Water Resources - AP Environmental Science
Card 1 of 400
percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water and the oceans currently contain percent of the Earth's water.
percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water and the oceans currently contain percent of the Earth's water.
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Seventy-five percent of Earth's surface is water, and the oceans contain ninety-seven percent of Earth’s water. This means that roughly three percent of the Earth's water resides in rivers, lakes, glaciers, and water vapor.
Seventy-five percent of Earth's surface is water, and the oceans contain ninety-seven percent of Earth’s water. This means that roughly three percent of the Earth's water resides in rivers, lakes, glaciers, and water vapor.
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Water is one of the most important resources necessary for sustaining life on Earth. How much of our water by volume is found in the oceans?
Water is one of the most important resources necessary for sustaining life on Earth. How much of our water by volume is found in the oceans?
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The correct response is 97%. The remaining 3% is freshwater.
The correct response is 97%. The remaining 3% is freshwater.
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Karl is a stream ecologists that researches riparian ecosystems. His research focuses on how runoff, sediments, and dissolved materials makes their way into a stream. This land area is referred to as a(n) .
Karl is a stream ecologists that researches riparian ecosystems. His research focuses on how runoff, sediments, and dissolved materials makes their way into a stream. This land area is referred to as a(n) .
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The correct response is drainage basin. This term refers to the entire landscape and how water and sediment moves from the terrestrial into the riparian zone.
The correct response is drainage basin. This term refers to the entire landscape and how water and sediment moves from the terrestrial into the riparian zone.
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Which of the following irrigation methods is most efficient in terms of maximizing water absorbed by plants and minimizing water lost to the system?
Which of the following irrigation methods is most efficient in terms of maximizing water absorbed by plants and minimizing water lost to the system?
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In hydroponics, plants are grown in nutrient-rich water and there is no soil involved in the process. Some water is lost through evaporation, but since it is a closed system, very little water is lost.
In hydroponics, plants are grown in nutrient-rich water and there is no soil involved in the process. Some water is lost through evaporation, but since it is a closed system, very little water is lost.
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Which of the following household activities consumes the most water?
Which of the following household activities consumes the most water?
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Flushing the toilet is the largest contributor to household water consumption, averaging about three gallons of water per flush.
Flushing the toilet is the largest contributor to household water consumption, averaging about three gallons of water per flush.
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What percent of the Earth's water is readily available for drinking and agriculture?
What percent of the Earth's water is readily available for drinking and agriculture?
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97% of the Earth's water is saltwater and unusable for drinking or farming. of the 3% that is actually freshwater, 2% is frozen in glaciers, leaving humans with 1% of all water on earth to use for farming.
97% of the Earth's water is saltwater and unusable for drinking or farming. of the 3% that is actually freshwater, 2% is frozen in glaciers, leaving humans with 1% of all water on earth to use for farming.
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All of the following characteristics apply to the riparian zone except .
All of the following characteristics apply to the riparian zone except .
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Shade provided by the riparian zone is crucial to stream temperature regulation.
The riparian zone is the edge of a river or stream, therefore it has high biodiversity due to edge effects. Biofilters in the riparian zone protect the aquatic environment it surrounds. Also, because the riparian zone spans distances of an aquatic environment's edge, it serves as a corridor for wildlife.
Shade provided by the riparian zone is crucial to stream temperature regulation.
The riparian zone is the edge of a river or stream, therefore it has high biodiversity due to edge effects. Biofilters in the riparian zone protect the aquatic environment it surrounds. Also, because the riparian zone spans distances of an aquatic environment's edge, it serves as a corridor for wildlife.
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The Great Lakes of North America represent the largest source of freshwater on the planet. Approximately how many years ago did the Great Lakes form?
The Great Lakes of North America represent the largest source of freshwater on the planet. Approximately how many years ago did the Great Lakes form?
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The correct response was 10,000 years ago. The Great Lakes formed during glacial recession of the most recent glaciation. This most recent glacial recession occurred between 10-15 thousands years ago. As the glaciers receded northward across North America, melting glacial waters drained and formed what is now known as the Great Lakes.
