NAME: Abby Telenko

Module 10 Study Guide

Please answer these questions as you view the PowerPoint.
1.

Briefly explain the water cycle, using and defining the terms condensation,
precipitation, and evapotranspiration. (Write a 4-5 sentence paragraph for this
answer.)

First condensation occurs which is the change of state from a gas to a

liquid. The water vapor rises in the atmosphere and it expands and cools.
As the vapor becomes cooler; some of it condenses, or changes into tiny
liquid water droplets, and forms clouds. And sometimes it rains, which is
another way of saying precipitation is occurring. But none of this could
happen unless evapotranspiration occurred. Which is the total loss of
water from an area which equals the sum of water lost by evaporation from
the soil and other surfaces and the water lost by transpiration from
organisms.
What is the difference between evaporation and transpiration?
Evaporation is from soil and other surfaces while transpiration is the
process by which plants and animals release water vapor into the
atmosphere
2.

Why is the Earths water balance balanced?

Because the amount of precipitation is equal to the amount of evaporation
and runoff
3.

4.

Although desalination is a method of making more freshwater, it is costly and

impractical. What two things do scientists think we should do instead to
ensure enough fresh water is available in the future?
Conservation or the wise use of water resources
Protect the water supply is to find alternative methods of
obtaining fresh water

5.

If an aquifer has high porosity, it will have (high/low) permeability. [highlight

correct answer]

Which zone of an aquifer is deepest?

Zone of saturation
6.

7.

Water passes (slowly/quickly) through rock that is highly permeable. As the

water tables gradient increases, the velocity of the water that runs through
the aquifer (increases/decreases).

Sometimes an ordinary well will run dry and not have groundwater flow freely
into it. Why does this happen?
If the rock is not permeable enough, groundwater cannot flow into the well
quickly enough to replace the water that is withdrawn
8.

Why will water quickly flow through an artesian well?

When cracks occur naturally in the caprock, water from the aquifer flows
through the cracks.
9.

What is the difference between a hot spring and a geyser?

Hot springs are formed when groundwater is heated when it passes
through rock that has been heated by magma. While geysers are formed
when hot springs periodically erupt from surface pools or through small
vents.
10.

From the USGS Water website (http://water.usgs.gov/), What is an aquifer?

The saturated zone beneath the water table

11.

From the USGS Water website, how do pesticides contaminate ground

water?
Pesticides can reach water-bearing aquifers below ground from
applications onto crop fields, seepage of contaminated surface water,
accidental spills and leaks, improper disposal, and even through injection
waste material into wells.
13. From the USGS Water website (search for nitrogen on the USGS website is
the quickest way to find this), what are two ways that nitrogen is introduced
into our water supply?
Nitrate can get into water directly as the result of fertilizers containing
nitrate. Nitrate can also be formed in water bodies through the oxidation of
other forms of nitrogen.
14. From the USGS Water website: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/mqanda.html
Why does my drinking water look cloudy sometimes?
This usually happens when it is very cold outside because the
solubility of air in water increases as water pressure increases
and/or water temperature decreases.
12.

15.

From the USGS Water website above: What is naturally in the water?
23% is groundwater, and 77% is surface water

16.

From the USGS Water website above: How is water quality measured?
Collects water samples from groundwater and surface-water
bodies
Making measurements of water properties, such as pH and
temperature
Measuring stream flows and the amount of water in wells
Analyzing water samples in the field and in laboratories

17.

Compiling data from many sources about how much water is

used for different purposes
Writing reports about our water resources
Creating many computerized water data bases
Producing maps, reports, and Wed sites to give the public and
others information about our water resources
Keeping the U.S. Congress and the President informed about
water-resource issues

Summarize what you learned from reading Protect our Rivers on this
website: http://environmentamerica.org/programs/ame/protect-americaswaters
Polluters are obviously polluting our rivers and streams, and we cant
let that happen. So farmers to scientists, from local officials to ordinary
families have taken a stand to save our rivers and streams. So now our
citizens are going door to door educating people about what is at stake.
So now, they are trying to drown out the opposition and convince
President Obama and the EPA to finalize a rule and protect our waters.

Summarize what you learned from reading Preserve the Outer Banks on
this website.: http://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org/programs/nce/saveouter-banks
The Outer Banks is an amazing tourist attraction that has many beauties to
it, drawing more than 7 million visitors every year. But apparently oil
companies dont see the Outer Banks for its beauties, but saw the beach as
a money maker. Oil companies want to drill into the beaches to find oil for
their companies. In June 2011, at the urging of Environment North Carolina
and allied groups across the state, then-Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the prodrilling Senate Bill 709. But oil companies were not going to have it, so
after repeatedly failing to garner enough votes to override the veto,
legislative leaders finally let their drill bill languish- for now.
18.

19.

.Summarize what you learned from reading Dont Frack NC on this website:
http://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org/programs/nce/dont-frack-nc

Fracking is something that many people struggle with. First, from start to
finish, fracking would threaten our waters by releasing chemicals into our
drinking water. In just North Carolina, the drinking water for at least 2.4

million people, including more than 400,000 well-users, is at stake. A

moratorium on drilling still protects North Carolinas water from fracking.
Lawmakers and gas companies have vowed to keep pushing to lift it.
Gladly, there are people who know what is right for the environment. They
are asking for your help to stop the oil companies from destroying our
environment.