4B4 Earth's Hydrosphere Flashcards
Describe how water’s properties drive natural cycles and systems.
What are the main properties of water?
- Polarity
- High heat capacity
- Surface tension
- Ability to dissolve substances
These properties make water vital for life and many natural processes.
Why is water a polar molecule?
It has a positive and a negative end due to its bent shape.
This polarity allows water to interact with other polar molecules and ions.
Why does water have a high specific heat?
It can absorb a lot of heat before changing temperature.
Water’s high specific heat is due to its hydrogen bonds, which absorb heat energy. This allows water to resist temperature changes, helping stabilize temperatures in organisms and ecosystems, making it essential for life on Earth.
True or False:
Ice sinks in water because it is denser than liquid water.
False
Ice is less dense than water, causing it to float due to its crystalline structure, which spaces molecules farther apart.
Fill in the blank:
The ability of water to climb narrow tubes against gravity is called ________ _______.
capillary action
Capillary action happens because of adhesion (water sticking to the surface) and cohesion (water sticking to itself), allowing water to move upward in narrow spaces.
What causes water’s high boiling point?
Hydrogen bonding between water molecules.
Hydrogen bonds between water molecules require a lot of energy to break, which increases its boiling point.
What is the water cycle?
The continuous movement of water through Earth’s systems.
The water cycle includes processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff that recycle water on Earth.
What are the main processes in the water cycle?
- Evaporation
- Condensation
- Precipitation
- Runoff
These processes work together to maintain Earth’s water distribution and support ecosystems.
True or False:
Precipitation is when water vapor turns into liquid or ice.
True
Precipitation includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail, which return water to the Earth’s surface.
Fill in the blank:
________ is the process where water vapor in the air cools and forms liquid water.
Condensation
Condensation forms clouds, fog, or dew and is a key step in water returning to Earth’s surface.
What is runoff in the water cycle?
The movement of water from land to bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Runoff occurs after precipitation and plays a role in replenishing water sources.
How do plants contribute to the water cycle?
Through transpiration.
Transpiration is when plants release water vapor into the atmosphere, aiding atmospheric moisture.
True or False:
Clouds are formed during the process of condensation.
True
As water vapor condenses, tiny droplets of water gather to form clouds.
Fill in the blank:
The water cycle is driven by the energy from the ______.
sun
The sun provides the necessary heat for evaporation, which is the starting point for the water cycle.
How does snow contribute to the water cycle?
It accumulates in winter, melts in spring, and contributes to runoff.
Snowmelt is a significant water source for many rivers and streams.
What is groundwater?
Water beneath Earth’s surface in soil and rock.
Groundwater is a major source of fresh water for wells, springs, and rivers.
What is the water table?
The upper surface of the saturated zone of groundwater.
It marks the boundary between the saturated and unsaturated zones in the ground.
True or False:
The water table always stays at the same level.
False
The water table can rise or fall depending on precipitation, evaporation, and human activity like groundwater extraction.
What is a layer of rock or sediment that holds and transmits water?
Aquifer
Aquifers are underground layers that store and transmit water, often used for wells and springs.
What are the primary uses of groundwater?
- Drinking water
- Irrigation
- Industrial use
Groundwater is essential for many human activities, especially in areas without reliable surface water sources.
What land area drains water into a specific river or body of water?
Watershed
Watersheds are important for managing water resources, as all the water within a watershed flows to a common outlet.
True or False:
A watershed only includes the river itself.
False
A watershed includes all the land and tributaries that drain into the river, including lakes and streams.
What is erosion?
The process of rocks and soil being worn away by the flow of water.
Erosion shapes riverbeds, creates valleys, and can lead to the transport of sediment downstream.
What is the process by which sediment is dropped or settled by a river?
Deposition
Deposition occurs when the water flow slows down, causing the sediment it carries to settle.
Fill in the blank:
A _______ is formed by the deposition of riverbanks.
delta
Deltas are formed by deposition, not erosion, where rivers deposit sediment as they slow down near a body of water.
