All Flashcards
Cause: Deforestation. Effect?
Increased runoff, soil erosion, and flooding due to reduced transpiration and water uptake.
Cause: Climate change. Effect?
Altered precipitation patterns, increased evaporation rates, and more extreme weather events, impacting water availability.
Cause: Urbanization. Effect?
Increased runoff due to impermeable surfaces, leading to potential flooding and reduced groundwater recharge.
Cause: Agricultural irrigation. Effect?
Increased water demand, potentially leading to water scarcity and depletion of groundwater resources.
Cause: Dam construction. Effect?
Altered river flow, habitat disruption, and potential changes in water temperature and nutrient transport.
Cause: Increased air pollution. Effect?
Acid rain, which can acidify water bodies and harm aquatic life.
Cause: Overuse of fertilizers. Effect?
Eutrophication of water bodies, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
Cause: Increased global temperatures. Effect?
Melting of glaciers and ice caps, contributing to sea-level rise and changes in freshwater availability.
Cause: Reduced forest cover. Effect?
Decreased carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change and further disruptions to the water cycle.
Cause: Increased water consumption. Effect?
Depletion of water resources, leading to water scarcity and potential conflicts over water rights.
Define hydrologic cycle.
The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.
What is evapotranspiration?
The combined processes of evaporation and transpiration, representing total water vapor entering the atmosphere.
Define evaporation.
The process where liquid water turns into water vapor due to heat.
What is transpiration?
The process where plants release water vapor through their leaves.
Define precipitation.
Water falling from the atmosphere in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
What is surface runoff?
Water flowing over the land's surface into bodies of water.
Define percolation.
The process of water being absorbed into the ground and becoming groundwater.
What is plant uptake?
The absorption of water by plants through their roots.
Define groundwater.
Water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock.
What are the effects of deforestation on flooding?
Deforestation increases flooding due to reduced transpiration and increased runoff.
How does urbanization cause increased runoff?
Urbanization creates more impervious surfaces, preventing water from soaking into the ground and increasing runoff.
What is the impact of climate change on water availability?
Climate change can lead to altered precipitation patterns, causing droughts in some areas and floods in others.
What is the effect of dams on downstream ecosystems?
Dams alter water flow, sediment transport, and nutrient distribution, impacting downstream habitats and species.
How does agricultural irrigation affect water resources?
Agricultural irrigation increases water demand and can deplete groundwater resources, leading to water scarcity.
What are the consequences of soil erosion on water quality?
Soil erosion leads to sedimentation of waterways, reducing water clarity and harming aquatic life.
How does pollution affect the water cycle?
Pollution contaminates water sources, reducing the availability of clean water and harming ecosystems.
What is the impact of reduced transpiration on local climate?
Reduced transpiration can lead to decreased humidity and increased local temperatures.
How does over-extraction of groundwater affect land subsidence?
Over-extraction of groundwater can cause the ground to compact, leading to land subsidence and sinkholes.
What are the effects of increased surface runoff on water pollution?
Increased surface runoff carries pollutants into waterways, degrading water quality and harming aquatic ecosystems.