Chapter 12&13- WATER RESOURCES & WATER POLLUTION Flashcards
(60 cards)
A heterogeneous resource that can be found in liquid, solid, or gaseous form on or near Earth’s surface.
Water
It involves the movement or transfer of water from one of Earth’s storage compartments, such as the ocean, lakes, and the atmosphere, to another; Global water cycle.
Hydrologic Cycle
An area of land that contributes water to a particular stream or river
Watershed or Drainage Basin
Is a basic unit of the landscape; refers to an area of land
Drainage Basin
Refers to the actual river and stream channels in the drainage basin.
Drainage Net
Factors that affect runoff also affect:
- sediment erosion
- transport
- Deposition
Factors Affecting Runoff and Sediment Yield
- Geologic Factors - rock and soil type, mineralogy, degree of weathering, and structural characteristics of the soil and rock. (Clay soil & Sandy Soil)
- Topographic Factors - relief refers to the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points of any landform of interest.
- Climatic Factors - type of precipitation that occurs, the intensity of the precipitation, the duration of
precipitation with respect to the total annual climatic variation, and the types of storms. - Vegetation Factors - vegetation can influence runoff and sediment yield.
- Land-Use Factors - agriculture and urban development
Precipitation that infiltrates the surface of the land and into soil and rock
Groundwater
2 Major Zones of Groundwater
- Vadose Zone (Unsaturated Zone)
- Zone of Saturation
This zone includes the Earth material above the water table which is the boundary between the two zones, including soil, alluvium, and rock.
Vadose Zone (Unsaturated Zone)
Area underground where all the spaces between soil particles and rock are
completely filled with water.
Zone of Saturation
Factors that Influence the Rate of Infiltration
- Topography - with steeper topography, more water runs off, which reduces infiltration.
- Soil and Rock Type - soils and rocks with lots of open space due to fractures or pore spaces between grains have higher infiltration rates.
- Amount and intensity of precipitation
● Low-intensity precipitation or snowmelt favors infiltration.
● High-intensity precipitation favors runoff.
- Vegetation - leaves and stems intercept precipitation. The water then falls more gently to the ground and infiltration increases.
- Land-use - urban lands with pavement or roofs reduce infiltration. Agricultural practices generally increase surface runoff and soil erosion, decreasing infiltration.
Earth material capable of supplying groundwater at a useful rate from a well.
Aquifers
No confining layer restricting the upper surface of the zone of saturation at the
water table
Unconfined Aquifer
Aquifer that confining layer is present.
Confined Aquifer
A local zone of saturation above a regional water table
Perched Aquifer
The water beneath a confined aquifer may be under pressure, forming
Artesian Conditions
Is any process that removes groundwater from an aquifer
Groundwater Discharge
- the ability of a particular material to allow water to move through.
- expressed in units of cubic meters (m³) of water per day
Hydraulic Conductivity
rate and direction of groundwater movement in an aquifer in part depend on both the gradient of the water table, and the type of material found in the aquifer.
Hydraulic Gradient
Groundwater Supply in the Philippines
Groundwater supplies over _____ of potable water and serves as the primary source for many communities, especially those without municipal systems.
50%
Around ______ of households rely on wells, known as “_______”
60% ; poso.
percentage of empty space.
Void Space
A measurement of the void or empty spaces in sediment or rock.
Porosity
