Download Fluid Earth Study Guide Key

Fluid Earth Study Guide Key
Please complete the following study guide in preparation for your test on the
Fluid Earth. This review is designed to help your understanding of the concepts.
These questions on the study guide will not appear on your test.
Hydrogeology
1) Based on the graph above, complete the following map.
Total global water
Oceans/Saline water
Fresh water
Glaciers/ice caps
Groundwater
Surface water
Rivers
Ice and snow
soil moisture
Lakes
swamps
2) Define residence time as it relates to the hydrological cycle.
Residence time is the amount of time a water molecule stays in a particular reservoir.
3) Order the following reservoirs by residence time: longest to shortest.
Soil moisture, oceans, shallow groundwater, rivers, glaciers, deep groundwater, lakes
Deep groundwater, oceans, shallow groundwater, lakes, glaciers, rivers, soil moisture
4) Name ways in which groundwater might be protected from pollution due to human activity.
Label areas leading to recharge zones so no dumping occurs.
Reduce use of fertilizers and pesticides that may soak into soil.
Maintenance of underground storage tanks to prevent leaking.
5) Define sustainability.
The ability to continue a defined behavior (use of aquifers) indefinitely.
6) What might affect the sustainability of the aquifers in North America?
Widespread over pumping; drought; contamination
7) What is a buffer strip and how does it prevent contamination of streams adjacent to agricultural
areas?
Buffer strips are strips of land with permanent vegetation located on the banks of rivers, streams or
lakes. They are designed to intercept storm water runoff and minimize soil erosion. This reduces the
amount of sediment and pollutants that gets carried into the reservoir.
8) Use the table above to calculate the percentage of groundwater usage for each category. Round
to the nearest ones place, do not use decimals.
a. Domestic - ____33____%
b. Commercial - __10_____%
c. Industrial- _____36____%
d. Agricultural - ___18______ %
Oceans and Climate
1) How do oceans and large lakes have an effect on climate and weather?
Oceans and large lakes are a large source of heat and moisture for the atmosphere.
2) Explain how latitude affects the amount of energy an area receives and the climate.
The latitude determines the angle at which the sun’s rays hit the Earth. At the equator, the
sun’s rays hit Earth at a 90° angle. As latitude increases, the angle of the sun’s rays decrease.
Use the figure above to answer questions 3-6.
3) How much solar radiation is absorbed by water and land?
51%
4) How much solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere?
19%
5) How much solar radiation is reflected back into space?
30%
6) What is the total amount of solar energy that is absorbed?
70%
7) Define climate and the factors used to identify climate.
Climate is the weather conditions for an area over a long period of time. Temperature and
precipitation are factors used to identify climate.
8) Why do average land and water temperatures at the same latitude vary?
Land absorbs energy more quickly than water does, but releases the energy faster. Water absorbs
the energy more slowly, but retains it longer.
9) Name the two factors that impact ocean water temperature.
a. The amount of solar energy received
b. The water’s movement
10) Describe how temperature and salinity affect the density of water.
Cold water is denser than warm water. Consequently if cold water is warmed, its density will
decrease.
The higher the salinity of water, the higher its density.
11) Name the factors that drive the movement of surface currents.
a. wind energy
b. deflection of continents
c. Coriolis effect
12) Describe what drives the movement of deep ocean currents.
Differences in water density drive the movement of deep ocean currents.
13) Using figure A (below), describe what happens to ocean water as it reaches the poles in the
North Atlantic.
The salinity of the water increases, and the water temperature decreases.
14) Using figure A (below), describe what happens to ocean water as it reaches the Indian and
Pacific Oceans.
The deep ocean water returns to the surface through upwelling.
Figure A
15) Explain why coastal cities have more moderate temperature than inland cities at the same
latitude?
The temperature of the water influences the temperature of the atmosphere over the water
and thus, the coastal areas.
16) Do coastal cities experience a greater amount of precipitation than inland cities at the same
latitude? Why or why not?
Yes, evaporation of water from the ocean provides more moisture in the air over coastal cities.
17) Why does water at the poles have higher salinity than equatorial waters?
As the water temperature decreases at the poles, the water freezes, leaving behind the salt
creating a higher level of salinity in the remaining ocean water.
Severe weather
1) Complete the table below to describe the type of weather associated with each air mass (cold,
warm, moist, dry or any combination of these terms).
1) Describe the air masses that form the following severe weather events.
a. Tornado- Continental polar air mass converging with maritime tropical air mass.
b. Hurricane- Maritime tropical
c. Blizzard- Continental Polar and/or Maritime Polar
2) Name three direct methods of flood control.
a. Building of dam
b. Building of levees
c. Construction of flood overflow channels to redirect water.
3) Name and describe the three stages in the life of a thunderstorm.
Stage 1- Developing or cumulus stage: Warm air rises forming cumulus cloud. Little or no rain.
Stage 2- Mature stage- Heavy rain, lightning, dark cumulus clouds, possible tornadoes.
Stage 3- Dissipating stage- strong downdrafts stop air currents from rising and the supply of
water vapor decreases.
4) Define advective cooling- The process by which the temperature of an air mass decreases as
the air mass moves over a cold surface, such as a cold ocean or land surface.
5) Define adiabatic cooling- The process by which the temperature of a mass of air decreases as
the air rises and expands
6) Describe how advective cooling and adiabatic cooling are different.
Advective cooling is determined by the temperature of the water or land that the air mass is moving
over and adiabatic cooling only involves the air rising and expanding. Adiabatic cooling does not involve
movement over a colder area of water or land.