Oil Spills
Why does oil float on the surface of water?
Oil has a lower density than water
What is a boom?
A boom is a floating barrier that keeps oil from spreading.
Why do we test for water quality
To make sure that our water is clean and safe to use.
What is an aquifer?
A large underground water deposit.
What's porosity?
The size the holes in the soil/rock?
What does a dispersant do to oil spills?
Breaks down the oil molecules, makes it easier to clean up
What four states did the Deepwater Horizon affect?
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida
Where does our water come from in D.C.
Potomac or Anacostia
How much water does the average person in the US use in gallons per day?
1800 gallons per day
What's permeability?
The speed at which water flows through soil/rock.
How do Environmental Engineers clean up oil spills, name 2 ways?
skimmers, absorbants, dispersants
How do absorbents work in oil spills?
Absorbents work by absorbing the oil into specific oil absorbing pads.
What does ppm stand for?
parts per million
When water leaves an aquifer, it enters a _______
Spring
As porosity increases, what happens to permeability?
it increases at a similar rate.
What is the effect of oil spills on the animals in the environment that it's effecting?
Population declines (negative effect on reproductive system), eliminates food sources, contaminates habitats.
What are the measurements for density?
Mass and volume
Name 3 common chemicals that we test for in water quality
How much of the earth's water is freshwater?
2-3%
What's the difference between the rocks and soil's permeability and porosity
Where did the Deep Water Horizion Oil Spill occur?
The Gulf of Mexico
what is density?
density is how close together the molecules of a substance are/
Where does most phosphate pollution come from?
Agricultural fertilizer
What's the name of the aquifer that DC uses
Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain (NACP)
What is the difference in measurement between porosity and permeability?
Porosity is measured in volume, and permeability is measured in time.