E Science[1]

Environmental Resources Unit A

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Problem Area 3

WaterWater

Understanding the Water Cycle and Its Importance to the

Environment

Lesson 1Lesson 1

Answer the following questions.

When was the last time you took When was the last time you took a drink of water?a drink of water?

Where did you take this drink?Where did you take this drink? Where do think the water came Where do think the water came

from?from? Where do you belong in the Where do you belong in the

water cycle?water cycle?

Learning Objectives

Describe the water cycle.Describe the water cycle. Describe the physical and Describe the physical and

chemical makeup of water.chemical makeup of water. Identify bodies of flowing water.Identify bodies of flowing water. Identify bodies of non-flowing Identify bodies of non-flowing

water.water.

Terms

Brackish waterBrackish water BrookBrook CanalCanal CatchmentCatchment ChannelChannel CreekCreek CurrentCurrent DesalinationDesalination

DistillationDistillation Drainage divideDrainage divide EstuaryEstuary EvaporationEvaporation Flood plainFlood plain FreshwaterFreshwater LakesLakes MarshesMarshes

Terms OceansOceans PondsPonds PrecipitationPrecipitation ReservoirsReservoirs RiverRiver Saline waterSaline water SaltwaterSaltwater SloughsSloughs

StreamStream Stream banksStream banks Stream bedStream bed Stream Stream

hydrologyhydrology StreamflowStreamflow TranspirationTranspiration Water cycleWater cycle

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of The continuous movement of water from the earth to the water from the earth to the atmosphere and back to the atmosphere and back to the earth.earth.

The sun provides the energy for The sun provides the energy for the water cycle, also known as the water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle.the hydrologic cycle.

The water cycle occurs in four The water cycle occurs in four overlapping spheres.overlapping spheres.

Water Cycle

Water Cycle Spheres

HydrosphereHydrosphere AtmosphereAtmosphere BiosphereBiosphere LithosphereLithosphere

Hydrosphere

Water moves from the earth to the Water moves from the earth to the atmosphere through the processes atmosphere through the processes of evaporation and transpiration. of evaporation and transpiration.

Evaporation is the transformation of Evaporation is the transformation of water from its liquid form to its water from its liquid form to its gaseous form as a result of coming gaseous form as a result of coming in contact with heat or the air.in contact with heat or the air.

Transpiration is the process of Transpiration is the process of plants releasing water through their plants releasing water through their leaves is called.leaves is called.

Atmosphere

Air that holds moisture until it Air that holds moisture until it falls as precipitation.falls as precipitation.

Precipitation is the moisture Precipitation is the moisture from the atmosphere that is from the atmosphere that is returned to the earth in the form returned to the earth in the form of snow or rain.of snow or rain.

Biosphere

Includes all plant and animal life Includes all plant and animal life which are consumers of water.which are consumers of water.

Lithosphere

Land where water falls as Land where water falls as precipitation.precipitation.

Physical and Chemical Makeup of Water

Water, in its purest form, is Water, in its purest form, is tasteless, odorless, and tasteless, odorless, and colorless. colorless.

It is a chemical compound made It is a chemical compound made up of two atoms of hydrogen up of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. and one atom of oxygen.

Its chemical symbol is HIts chemical symbol is H22O.O.

Physical States of Water

Solid form of water is called ice.Solid form of water is called ice. Water freezes at 32F or 0C.Water freezes at 32F or 0C. Gaseous form of water is called Gaseous form of water is called

water vapor or steam. water vapor or steam. When water boils it turns into water When water boils it turns into water

vapor or steam. Water boils at vapor or steam. Water boils at 212°F or 100°C.212°F or 100°C.

In between the gaseous and solid In between the gaseous and solid form, water is in its liquid form.form, water is in its liquid form.

Chemical Make-up of Water

Water that contains salt is called Water that contains salt is called saline water.saline water. Sodium chloride, potassium, and Sodium chloride, potassium, and

magnesium can raise the level of salts magnesium can raise the level of salts in the water. in the water.

