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50 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Where is most of the world's water? |
•More than 70% of Earth's surface is covered by water - most of this is within the ocean -Ocean and seas 97.24% -Polar icecaps + glaciers 2.15% -Aquifers 0.62% -Surface water (Rivers & Lakes) 0.018% |
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Freshwater in Australia? |
•In Australia there is more freshwater below the ground's surface than above •Australia has large reserves which have built up over millions of years |
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How is an aquifer formed? |
•Water trapped between layers of impervious rock flows through porous soil, gravel or rock to form an aquifer |
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How are streams or gullies classified? |
•Streams or gullies are the smallest and least "important" type of surface waterway. They are properly termed "first-order streams" |
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How are creeks classified? |
•Creeks are "second order" streams and occur when TWO first-order streams join |
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How are rivers classified? |
•Rivers occur when TWO (or more) second-order streams join •Rivers are also called "third-order" streams (or greater) •In Australia, most of our rivers are "3.5" |
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Rivers have 3 distinct sections. What are they? |
1. Upper tract 2. Middle tract 3. Lower tract |
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Describe the upper tract. |
•Narrow and steep valley •Usually passing over HARD rocks to form waterfalls and rapids •If the water passes over SOFT rocks it forms gorges and canyons |
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Describe the middle tract. |
•Wider valley with gently sloping sides •Water volume is GREATER because smaller rivers (tributaries) join the main river •Land next to the river is often farmed being covered in alluvial soils (although they are someones rich prone to flooding) |
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Describe the lower tract. |
•Very gentle slopes which means the rivers move VERY SLOWLY here before entering the sea •Loss of energy causes the river to deposit its load and form large loops called meanders •When this area floods the whole lower valley flood plain is covered by fine silt |
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How do Australians use water? |
•More than two thirds of Australia's water is used in agriculture •Households (9%), water supply, electricity and gas, manufacturing, mining and more •Increasing population, growing urbanisation, industrial growth, agricultural development and environmental requirements are all placing demands on Australia's water supply - already disrupted by a prolonged period of drought |
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Where is Australia's water from? |
•Australia draws its water from both surface and ground water sources |
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What is the governments response to water usage? |
•One response of governments to increased demand and unreliable water supplies around Australia is to build desalination plants |
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Where are the drainage divisions in Australia? |
•24.7% Gulf of Carpentaria Division •21.5% Timor Sea Divison •19% North-East Coast Division •11.8% Tasmanian Division •10.9% South-East Coast Division •6.2% Murray Darling Division •Lake Eyre Division, South-West Coast Division, Indian Ocean Division, Western Plateau Division, South Australian Gulf and Bulloo Bancanna |
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What is algal bloom? |
A rapid growth of microscopic algae or cyanobacteria in water, often resulting in a coloured scum on the surface. |
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What is aquifer? |
A body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater. |
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What is bacteria? |
Bacteria are tiny single-cell microorganisms, usually a few micrometers in length that normally exist together in millions. |
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What is a catchment? |
An area of ground which collects water for a river drainage system |
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What is cyanobacteria? |
A division of microorganisms that are related to the bacteria but are capable of photosynthesis. |
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What is deposition? |
Deposition is the processes where material being transported by a river is deposited. Deposition occurs when a river loses energy. |
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What is desalination? |
Desalination is a process that removes minerals from saline water. More generally, desalination refers to the removal of salts and minerals from a target substance. |
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What is E. coli? |
A bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and other animals, some strains of which can cause severe food poisoning. |
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What is erosion? |
The process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents. |
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What is eutrophication? |
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to run-off from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life. |
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What is flocculation? |
The process by which fine particulates are caused to clump together into floc. The floc may then float to the top of the liquid, settle to the bottom of the liquid, or can be readily filtered from the liquid. |
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What is gastroenteritis? |
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhoea. |
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What is the hydrological cycle? |
Where water circulates between oceans, land and the atmosphere. It is driven by the processes of evaporation, condensation, transpiration, precipitation, infiltration and run-off. |
