Earth s Water The Hydrospere Goal 2.3
Lesson 1 The Hydrosphere and the Water Cycle
Think About It Why is it that the water in your bottle could have been drunk by George Washington?
Focus Questions What are the processes involved in the water cycle? What is the connection between ground and surface water?
The Hydrosphere: An Overview 1. The hydrosphere is the water on and in Earth s crust a. The percentage of water found in the oceans 97 We don t call ourselves the Blue Planet for nothing! The percentage of water contained by the landmasses 3 http://www.earthview.pair.com/earth300color.jpg
Of the Freshwater on Earth b. 90% is in the form of polar ice caps and glaciers Most of the remaining water is groundwater Only a small fraction is in rivers, streams, and lakes Alaska s Glacier Bay http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/trips/family-trips/glacier-bay-alaska/
The World s Water Supply How long will our supply last? Oceans 97.2% - thousands of years Ice caps and glaciers 2.15% - tens of thousands of years Groundwater -.31% - hundreds to thousands of years Lakes -.009% - tens of years Atmosphere -.001% - nine days! Rivers and streams -.0001% - two weeks
The Water Cycle The Water Cycle http://www.euwfd.com/html/hydrological_cycle.html
The Water Cycle 1. Evaporation a) transpiration 2. Condensation 3. Precipitation 4. Infiltration (percolation) 5. The Ocean
1. Runoff is Runoff water flowing down slope along Earth s surface http://myecoproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/stormwater.jpg
2. Five Factors that Increase Runoff a. Little to No Vegetation Topsoil is easily eroded and water runs off easier
2. Five Factors that Increase Runoff b. Heavy rain Water falls too quickly to soak into the ground http://luirig.altervista.org/cpm/albums/nrcs3/normal_1389-runoff-from-a-heavy-rain-carries-topsoil-from-a-cr.jpg
2. Five Factors that Increase Runoff c. Soil with a lot of like clay Clay prevents water from soaking in b/c of its low porosity.
2. Five Factors that Increase Runoff d. Steep Slope the water flows off easily. http://secretagentworms.org/images/runoff2nrcs.jpg
2. Five Factors that Increase Runoff e. High groundwater levels There is no room for the water to infiltrate the ground. http://secretagentworms.org/images/runoff2nrcs.jpg
Watersheds and Stream Systems 1. A stream is runoff water that begins to flow more permanently in a channel. a. A large stream is called a river. b. The smaller streams that feed into it are called tributaries
The Rivers of North Carolina
Watersheds and Divides 2. A watershed is all of the land area whose water drains into a stream system. http://dutchesswam.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/watershed-image-small.png
North Carolina Watersheds http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/maps/nc/watersheds-nc-map.jpg
Watersheds and Divides 3. A divide is a high land area that separates one watershed from another. The Eastern Continental Divide is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Divides of North America http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/eastern_continental_divide
Watersheds and Divides 4. The watershed of the Mississippi River is the largest watershed in North America! http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/lmrsbc/index.html
Lesson 2 Surface Water: Rivers
Think About It Why are rivers important? Have you ever been swimming, boating, rafting, tubing, or fishing in a river?
Focus Questions What is the structure and function of a river? What causes a river to flood? How do rivers cause erosion and deposition?
Erosional Stream Load 1. All the materials that the water in a stream carries is known as the stream s load. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/stream_load.gif
Erosional Stream Load Three ways in which a stream carries its load... a. Material is carried in solution after it becomes dissolved in a stream s water. b. All particles small enough to be held up by the turbulence of a stream s moving water are carried in suspension. c. Sediments that are too large or heavy to be held up by turbulent water are transported as a stream s bed load.