The amount of salt in the water will The amount of salt in the water will determine its usefulness. determine its usefulness.

Water that is too high in salt cannot be Water that is too high in salt cannot be used for drinking or irrigation.used for drinking or irrigation.

Categories of Saline Water

FreshwaterFreshwater SaltwaterSaltwater Brackish waterBrackish water

Freshwater

Water with less than 3.0 parts Water with less than 3.0 parts per thousand (ppt) of salt.per thousand (ppt) of salt.

Most commonly found in drilled Most commonly found in drilled wells, streams, and lakes. wells, streams, and lakes.

Only 3 percent of the water on Only 3 percent of the water on the earth is considered the earth is considered freshwater, of this 3 percent only freshwater, of this 3 percent only 1 percent is available for use.1 percent is available for use.

Saltwater

Water with 16.5 ppt or more of Water with 16.5 ppt or more of salt.salt.

Some ocean and sea water is Some ocean and sea water is as high as 33 to 37 ppt. as high as 33 to 37 ppt.

Saltwater makes up about 97 Saltwater makes up about 97 percent of the earth’s water.percent of the earth’s water.

Brackish Water

A mixture of saltwater and A mixture of saltwater and freshwater.freshwater.

Brackish water is found where Brackish water is found where freshwater flows into the ocean freshwater flows into the ocean or other bodies of saltwater. or other bodies of saltwater.

An estuary is the area where a An estuary is the area where a freshwater stream flows into the freshwater stream flows into the ocean or a saltwater lake.ocean or a saltwater lake.

Usable Water

Two main ways that salt water Two main ways that salt water and contaminated water can be and contaminated water can be turned into usable water: turned into usable water: distillation and desalination. distillation and desalination.

Usable Water

Distillation is the boiling of water Distillation is the boiling of water and collection of its vapor. and collection of its vapor.

The vapor then turns into liquid The vapor then turns into liquid when cooled. when cooled.

The liquid is pure at this point. The liquid is pure at this point.

Usable Water

Desalination is the removal of Desalination is the removal of salt from water. salt from water.

It involves the process of It involves the process of distillation but is not economical distillation but is not economical on a large scale.on a large scale.

Flowing Bodies of Water

One of the most important parts One of the most important parts of the water cycle is the stream.of the water cycle is the stream.

Streams are flowing bodies of Streams are flowing bodies of water that are useful resources water that are useful resources for irrigation, factories, and local for irrigation, factories, and local water systems.water systems.

Food Web in Streams

Most streams Most streams are freshwater are freshwater and they can and they can flow through a flow through a natural or natural or man-made man-made channel.channel.

Types of Streams

Stream type is determined by Stream type is determined by the volume and velocity of the the volume and velocity of the movement of water, or movement of water, or streamflow. streamflow.

The four types of streams are The four types of streams are rivers, creeks, brooks, and rivers, creeks, brooks, and canals.canals.

Cross Section of a Stream

The rate of flow The rate of flow in a stream is in a stream is called a current.called a current.

River

The largest stream. The largest stream. Have high streamflows.Have high streamflows.

Creek

A stream that is smaller than a A stream that is smaller than a river. river.

Often flow into rivers, lakes, and Often flow into rivers, lakes, and oceans.oceans.

Brook

A small stream. A small stream. Often flow into creeks, rivers, Often flow into creeks, rivers,

lakes, and oceans.lakes, and oceans.

Canal

An artificial waterway built for An artificial waterway built for transportation, to relieve transportation, to relieve flooding, or to divert the flow of flooding, or to divert the flow of water.water.

Stream Hydrology

The study of flowing water and The study of flowing water and its environment.its environment.

The physical, chemical, and The physical, chemical, and biological properties of the water biological properties of the water and the surrounding and the surrounding environment are tested. environment are tested.

The ecosystems, including food The ecosystems, including food webs, are studied.webs, are studied.