The correct response was 10,000 years ago. The Great Lakes formed during glacial recession of the most recent glaciation. This most recent glacial recession occurred between 10-15 thousands years ago. As the glaciers receded northward across North America, melting glacial waters drained and formed what is now known as the Great Lakes.
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Freshwater is a necessary resource for human survival. Approximately what percent of the Earth's water supply is found in freshwater resources that are groundwater deposits (i.e. rivers, lakes, and streams)?
Freshwater is a necessary resource for human survival. Approximately what percent of the Earth's water supply is found in freshwater resources that are groundwater deposits (i.e. rivers, lakes, and streams)?
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The correct response is 0.02%. The rest of the water resources are either too salty, too deep, or too cold in frozen icecaps.
The correct response is 0.02%. The rest of the water resources are either too salty, too deep, or too cold in frozen icecaps.
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About 2% of the Earth's water supply is suitable for human and plant consumption. 98% of Earth's water is found in the oceans and is too salty for human or plant consumption.
Where is a majority of Earth's fresh water found?
About 2% of the Earth's water supply is suitable for human and plant consumption. 98% of Earth's water is found in the oceans and is too salty for human or plant consumption.
Where is a majority of Earth's fresh water found?
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Lakes, streams, rivers and ground water account for about a half a percent of the fresh water found on Earth.
Lakes, streams, rivers and ground water account for about a half a percent of the fresh water found on Earth.
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Approximately what percentage of people in the United States rely on groundwater for their water supplies?
Approximately what percentage of people in the United States rely on groundwater for their water supplies?
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It is estimated that roughly 50% of individuals in the United States rely on groundwater for their water supplies. In some countries this percentage approaches 100%.
It is estimated that roughly 50% of individuals in the United States rely on groundwater for their water supplies. In some countries this percentage approaches 100%.
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What percent of the world's fresh water use is for agriculture?
What percent of the world's fresh water use is for agriculture?
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Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of the usable fresh water on earth, using up roughly 70% of water consumed by humans.
Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of the usable fresh water on earth, using up roughly 70% of water consumed by humans.
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What is the region where water collects and drains within the landscape?
What is the region where water collects and drains within the landscape?
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The correct response is watershed. A watershed is the drainage basin for a particular region. It’s where water collects or drains. It's functions like a funnel. The other answer choices deal with different aspects of water. Estuaries are transition zones between marine and freshwater systems. Deltas are also transition zones where a river dumps sediment into a body of water. And groundwater is not specific to a region - it's just water that is found underneath the soil surface.
The correct response is watershed. A watershed is the drainage basin for a particular region. It’s where water collects or drains. It's functions like a funnel. The other answer choices deal with different aspects of water. Estuaries are transition zones between marine and freshwater systems. Deltas are also transition zones where a river dumps sediment into a body of water. And groundwater is not specific to a region - it's just water that is found underneath the soil surface.
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Many rivers along the coast will move water from the terrestrial ecosystem into the oceans. What is the region where the river meets the ocean?
Many rivers along the coast will move water from the terrestrial ecosystem into the oceans. What is the region where the river meets the ocean?
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The correct response is delta. This is the region where a river meets another body of water. It is a transition zone. Important ecological and biological processes occur in delta regions. One good example of a delta is the Nile Delta where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea.
The correct response is delta. This is the region where a river meets another body of water. It is a transition zone. Important ecological and biological processes occur in delta regions. One good example of a delta is the Nile Delta where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea.
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Curtis owns a cottage on a freshwater lake in the Upper Peninsula. When he goes swimming in the lake, he sticks close to the shallow waters along the shore. In which layer of the lake is Curtis swimming?
Curtis owns a cottage on a freshwater lake in the Upper Peninsula. When he goes swimming in the lake, he sticks close to the shallow waters along the shore. In which layer of the lake is Curtis swimming?
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The correct response is littoral. The littoral layer is the layer in a freshwater lake along the shoreline with shallow water. The limnetic layer represent "open water", so this layer is off the coastline and in the middle of the freshwater lake. The benthic layer is along the bottom of the lake (i.e. benthic = bottom). And the profundal layer is the layer at the bottom of deep lakes where the light can't reach the bottom.
