Watersheds
Grace Taylor
6 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers watersheds, including their definition, components like headwaters and sub-watersheds, key characteristics (size, length, slope, soil type, vegetation), and how these characteristics impact water flow and quality. It also emphasizes the effects of human activities (deforestation, urbanization, pollution) on watersheds and provides practice questions covering multiple-choice and free-response formats. Key exam tips for time management and avoiding common pitfalls are also included.
#AP Environmental Science: Watersheds - Your Ultimate Study Guide
Hey there, future AP Environmental Science rockstar! Let's dive into watersheds, those awesome natural systems that shape our landscapes and water resources. This guide is designed to help you ace the exam, with clear explanations, memory aids, and practice questions. Let's get started!
#What is a Watershed?
A watershed is like a giant funnel 🏞️, collecting all the water from an area and channeling it to a single outlet, like a river, lake, or ocean. Think of it as the land area that drains into a specific body of water. It's all about how water moves across the land!
- Headwaters: These are the starting points of a watershed, often found in the highest elevations, like mountains or ridges. This is where the water begins its journey.
- Sub-watersheds: As water flows, it can branch into smaller streams and rivers, creating sub-watersheds. But remember, all of this water eventually flows to the same main discharge point.
#Characteristics of a Watershed
Understanding the characteristics of a watershed is key to understanding how it functions. These factors influence everything from water flow to ecosystem health.
#Size (Area)
- The size of a watershed determines how much water it can collect and store. A larger watershed generally means more runoff and a greater volume of water discharged into the main body of water.
- It also influences the type of water body formed (e.g., a small stream vs. a ...
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