What is a slow-moving mass of ice formed by accumulated snow?
Glacier
Glaciers flow under their own weight and shape landscapes through erosion and deposition.
What is the main difference between glaciers and ice sheets?
Ice sheets are much larger than glaciers and cover vast areas of land.
Ice sheets cover entire continents, like Antarctica and Greenland, whereas glaciers are smaller and typically found in mountainous regions.
True or False:
Glaciers can only form in polar regions.
False
Glaciers can form in any region where snow accumulation exceeds melting, including high mountain ranges near the equator.
Fill in the blank:
________ is the process by which snow compacts and turns into glacial ice.
Compaction
Compaction refers to snow compacting under pressure into firn (dense granular snow) before eventually forming glacial ice over time.
How does a glacier move?
Through internal deformation and sliding over the bedrock.
The weight of the ice causes the glacier to flow, similar to a slow river of ice.
Define:
Sea ice
Ice that forms on the surface of the ocean from freezing seawater.
Sea ice is thinner and more dynamic than glaciers and ice sheets and does not contribute to sea level rise when it melts.
What is ocean circulation?
The movement of ocean water driven by wind, temperature, and salinity.
This includes both surface currents (like the Gulf Stream) and deep-water currents that distribute heat and regulate climate.
True or False:
Sea ice contributes to rising sea levels when it melts.
False
Since sea ice is already floating on the ocean, its melting does not raise sea levels, unlike ice sheets or glaciers that are on land.
What drives surface ocean currents?
- Wind
- Earth’s rotation
The Coriolis effect causes the currents to curve, influencing global weather patterns.
True or False:
The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current along the North American coast.
True
The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic.
What is the movement of ocean water due to temperature and salinity called?
Thermohaline circulation
Thermohaline circulation drives global heat transfer and supports marine ecosystems by moving warm and cold water across the oceans.
How does wind transfer energy through water?
Waves
The size and strength of waves depend on the wind’s speed, duration, and the distance over which it blows.
What is the difference between wave height and wave length?
- Wave height is the distance from crest to trough.
- Wave length is the distance between crests.
They are key factors in determining a wave’s energy and power.
What are the main components of seawater?
- Water
- Dissolved salts
The pimary kind of salt is sodium chloride, but it also contains trace amounts of magnesium, calcium, and sulfate.
True or False:
Seawater composition is the same everywhere in the ocean.
False
The composition varies by location but is primarily water with dissolved salts.
How does temperature affect seawater?
Colder water is denser than warmer water.
The density difference causes the movement of ocean currents and drives the thermohaline circulation, which regulates global climate.
What is a natural hazard?
A natural event that risks human health, property, and the environment.
Examples include earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, which can cause significant damage and loss of life.
How are hazards classified?
- Natural
- Human-made
Natural hazards include earthquakes and hurricanes, while human-made hazards include industrial accidents and pollution.
Define:
Flooding
The overflow of water onto normally dry land.
It can occur due to heavy rainfall, storm surges, or dam failures, causing damage to property and infrastructure.
What is a storm surge?
A rise in sea level caused by strong winds from a storm.
It can lead to coastal flooding and damage, especially during hurricanes or typhoons.
True or False:
Flooding is caused only by heavy rainfall.
False
Flooding can also result from storm surges, snowmelt, or dam failures, not just rain.
Fill in the blank:
________ occur when the ground collapses, forming a depression.
Sinkholes
This hazard can occur suddenly and cause significant damage, especially in areas with soluble bedrock.
Why are sinkholes more common in limestone areas?
Limestone dissolves in water, creating underground cavities.
As the cavities grow larger, the surface layer may collapse, forming a sinkhole.
True or False:
Flooding can occur in deserts.
True
Flash floods in desert regions occur due to sudden, intense rainfall that the dry ground cannot absorb quickly.
What are the long-term effects of sea-level rise on coastal ecosystems?
It can destroy habitats and cause biodiversity loss.
Rising water levels can also cause saltwater intrusion into freshwater systems.