The correct response is littoral. The littoral layer is the layer in a freshwater lake along the shoreline with shallow water. The limnetic layer represent "open water", so this layer is off the coastline and in the middle of the freshwater lake. The benthic layer is along the bottom of the lake (i.e. benthic = bottom). And the profundal layer is the layer at the bottom of deep lakes where the light can't reach the bottom.
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Why do storms in the Southern hemisphere swirl clockwise, while storms in the Northern hemisphere swirl counterclockwise?
Why do storms in the Southern hemisphere swirl clockwise, while storms in the Northern hemisphere swirl counterclockwise?
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Physics describes the Coriolis effect as "the deflection of a moving object due to a rotating reference frame." When the motion is clockwise, the deflection is to the left. When motion is counterclockwise, the deflection is to the right. Put into context: Earth's major wind patterns dictate ocean currents (the object) for the most part—however, the rotation of the Earth deflects surface currents at an angle of about 45 degrees to the wind. The result is a rightward deflection in the Northern hemisphere, and a leftward deflection in the Southern hemisphere.
Eckman transport is the change in wind direction correlating to altitude due to the varying effect of surface friction. Thermohaline circulation is the pattern by which the density of water increases as it becomes colder and saltier; thus it sinks at high latitudes and is replaced by warmer water from the tropics flowing north. This is a key mechanism that regulates Earth's climate. While different hemispheres experience different amounts of heat/light, this is not the reason for the phenomenon described in the question. Finally, ocean currents do not have the ability to dictate storm currents.
Physics describes the Coriolis effect as "the deflection of a moving object due to a rotating reference frame." When the motion is clockwise, the deflection is to the left. When motion is counterclockwise, the deflection is to the right. Put into context: Earth's major wind patterns dictate ocean currents (the object) for the most part—however, the rotation of the Earth deflects surface currents at an angle of about 45 degrees to the wind. The result is a rightward deflection in the Northern hemisphere, and a leftward deflection in the Southern hemisphere.
Eckman transport is the change in wind direction correlating to altitude due to the varying effect of surface friction. Thermohaline circulation is the pattern by which the density of water increases as it becomes colder and saltier; thus it sinks at high latitudes and is replaced by warmer water from the tropics flowing north. This is a key mechanism that regulates Earth's climate. While different hemispheres experience different amounts of heat/light, this is not the reason for the phenomenon described in the question. Finally, ocean currents do not have the ability to dictate storm currents.
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The Coriolis effect causes currents along the east coast of the United States to move near Florida and near Maine.
The Coriolis effect causes currents along the east coast of the United States to move near Florida and near Maine.
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The Coriolis effect, caused by the rotation of the earth, results in clockwise currents in the northern hemisphere and counter-clockwise currents in the southern hemisphere.
The Coriolis effect, caused by the rotation of the earth, results in clockwise currents in the northern hemisphere and counter-clockwise currents in the southern hemisphere.
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Which of the following pairs of adjectives best describes waters brought to the surface by way of upwelling?
Which of the following pairs of adjectives best describes waters brought to the surface by way of upwelling?
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The process of upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface that replace warm, nutrient-depleted waters.
The process of upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface that replace warm, nutrient-depleted waters.
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What is the shallowest ocean zone, ending at the high water mark?
What is the shallowest ocean zone, ending at the high water mark?
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The littoral zone includes the intertidal zone. Outward from shore, the zones are littoral, neritic, pelagic. The benthic zone includes the ocean floor.
The littoral zone includes the intertidal zone. Outward from shore, the zones are littoral, neritic, pelagic. The benthic zone includes the ocean floor.
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Open ocean is referred to as which zone?
Open ocean is referred to as which zone?
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The pelagic zone extends neither to the sea bed nor the shore - it is open ocean. The littoral zone includes the shore and the benthic zone includes the ocean floor. The profundal zone is only present in inland bodies of water, and begins below the limit of light penetration.
The pelagic zone extends neither to the sea bed nor the shore - it is open ocean. The littoral zone includes the shore and the benthic zone includes the ocean floor. The profundal zone is only present in inland bodies of water, and begins below the limit of light penetration.
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