The process that helped the Colorado River form the Grand Canyon over the course of millions of years.
What is erosion?
100
Rivers and streams deposit sediment where the speed of the water current decreases. This process is when materials are laid down or dropped.
What is deposition?
100
This rises during wet seasons and falls during dry seasons. In wet locations, it can be just beneath the soil surface. In dry locations, it can be hundreds of feet below the surface.
What is a water table?
100
Pollution that comes from a specific location or site. An example is a leak from a sewer pipe. This type of pollution is usually easy to control and identify.
What is point-source pollution?
100
The measure of change in elevation over a certain distance. A high one of these gives a stream or river more erosive energy.
What is gradient?
200
The continuous movement of water from the ocean to the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean.
What is the water cycle?
200
A river's current slows when a river empties into a large body of water, such as a lake or an ocean. As its current slows, a river often deposits its load in a fan-shaped pattern.
What is delta?
200
A rock layer that stores groundwater and allows flow of groundwater.
What is aquifer?
200
Pollution that comes form many sources. Runoff is often the mode of transport for this type of pollution. Fertilizers, eroded soils, drainage from mines, and salts from irrigation are examples.
What is nonpoint-source pollution?
200
The amount of water that a stream or river carries in a given amount of time. This increases when a major storm occurs or when warm weather rapidly melts snow. As it increases, its erosive energy, speed, and load can also increase.
What is discharge?
300
A stream that flows into a lake or larger stream stream.
What is a tributary?
300
A fan-shaped deposit that, unlike deltas, forms on dry land.
What is alluvial fan?
300
The percentage of the total volume fo a rock or sediment that consists of open space.
What is porosity?
300
Fish and other organisms in lakes and streams need oxygen to survive. Pollutants such as sewage, fertilizer runoff, and animal waste can decrease levels of this important component to a healthy water system.
What is dissolved oxygen or DO?
300
Deposition and erosion can happen in this location on a stream or river.
What is a bend?
400
The area of land that is drained by a water system.
What is a watershed or drainage basin?
400
A sudden increase in the volume of water flowing into a stream can cause the stream to overflow its banks. The area along a river that forms from sediment deposited when a river overflows.
What is floodplain?
400
The ability of a rock or sediment to let fluids pass through its open spaces, or pores.
What is permeability?
400
One way to conserve water at home.
What is....?
400
Some rivers carry a load of small rocks and soil.
What is suspended load?
500
An area of higher ground that separates one or more watersheds from each other.
What is divide or continental divide?
500
This flood controlling barrier failed during Hurricane Katrina causing massive flooding of New Orleans.
What is a levee?
500
The construction of buildings and roads limit the amount of water that can reach an aquifer. The ground surface where water enters an aquifer cannot be covered by impermeable rock or water will not recharge the aquifer.
What is recharge zone?
500
Sprinkler irrigation wastes a great deal of water. In some hot climates humans have employed another technique for irrigating that delivers water directly to the plant.
What is drip irrigation?
500
In 1849, many people rushed to California to look for gold. One location these 49ers looked for gold was at the bend of a river. This was the place they found deposits of gold.