Erosional Stream Load
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/images/hydrograph_photos/muri2/muri2_2.jpg Erosional Stream Load 2. Carrying capacity is the ability of a stream to transport material
Floods 1. When do floods occur? when water spills over the sides of a stream s banks onto adjacent land (Soccer fields were built on the flood plain of the Yadkin River in Davie County. Why?) http://www.nowpublic.com/world/floodplain
Floods 2. How are floods related to groundwater levels? It is more likely to flood when groundwater levels are high because the aquifer is already full and can only hold so much water. the dotted line on the diagram represents the groundwater level. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s004896970800380x
Floods 3. Which agency monitors potential flood conditions? The National Weather Service monitors changing weather conditions. USGS has established gauging station on more than 4400 streams in the USA! http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2005/3113/images/cropped_bridge.jpg
http://media-3.web.britannica.com/eb-media/78/3078-004-9b8860f2.jpg Stream Systems: Beginning 1. The beginning of a stream is called the headwaters. a. Found in mountains b. Cold, oxygenated, clear c. V-shaped channels i. have steep sides. ii. The Grand Canyon is a V- shaped valley. The Grand Canyon
Stream Systems: Middle 2. What is a floodplain? a broad, flat, fertile area extending out from a stream s banks that is covered with water during floods. It is not wise to build on a floodplain because it is prone to flooding!
Stream Systems: Middle a. A bend or curve in a stream channel is a - meander The Cape Fear River The Yadkin River http://www.wfae.org/wfae/images/yadkin.jpg http://www.wilmingtonbeachrentals.com/2010/02/cape-fear-river-facts-pictures.html
Stream Systems: Middle b. Water in a stream flows fastest I. Along the center II. Outside of a meander
Meandering Streams A Diagram
Oxbow Lakes c. An oxbow lake is a blocked-off meander We have our very own oxbow lake in the Carolinas in the Congaree National Park just outside of Columbia, SC. http://www.daviddarling.info/images/oxbow_lake.jpg
Oxbow Lakes Oxbow Lake in the Amazon Oxbow Lakes in Alaska http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/oxbow-lake-aerial-3405-pictures.htm http://muller.lbl.gov/travel_photos/amazonwebpages/amazonwebpages-pages/image1.html
Formation of Stream Valleys http://www.indiana.edu/~geol116/week9/rivprof.jpg Next 3 slides
Stream Systems: The End! 3. The end of a stream is called the mouth and is usually located at the ocean or another large body of water http://carolinagreensense.com/uploaded_images/niwb-731140.jpeg
A Bigger View! (Yadkin)- PeeDee River
A Stream s End: Deposition of Sediment a. Streams lose their ability to carry sediment b/c they lose velocity b. An alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit commonly found in mountains. http://practicalbio.blogspot.com/2011/09/sonoran-desert-soil-distributions.html Alluvial Fan in the Sonora Desert
A Stream s End: Deposition of c. A delta is a triangular deposit that forms where a stream enters a large body of water. Sediment The city of New Orleans is on the Mississippi River Delta. The Mississippi River Delta picture taken by Landsat 7 http://earthasart.gsfc.nasa.gov/mississippi.html
Lesson 3 Lakes
Think About It What is the biggest lake you have ever seen in person?
Focus Question How do dams create reservoirs and how is the water in a reservoir used by people? What can cause eutrophication or pollution in a lake?
Lakes 1. What is a lake? o a depression in land that holds water a. What determines where a lake can form? o the surface materials c. Why are lakes important? o Recreation, drinking water, habitats d. What is a reservoir? o a manmade lake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/high_rock_lake http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv23839.php High Rock Lake
Types of Lakes Oxbow Lake a meander gets cut off Weston Lake (Oxbow) in Congaree National Park
The Great Salt Lake in Utah - the remains of a sea http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/salt_lake_desert/salt_l.html
Moraine-dammed Lake - glacial melt is dammed by a moraine Moraine-dammed Lake in Alaska http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1216/i/i.html
Kettle Lakes - Glacial melt in a depression created by the glacier http://www.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/kettle_lakes.html Kettle Lakes in Michigan
Lakes Undergo Change 1. What maintains a lake s water supply? o rain, runoff, and groundwater 2. A lake will exist for a long time if o it gets more water than it loses After a long time a lake will dry up and fill up! The Aral Sea: Uzbekistan http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/iotd/view.php?id=1396
Lakes Undergo Change 3. Eutrophication is o excess nutrients cause the overgrowth of algae which use up oxygen in the lake The process of eutrophication can be sped up by o over-fertilizing land near a waterway http://www.eoearth.org/article/eutrophication Eutrophication in Australia Fish kill in the Salton Sea, CA
Eutrophication Explained http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01590/pollution/culturaleutroph.jpg
Lakes Undergo Change 4. Four things that can pollute lakes are o animal wastes o phosphate detergents o industrial toxins o untreated sewage
Lesson 4 Freshwater Wetlands
Think About It What would happen if all of our coastal wetlands were filled in for homes and hotels?