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What is impervious rock? |
Rock which will not permit oil, water, or gas to flow through it. |
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What is infiltration? |
Infiltration is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil. |
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What is interception? |
When moisture from precipitation is trapped by plants and leaves |
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What is kinetic energy? |
Kinetic energy is due to the movement of the water and is derived from it's potential energy. |
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What is mitigation? |
Mitigation is an intervention intended to reduce adverse human influence on the climate system. |
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What are oxygen-demanding wastes? |
Wastes such as algae which require large amounts of oxygen, and therefore effect ecosystems and wildlife which are depleted of oxygen. |
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What is pathogen? |
A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease. |
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What is pH? |
A figure expressing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic scale on which 7 is neutral, lower values are more acid and higher values more alkaline. |
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What is porous soil? |
A porous soil is made from coarse particles that leave large gaps known as pores. Porous soils made of coarse materials such as sand drain quickly. |
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What is reticulation? |
A network of pipes used in irrigation and water supply. |
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What is salinity? |
Salinity is the measure of all the salts dissolved in water. |
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What is sewage? |
Waste water and excrement conveyed in sewers. |
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What is transportation? |
Transportation of material in a river begins when friction is overcome. Material that has been loosened by erosion may be then transported along the river. |
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What is a water budget? |
A water budget is an accounting of all the water that flows into and out of a project area. |
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What is a water grid? |
The water grid is a network of two-way pipelines that will transport water from areas of water surplus to areas that face a shortfall. |
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What is a watershed? |
The line of separation between one river catchment and another. |
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Describe how 'a river creates its own valley.' List the key processes. |
-In the upper tract, the rive often passes over hard rock, forming rapids and waterfalls. If the landscape is soft, rivers create gorges and canyons. -In the middle tract, water volume increases as smaller rivers (tributaries) join it -In the lower tract, rivers slow down before entering the sea due to the gentle gradient of the incoming tides |
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List the main strategies used in Australia to guarantee domestic, industrial and agricultural water supply, especially as climate change is becoming more of a reality. |
- Bank restoration through tree planting -Eradication of noxious planets and weeds (Chinese elm) -Litter clean up programs (Clean up AUS Day) -Creating artificial wetlands to act as 'filters' -Improved involvement in environmental studies before projects commence |
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PUT IN CORRECT ORDER -Water is filtered through sand and gravel to clean out large particles of rubbish. -It is pumped to a storage weir ready for distribution. -Water is pumped from river. -Oxygen, which improves the taste of water, is added by running it through aeration channels (cascades) -Alum or polymers may be added to remove suspended dirt particles -Chlorine gas is pumped into the water to kill bacteria. |
-Water is pumped from river. -Oxygen, which improves the taste of water, is added by running it through aeration channels (cascades) -Alum or polymers may be added to remove suspended dirt particles -Water is filtered through sand and gravel to clean out large particles of rubbish. -Chlorine gas is pumped into the water to kill bacteria. -It is pumped to a storage weir ready for distribution. |
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What are the main issues that have adversely affected the Murray River in recent decades? |
-Excessive tree clearing -Soil erosion -Bushfires -Salinty -Eutrophication -Algal blooms -Reduced river flow -Pollution and waste disposal -Effects of introduced species such as European carp |
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5 Cons of Hydro Yangtze |
-Loss of landscape, Gorges /canyons and historic areas (Buriedancestors high up in the cliffs submerged archaeological sites) - Water increased by 50m submerging towns· (1/5 people have moved todifferent provinces (language, foods, no job, differentclimate) -1/15 in the world drink water - Linked to many cancers and health problems due topollution -Sediment (silt) cannot movedownstream through the dam wall.. agricultural land is suffering downstream ($700 million river fish industry) -70% of the river water may bedeclared unusable by 2014. Wealth and future of China aredepend on the Yangtze river |
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5 Pros of Yangtze Dam |
-24 million new jobs / year to provide employment -Modernised China "New China" with new development (buildings, roads, bridges) - River traffic is ALL year roundsince the building of the dam -Cheap, reliable electricity -New megacities (cities with>10 million) are growing at unprecedented rates. Eg. City maps need to be redrawnevery three months for Chong Qing |
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What assists rivers creating their own valleys? |
-The steepness of their sides -The number of feeder tributaries -The geology of the area -The climate of the area, particularly rainfall -The amount of human activity in the valley |
