Freshwater

Question 1

Rivers

Answer 1

Where water from rain, snowmelts, or natural springs flows downhill; ultimately all the water flows into a large body of water collecting in a low elevation

Question 2

Tributary

Answer 2

Any small river flowing into a larger one

Question 3

Watershed

Answer 3

A river’s tributary system

Question 4

Oxbow

Answer 4

A bend in the river that dictates sediment flow

Question 5

Floodplain

Answer 5

All the area a river can reach when it swells

Question 6

Wetlands

Answer 6

Areas that blend fresh water and land mass; they are extremely productive and are some of the most important ecosystems we have

Question 7

Marshes

Answer 7

Where plants grow above the water line

Question 8

Swamps

Answer 8

Marshes contained in forested areas

Question 9

Lakes/Ponds

Answer 9

Large standing bodies of water; have different zones of life

Question 10

Littoral Zone

Answer 10

Shoreline

Question 11

Limnetic Zone

Answer 11

How far the sun can penetrate the water

Question 12

Profundal Zone

Answer 12

Where sun stops penetrating the water

Question 13

Benthic Zone

Answer 13

Floor

Question 14

Oligotrophic

Answer 14

Low nutrient, high oxygen

Question 15

Eutrophic

Answer 15

High nutrient, low oxygen

Question 16

Groundwater

Answer 16

When water from rainfall, etc., slowly percolates down the soil column and collects above hard clay; contained within porous layers of rock and sand known as aquifers

Question 17

Confined Aquifer (Artesian)

Answer 17

When water bearing layers of rock, sand, or gravel are trapped between less permeable clay layers

Question 18

Unconfined Aquifer

Answer 18

Lacks upper layer of confinement and can be easily recharged and discharged

Question 19

Globally, 70% of freshwater is used on _, 20% on _, and 10% on _.

Answer 19

Agriculture; industry; residential use

Question 20

In the US, 46% of freshwater is used on _, 41% on _, and 13% on _.

Answer 20

Industry; agriculture; residential

Question 21

Dams

Answer 21

A nonconsumptive use of water that traps water in a river or stream and then stores it in a reservoir; there are over 45,000 large dams worldwide, and tens of thousands smaller dams; Hoover Dam, Three Gorges Dam

Question 22

Pros of Dams

Answer 22

Power via electricity
Reduced emissions
Drinking water
Flood control
Recreation

Question 23

Cons of Dams

Answer 23

Habitat alteration
Fisheries decline
Population displacement
Sediment capture
No flooding
Risk of Failure

Question 24

Irrigation Issues

Answer 24

70% more water is used for irrigation today than in 1960
Irrigation is extremely inefficient - only 45% of the water used for irrigation is actually used by crops
Evaporation loss can account for 80-90% water loss if you water your lawns during home irrigation

Question 25

Sinkholes

Answer 25

Areas where the land substrate has been weakened due to ground water loss

Question 26

Desalination Plants

Answer 26

Removing salt from saltwater; unfortunately very costly

Question 27

Reducing Agricultural Demand

Answer 27

Cut back on industrial agricultural use; use low pressure sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, rain catchment

Question 28

Xeriscaping

Answer 28

Using plants in your landscape that are native to your area

Question 29

Aquaponics

Answer 29

Using fish waste to grow plants

Question 30

Water Pollution

Answer 30

``` Nutrient pollution Pathogens/Waterborne diseases Toxic chemicals Sediment Thermal pollution ```

Question 31

Point Source Pollution

Answer 31

From a single location

Question 32

Non-Point Source Pollution

Answer 32

From multiple cumulative sources

Question 33

Groundwater Pollution

Answer 33

Very dangerous because it stays in the system for a very long time; example: Alachor concentrations decline by half after 20 days in soil, but in groundwater it takes 4 years

Question 34

Wastewater

Answer 34

Any water used by people; sewage, sinks, washing machines, industry, urban runoff, etc.

Question 35

Septic Systems

Answer 35

Underground storage tanks that separate oils and water, then flow downhill and decomposes naturally

Question 36

Primary Wastewater Treatment

Answer 36

Physical removal of solids, around 60%

Question 37

Secondary Wastewater Treatment

Answer 37

Wastewater is aerated and bacteria is added to aid in removal of solid materials; up to 90% of solid material is removed here

Question 38

Texas River Drainage Pattern

Answer 38

Dendritic

Question 39

Freshwater makes up _ of the total water on Earth.

Answer 39

2.5%

Question 40

Freshwater is 79% _, 20% _, and 1% _.

Answer 40

Glaciers; groundwater; surface water

Question 41

Surface water is 52% _, 38% _, 8% _, 1% _, and 1% _.

Answer 41

Lakes; soil moisture; water vapor; rivers; biology

Question 42

Overturning

Answer 42

When water in a lake flips (water on bottom rises to top and water on top sinks to bottom)

Question 43

Aquitard

Answer 43

Where water cannot pass in the ground

Question 44

Zone of Aeration

Answer 44

Where water evaporates from rock

Question 45

Water Table

Answer 45

Where the water is at

Question 46

Zone of Saturation

Answer 46

Ground beneath the water table

Question 47

Water in the ground flows about _ feet per day.

Answer 47

3

Question 48

Average age of groundwater is around _ years old.

Answer 48

1,400

Question 49

Dams have the ability to capture _ and turn it into _.

Answer 49

Potential energy; kinetic energy

Question 50

Alum

Answer 50

A flocking agent used in wastewater treatment

Question 51

Study Texas Rivers

Answer 51

Study Texas Rivers

Question 52

Ogallala Aquifer

Answer 52

The Ogallala Aquifer has lost 11.5 trillion ft^3; this massive loss is starting to dry up rural wells nationwide