Water & Resources
Define "water by percentage" for the planet: what percent of Earth's surface is covered by water, and what percent of that is saltwater?
What is 71% covered with water; of that ~99% saltwater
According to the text, approximately what percent of the planet's water supply is available as liquid freshwater in accessible sources?
0.024%
What is desalination? Name the two methods listed in the text.
Desalination = removing salt from seawater; methods: distillation and reverse osmosis
What is groundwater and what term describes an area containing significant accumulations of groundwater?
Groundwater is precipitation that soaks into the ground and settles; large accumulation = aquifer.
The WHO estimates daily deaths from water-borne infectious diseases due to lack of access to clean water. State this daily estimate given in the document.
~4,100 people die daily
Explain two ways water shapes ecosystems
What is shapes ecosystems by erosion & runoff, provides habitat structure, mediates climate, aids pollution remediation.
List three major reservoirs where most of Earth's water is stored and give approximate percentages for each as reported in the text.
Ocean ~96.5% salt water; ice caps/glaciers ~1.7%; deep underground ~1.7% (
Give three intended human benefits of building dams, according to the document.
Capture water, control flood, create hydropower.
Define "water table" and explain how it changes throughout the year.
Water table is the top layer of an aquifer; it rises and falls seasonally with recharge and usage.
Name two primary ways humans misuse water resources as mentioned in the text.
Excessive withdrawal and pollution.
"Freshwater is an important form of natural capital." Explain what is meant by natural capital and give one example related to freshwater.
Natural capital = resources and ecosystem services that provide economic value; example: freshwater for irrigation and drinking.
Define "runoff" and name two types of places where runoff can flow (use the terms lentic or lotic where appropriate)
Runoff is precipitation that hits ground and moves to lakes/ponds/wetlands (lentic) or streams/rivers (lotic) or to groundwater.
Summarize two drawbacks or long-term problems associated with dams from the text.
Drawbacks: fill with sediment over time; cause species endangerment/extinction; structural failure risk.
Explain why cities make it harder for aquifers to replenish naturally. Include the specific urban feature mentioned in the text.
Cities use pavement which reduces infiltration so aquifer recharge slows.
Explain the economic role of water: give two ways water availability directly affects economies or poverty.
Water is needed to produce food and energy; availability reduces poverty and affects whether households have piped water vs. carrying water.
Describe why water is considered a limiting factor for life and provide one biological example from the text that supports this claim.
What is Water required for all biological processes; example: 70% of humans are water and 100% of biological processes require water.
Explain how climate change, pollution, and overuse can negatively impact the hydrologic (water) cycle. Provide one specific effect for each factor.
Climate change: alters precipitation patterns and evapotranspiration; pollution: contaminates freshwater making it unusable; overuse: lowers water tables and reduces flow.
Explain "virtual water" in one sentence and give an example of how virtual water might relate to agriculture or food production (use reasoning based on the document's themes).
Virtual water = the water embedded in production/trade of goods; e.g., importing water-intensive crops reduces local water withdrawals.
Differentiate between a typical aquifer and a fossil (confined) aquifer, and explain why fossil aquifers are sometimes considered non-renewable.
Typical aquifer is recharged by precipitation; fossil/confined aquifer holds ancient glacial water and is not being replenished on human timescales, thus effectively non-renewable.
Describe two ecological or species-level impacts of dams noted in the document.
Dams have caused ~20% of freshwater species to be endangered or extinct; they fragment habitats and alter flow regimes.
Using information from the document, synthesize how water interacts with climate and pollution to affect ecosystem services. Include at least three distinct interactions in your answer.
Whav is Interactions include: water stores and moves heat influencing climate; water cycles dilute/transport pollutants enabling remediation or spreading contaminants; altered water availability changes habitat, affecting species and ecosystem services.
The document contrasts global distribution of water using Canada and China as examples. Explain the disparity presented and discuss two implications this uneven distribution can have on global security or economics.
Canada has ~0.5% population but 19% of liquid freshwater; China has 19% population but 6.5% of liquid freshwater — implications: water scarcity can drive geopolitical tension, limit agricultural output, increase costs, and affect global trade/security.
Propose a combined management strategy (brief outline, 3–4 bullets) that addresses freshwater scarcity in an agricultural region dependent on an overused aquifer (use facts from the document such as recharge issues, runoff, irrigation impacts, and technology).
Describe land subsidence related to aquifer overuse. Explain the causal chain from over-pumping to surface impacts and name one real-world consequence listed in the text.
Over-pumping reduces pressure, causing ground to compact and land subsidence or sinkholes; consequence: infrastructure damage, reduced aquifer storage.
The text lists several watershed characteristics that impact ecosystems and human activity. Pick three characteristics and explain how each one affects water availability or ecosystem services.
Examples: area of drainage affects how much runoff is collected; slope affects runoff speed and erosion; vegetation affects infiltration and sediment trapping — each changes availability and quality.