
What effect does carbonic acid have on the ocean’s pH?
It lowers the pH (makes it more acidic)
If a graph shows ocean pH decreasing from 8.2 to 8.0 over 50 years, what is happening to ocean acidity?
The ocean is becoming more acidic, since lower pH = higher acidity.
When water vapor cools and forms clouds, what process is taking place?
Condensation
What word describes a material that allows water to pass through easily?
Permeable
What human activity since the Industrial Revolution has greatly increased CO₂ in the atmosphere?
Burning fossil fuels
Why are phytoplankton important for humans?
They produce much of the oxygen we breathe
A graph shows that phytoplankton populations have decreased while CO₂ levels have increased. What could explain this pattern?
More CO₂ → ocean acidification, which harms phytoplankton survival.
What is it called when water falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail?
Precipitation
Which process occurs when plants release water vapor through their leaves?
Transpiration
What happens to some carbon dioxide when it dissolves in the ocean?
It forms carbonic acid, leading to ocean acidification
What can communities do to reduce carbon emissions?
Use renewable energy, reduce fossil fuel use, plant trees
A student argues, “CO₂ has gone up and down before, so this increase is normal.” What does the graph showing a sharp rise after 1850 suggest?
The increase is human-caused and faster than natural cycles, linked to the Industrial Revolution.
What term describes the process where water seeps through soil and becomes groundwater?
Infiltration
What term describes an area or object that stores water, such as a lake, glacier, or atmosphere?
Reservoir
How does ocean acidification affect phytoplankton and other marine organisms?
It makes it harder for them to survive or build shells, reducing oxygen production
How does increased CO₂ in the atmosphere demonstrate the connection between the carbon and water cycles?
CO₂ affects climate and ocean chemistry, influencing evaporation, weather patterns, and ecosystem health
A graph shows three lines: CO₂ levels, temperature, and ice coverage. CO₂ and temperature rise, while ice coverage falls. What conclusion can be made?
Higher CO₂ and temperature lead to melting ice and climate change impacts on polar regions