Focus Question Why are wetlands important? What factors affect and degrade wetlands and estuaries?
http://www.tommangan.net/twoheeldrive/index.php/2009/11/29/easy-hike-at-historic-bethabara-park/ Freshwater Wetlands A wetland is o land that is soaked with water Three examples of wetlands are a. bogs b. marshes c. swamps Boardwalk at Bethabara Park Our very own wetlands!
http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/bog.cfm Bogs 1. A bog is a water-soaked area with poor drainage. o Water in a bog comes from Precipitation (rain) 2. The soil in a bog is acidic because o of the decaying moss This slows bacterial growth which prevents nitrogen recycling. http://here4now.typepad.com/here4now/2011/05/weeks-bay-reserve.html A bog in Alabama
3. Interesting plants that live in a bog are the o Venus fly trap o Sun dew o Pitcher plants These plants are carnivorous b/c of the nutrient-poor soil of the bog. They must digest insects to obtain nitrogen. Bogs http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/plants/carnivorousplants.htm
Marshes 1. A marsh is a watersoaked area at the mouth of streams. Fresh water marshes and estuaries often form o At the mouth of a river 2. Marsh grasses have shallow roots that o anchor silt and mud deposits in a delta. (Builds land!) Brackish marsh near Wanchese, NC http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/vistas/outerbanks.htm
Marshes 3. Plants found in a marsh include o o o o Grasses Reeds Sedges Rushes These plants provide shelter and food for aquatic larva. Marsh with reeds and rushes - natural reserve near Ravenna, Italy
Swamps 1. A swamp is o a low-lying area near a stream Swamps may develop from marshes that have filled in to support the growth of shrubs and trees. Congaree National Park, SC http://vogeltalksrving.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mosquito-meter.jpg
Water Lily in Bok Tower Gardens, Orlando, FL http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/09/14/water-lilies-seem-to-big-to-be-true-at-bok-tower-gardens/
Swamps 2. Trees that grow in a swamp include o o mangrove trees cypress trees Mangroves in Biscayne National Park, FL Bald Cypress Trees in Florida
Swamps If a swamp were to be buried under tons of sediment coal might form! http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/visual/visual.php?shortname=coal_formation
Environmental Issues: A Loss of Habitat 1. Two valuable functions of wetlands o the filtering of water o providing a habitat for migrating birds and fish fry (fish babies!) 2. What % of our wetlands were lost from the late 1700s to mid- 1980s? Snow Geese in Prince William Sound o 50 % o Why? http://www.pwconserve.org/wildlife/birds/snowgoose.htm
Environmental Issues: Upstream Drought 3. A drought upstream o will lead to less fresh water entering the estuary and o saltier water Snow Geese in Prince William Sound http://www.pwconserve.org/wildlife/birds/snowgoose.htm
Environmental Issues: Saltwater Intrustion 4. Overused wells in coastal areas o may draw up salt water from the ocean and o cause the water to become undrinkable. Snow Geese in Prince William Sound http://www.pwconserve.org/wildlife/birds/snowgoose.htm
Three Ways to Preserve Wetlands Education Conservation Regulation
Lesson 5 The Movement and Storage of Groundwater
Think About It Does your family drink well water?
Focus Question How does groundwater move through the lithosphere? How are flood events affected by groundwater levels?
Precipitation and Groundwater Remember the water cycle? 1. Most water in the atmosphere comes from oceans! 2. Most precipitation that falls on land becomes groundwater. Eventually groundwater will return to the ocean to complete the water cycle.
