Introduction to Hydrology Freshwater

The Chemical Properties of H2O Hydrogen end of molecule has (+) charge Oxygen end has a (-) charge Water is polar

Atomic Structure of H2O

Phase Change When water makes a physical phase change its molecules arrange themselves in distinctly different patterns.

                                                                                           

The Hydrologic Cycle

Steps in the Water Cycle Evaporation Condensation Precipitation Percolation: Movement of water through pores in soil Infiltration: Downward movement of H2O in the ground due to gravity.

                                                                                           

Usable Freshwater Surface Water 97% of water on Earth is unsafe to drink. Freshwater = 3%. 20% of all freshwater is in one lake, Lake Baikal in Asia. Another 20% is stored in the Great Lakes

Ground Water Water stored in the ground = aquifer. Most groundwater comes from precipitation that infiltrates downward. Takes long periods of time to restock water supply.

Icecaps, Glaciers, and inland Seas Glaciers and ice caps are small % of all water on the Earth, but large % of the world's total freshwater. Almost 90 percent, of Earth's ice mass is in Antarctica. Greenland ice cap = 10% of total global ice.