Unit 4

Question 1

How does solar radiation affect the hydrological cycle?

Answer 1

energy from solar radion and gravity drives the water cycle.

Question 2

What is a water budget?

Answer 2

It is a numerical estimate of how much water is in the storages and flows of the water cycle.

Question 3

What are the four different ways humans impact the water cycle?

Answer 3

By withdrawing the water and then discharging it after its use. Along with altering the speed at which the river flows. Plus diverting or changing the direction of flowing water.

Question 4

For what uses do humans withdraw water?

Answer 4

For drinking, household use, or for agriculture and industry.

Question 5

What may be included in the water after humans discharge it?

Answer 5

Chemicals from agriculture, fertilizers, and sewage.

Question 6

What are ways that humans change the speed and location of where water flows?

Answer 6

By channeling rivers underground in concrete areas to build roads.

Question 7

Why might humans divert rivers or part of rivers?

Answer 7

Rivers might be diverted to help avoid flood damage or towards dams to help with storing the water.

Question 8

What are the transfers in the water cycle?

Answer 8

Advection, flooding, surface run-off, infiltration, stream flows or currents.

Question 9

What are the three transformations in the water cycle?

Answer 9

evaporation, condensation, and freezing

Question 10

what are the storages in the water cycle?

Answer 10

oceans, soil, groundwater, lakes, rivers, atmosphere, glaciers and ice caps.

Question 11

What affects ocean circulation systems?

Answer 11

Differences in temperature and salinity

Question 12

How do ocean circulation systems affect the climate?

Answer 12

Because based on the temperature and salinity affect the water density. This is what impacts the ocean conveyor belt which transfers heat affecting the climate.

Question 13

How does climate change affect global water access?

Answer 13

Climate change affects global water access because the increase in temperatures affects a change in climate location around the globe. Meaning that as temperatures change so do climate locations meaning that rainwater distribution around the is changing in amounts and locations at a unreliable rate.

Question 14

What is the correlation between population numbers and water use?

Answer 14

An increase in population means an increase in the need for food meaning there needs to be more irrigation water to support agricultural needs. Along with more people means an increase in water being used for household needs, as well as industrial needs.

Question 15

What leads to water contamination?

Answer 15

Pollution and the return of contaminated water.

Question 16

What region has the highest infant mortality rate from contaminated water-based diseases?

Answer 16

It is most commonly found in less economically developed countries.

Question 17

How can water contamination be reduced?

Answer 17

Through reliable supply and waste treatment technology.

Question 18

What is desalination?

Answer 18

The removal of salt from saltwater

Question 19

What is distillation?

Answer 19

The evaporation of water which leaves salt behind

Question 20

What is reverse osmosis?

Answer 20

the use of a lot of pressure to remove salts.

Question 21

What are the issues with the processes of removing salt from water?

Answer 21

The price of the processes kills organisms, changes the wastewater and requires large amounts of energy.

Question 22

What is artificial recharge?

Answer 22

the storing of water in times of surplus. ex California storing the flood water to use later

Question 23

What are the negatives of artificial recharge?

Answer 23

It would get used really fast and could not get replenished ex California having to wait for another storm

Question 24

What is rainwater harvesting?

Answer 24

The collection of rainwater to use for later which is inexpensive and can be done on a individual or community level