Groundwater Storage 1. Porosity is the percentage of pore space in a material 2. The types of soil that have - highest porosity - well- sorted lowest porosity poorly- sorted 1. Groundwater is stored in the pore spaces of rocks and sediments (See picture ) and can be compared to a hard sponge http://core.ecu.edu/geology/woods/gwansw2008_files/image002.jpg
Groundwater Storage 3. The zone of saturation is the depth below Earth s surface at which groundwater completely fills all the pores 4. The water table is the upper boundary of the zone of saturation
e. Figure 10-2: Groundwater Storage (p. 421) soil Zone of aeration Water table Zone of saturation
Groundwater Storage 5. The depth of the water table varies in swampy areas- water table is almost at surface, in arid regions - water table is far beneath surface Green Swamp, FL
Groundwater Storage 6. If the water table is high, it is more likely to flood. low, it is less likely to flood. 7. The water table fluctuates with the seasons and weather conditions because it depends on rain to recharge it http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/images/chwattab.gif
Groundwater Movement: Permeability 1. What is permeability? the ability of a material to let water pass through it a. What subsurface materials are permeable? sand, sandstone, and gravel b. What subsurface materials are impermeable? clay, silt, and shale c. Why is clay used to line ponds & landfills?
1. An aquifer Groundwater Movement: underground storage area for water made of permeable rock layers. 2. An aquiclude impermeable layer above or below an aquifer. Aquifers
Groundwater Movement 6. aquifer 7. 8. aquiclude
Groundwater: A Music Video The Story of Groundwater! http://www.groundwater.org/kc/groundwat er_animation.html
Lesson 6 Groundwater Erosion
Think About It Why do some homes in Florida get swallowed up by the ground?
Focus Question What are the unique features of caves? What features are found in an area with Karst topography?
Caves 1. What is a cave? A natural underground opening with a connection to Earth s surface 2. Which acid forms caves? Carbonic acid (H2O + CO2 in the soil) 3. Which rock is eroded by this acid to form a cave? limestone
Caves of the USA Mammoth Cave, Kentucky Carlsbad Caverns, N. Mexico Lechuguilla Cave, N. Mexico http://giantcrystals.strahlen.org/america/lechuguilla.htm http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2011/07/dark-depths-mammoth-cave/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/file:witchs_finger_carlsbad_caverns.jpg
Mammoth Cave: A Closer Look http://images.travelpod.com/users/socks/1.1248576883.mammoth-cave-river-styx-tour-route.jpg
Cave Formations http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/orca/underworld/sec1b.htm
Karst Topography: Sinkholes 1. What is a sinkhole? A depression in the ground caused by the collapse of a cave http://southea stsinkhole.co m/
http://www.virginiacaves.org/lok/ccvup56.htm Karst Topography 2. Karst topography are limestone regions that have sinkholes, sinks, and sinking streams named for an area in Croatia. A aerial photograph of a classic Karst terrain north of Lewisburg, WV
Karst Topography
Karst Topography Missouri http://www.mospeleo.org/ozark_caving/springs/sprkarst.htm
Hard Water 4. Hard water is water that contains high concentrations of calcium, magnesiun, or iron. Common in limestone areas Causes deposits of calcium bicarbonate and can clog water pipes. (p. 247) More soap must be used
Lesson 7 Groundwater Systems, Use, and Threats!
Think About It Where does the water in a spring come from?
Focus Question What are the unique features of springs? How can the use of wells lead to aquifer depletion, subsistence, and saltwater intrusion? What are threats to our groundwater?
