Unit 8A Flashcards
(32 cards)
What percent of the water on earth salty
97%
What percent of the water on earth is fresh liquid water
1%
What percent of the water on earth is frozen as ice or snow
2%
Define surface water
Surface water is above Earth’s surface in streams rivers lakes. it comes from precipitation or hot springs. it flows from higher to lower ground
Define runoff (AKA storm water)
Water that flows across earths surface and can enter bodies of water
Define groundwater
Some runoff and surface water seep into ground; drains through soil;filters down into underground rock ➡️ collects in spaces between rock particles.
Most drinking water in United States comes from….
Groundwater
How do you get groundwater
People drill down to the water table to reach reservoirs of groundwater
Define water table
Upper surface of groundwater
Define streams
Streams are formed by flowing water that does not seep below surface. This water forms channels as it erodes rock and soil
Define channel
Path that the stream follows which gets wider and deeper overtime eroding rocks and soil
Define tributary
Small stream that feeds into a river and eventually into a network of streams
Define river system
Rivers that form from runoff
Define floodplain
Flat low-lying area along the river that gets covered with water when the river overflows. building in floodplains can be dangerous because of the risk of frequent flooding
Mouth/Delta
The end of the river where it meets a lake or ocean
Define meander
A river that twist one way and goes the other way
Define watershed
Area of land that is drained by river system in other word water from streams rivers floodplains lakes ponds wetlands and groundwater all contribute to the basin of water in a certain area
Define divide
Original area of higher ground that separates one watershed from another
What is the largest watershed in the world
Mississippi River watershed because it has hundreds of tributaries that extend from Rocky Mountains to Appalachian Mountains and down the length of United States from north to south
Gradient
Measure of the change in elevation over a certain distance
Rivers flow
Amount of water that moves through the river channel in a certain amount of time
Stream load
Materials carried by stream
Aquifer
Body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater
Porosity
% of rock that has pores or open space