Stream Ecosystems

Many ecosystems can be found Many ecosystems can be found in streams. in streams.

Species within the streams Species within the streams survive on nutrients that are survive on nutrients that are provided by the areas provided by the areas surrounding the stream.surrounding the stream.These nutrients move with the These nutrients move with the

flow of the stream.flow of the stream.

Stream Structure

Determines how water moves Determines how water moves within the stream and through within the stream and through the earth. the earth.

A stream is an important part of A stream is an important part of watershed or catchment. watershed or catchment.

The edge of a watershed is The edge of a watershed is known as a drainage divide.known as a drainage divide.

Stream Structure

The area through which water The area through which water flows in a stream is called a flows in a stream is called a channel. channel. A channel is usually formed with A channel is usually formed with

rock or soil and it is the sides and rock or soil and it is the sides and bottom of the stream. bottom of the stream.

The bottom of the channel is The bottom of the channel is called the stream bed, the sides called the stream bed, the sides are called the stream banks. are called the stream banks.

Stream Structure

When a channel is not large When a channel is not large enough to hold the flow of water enough to hold the flow of water the area that overflows is called the area that overflows is called a flood plain.a flood plain.

Non-Flowing Bodies

These bodies may be natural or These bodies may be natural or artificial. artificial.

Non-flowing bodies of water Non-flowing bodies of water influence the weather and influence the weather and climate of an area. climate of an area. Commerce, food supply, and Commerce, food supply, and

recreational activities can also be recreational activities can also be influenced by the non-flowing influenced by the non-flowing bodies of water in an area.bodies of water in an area.

Non-Flowing Bodies

Bodies of water that do not flow Bodies of water that do not flow still have water movement. still have water movement.

The internal movement is The internal movement is caused by temperature changes caused by temperature changes and salinity.and salinity.

Types of Non-Flowing Bodies

Seven types of non-flowing Seven types of non-flowing bodies of water are oceans, bodies of water are oceans, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, sloughs, marshes, and sloughs, marshes, and estuaries.estuaries.

As in flowing streams, non-As in flowing streams, non-flowing bodies of water may flowing bodies of water may contain a variety of ecosystems.contain a variety of ecosystems.

Types of Non-Flowing Bodies

The ecosystems at the bottom The ecosystems at the bottom of the body of water will vary of the body of water will vary from those at the top. from those at the top. This is due to the varying water This is due to the varying water

temperature, salinity, and other temperature, salinity, and other characteristics.characteristics.

Oceans

Large bodies of saltwater. Large bodies of saltwater. Cover almost 75 percent of the Cover almost 75 percent of the

surface of the earth.surface of the earth.

Lakes

Bodies of freshwater that are Bodies of freshwater that are surrounded by land. surrounded by land.

Vary in size, some are natural Vary in size, some are natural and others are man-made.and others are man-made.

Ponds

Non-flowing bodies of water that Non-flowing bodies of water that are smaller than lakes. are smaller than lakes.

Commonly manmade and used Commonly manmade and used as a source of recreation or for as a source of recreation or for use by livestock.use by livestock.

Reservoirs

Large bodies of stored water. Large bodies of stored water. Commonly used to generate Commonly used to generate

electric power.electric power.

Sloughs

Thick, muddy areas of shallow Thick, muddy areas of shallow water.water.

Marshes

Areas of land covered with Areas of land covered with shallow water and plants such shallow water and plants such as cattails.as cattails.

Do not contain trees and are Do not contain trees and are similar in nature to sloughs.similar in nature to sloughs.

Estuaries

Areas where freshwater streams Areas where freshwater streams flow into the ocean or a flow into the ocean or a saltwater lake.saltwater lake.

Review / Summary

Describe the water cycle.Describe the water cycle. Describe the physical and Describe the physical and

chemical makeup of water.chemical makeup of water. Identify bodies of flowing water.Identify bodies of flowing water. Identify bodies of non-flowing Identify bodies of non-flowing

water.water.