Springs 1. Ground water discharges at Earth s surface These natural discharges of water are called springs 2. Water may flow out of a rock when an aquifer and an aquiclude come in contact
http://www.eyekonic.net/gallery2/d/1232-2/ponce_20de_20leon_20springs_202.jpg Ponce De Leon Springs
Location of Springs: B. Perched Water Table C. Fault-blocked A. Near Horizontal Sedimentary Layers D. Limestone Regions http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/8m.html
Hot Springs 3. The temperature of ground water is the same as the average annual temperature 4. Hot springs are springs which have temperatures higher than the human body Hot springs are so hot because the subsurface is still hot from recent igneous activity Picture on next slide
Hot Springs at Yellowstone N.P. http://www.guideoftravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/yellowstone-national-park.jpg
http://www.gogobot.com/old_faithful_geyser_and_upper-yellowstone_national_park-attraction Springs and Geysers 5. Most hot springs in our country are found in the western states 6. A geyser is an explosive spring that erupts at regular intervals Old Faithful Geyser Yellowstone NP
1. A well is Wells a hole dug to reach a reservoir of groundwater 2. A cone of depression is produced by the over pumping of wells 3. Drawdown is the difference between the original water table level and that of a pumped well 4. Recharge is when water from rain or runoff is added to
Wells 5. An artesian well flows from a deep, confined aquifer which contains water under pressure.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/gw_ruralhomeowner/gw_ruralhomeowner_new.html Wells: Figure 10-15, p. 252 http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwlandsubside.html
6. The entire water table can be lowered due to 6. The overuse of wells 7. Ground above an overused well can sink! This is called subsidence Wells
Threats to Our Water Supply 1. Overuse 2. Subsidence (sinking land over an aquifer) 3. Pollution in groundwater (sewage, industrial waste, landfills, agriculture) 4. Chemicals (not filtered out by sediments; hard to remove from groundwater) 5. Salt (one of the major threats to groundwater supplies; esp. coastal areas) 6. Radon (generated by radioactive decay of uranium in rocks esp. granite and shale)
Protection of Groundwater 1. Identify and eliminate pollution sources. 2. Monitor pollution. 3. Pump groundwater to surface and treat it.
Lesson 8 Use, Abuse, and Conservation of Water Resources
Water Use: The Importance of Water 1. Four important uses of freshwater Agriculture, transportation, recreation, drinking! 2. Water is indispensable for life on Earth because 1. It exists as a liquid 2. It stores a lot of heat 3. It is the universal solvent 4. Solid water expands
The Importance of Water 3. Eastern states get the most precipitation. 1. Eastern states - cooling, energy production, and manufacturing. 2. Western states - irrigation. 4. Withdrawal rates of freshwater are increasing each year because our population is growing!
Western states use more water for growing their crops
Use of Water in the USA http://fracfocus.org/sites/default/files/water-use-pie-chart.jpg
Managing Freshwater Resources 1. Dams are built to control flooding downstream and to manage freshwater resources 2. In the USA, 23% of all freshwater is obtained from aquifers (groundwater) Florida, Hawaii, and Nebraska depend almost entirely on groundwater.
Managing Freshwater Resources 3. Drawdown causes a. wells to go dry b. streams to run low or go dry c. shallow aquifers on the coast to get salty (This is called salt water intrusion) 4. Desalination is removing salt from seawater to make freshwater. It is not practical due to high costs. See next slide
Saltwater Intrusion http://www.wrd.org/engineering/images/seawater-intrusion.gif
Desalination http://www.tampabaywater.org/tampa-bay-seawater-desalination-plant.aspx
Water Pollution: Types of Pollution 1. Point sources have a single point of origin (often a piped discharge) Three examples include (but aren t limited to) a. sewage b. spills c. industry Drainage into the Ohio River http://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/water-quality/pollution.html http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/po-re/pollution-sources-point-and-nonpoint.html
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/pollution/media/pol04a_460.jpg Water Pollution: Types of Pollution 2. Nonpoint sources come from widely spread areas and cannot be identified and cleaned up as easily. Two examples include (but aren t limited to) a. pesticides and fertilizers from farms and yards b. oil and gasoline from parking lots
3. Clean up! Surface water is more easily polluted than groundwater but easier to clean up. http://www2.epa.gov/cleanups
Reducing Water Pollution 1. The Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) was designed to ensure our citizens have safe drinking water Our water does not always meet these standards. 2. The Clean Water Act (1972) was created to a. eliminate sources of water pollution b. restore water quality (which it has done!)
Water Conservation 1. Community Water Conservation a. Farmers can use irrigation techniques like trickle irrigation to save water. http://www.tricklering.com/ b. Industries can use recycled or gray water to save water. 2.Personal Conservation: How can you and I conserve water in our homes and yards?
Lesson 7 Video Clip The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water http://www.rivernetwork.org/blog/7/2010/04/12/new-surfrider-videoshows-%e2%80%98-real-story-water%e2%80%99
Yadkin Riverkeeper Website The Yadkin Riverkeeper organization is a member of the international Waterkeeper organization. This alliance includes baykeepers, deltakeepers, riverkeepers, lakekeepers, etc. http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org/content/v ideo-messages