1. Section 1: Water Resources

2. HYDROSPHERE Includes all of the water on or near the Earth’s surface
Oceans, lakes, rivers, wetlands, polar icecaps, soil, rock layers beneath Earth’s surface, clouds, etc.

3. Natural Resources Classified as renewable or nonrenewable
RENEWABLE: replaced relatively quickly by natural processes
Ex: fresh water, air, soil, trees, crops, sun’s energy
NONRENEWABLE: forms much slower than it is consumed (millions of years)
Ex: minerals, fossil fuels

5. The Water Cycle
Evaporation - salts and other impurities are left behind
Condensation - water vapor cools and condenses into clouds
Precipitation: Replenishes fresh water
Transpiration: Leaves give off water from their pores
Surface Runoff
Infiltration: Water being absorbed by ground

7. Water Distribution
Water is a limited, renewable resource
Demo

8. Fresh Water Surface Water: On Earth’s land surface
Groundwater: Underground

9. Surface Water Lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands
Most cities depend on these for their water supplies
Provide drinking water, water for crops, food like fish/shellfish, power for industry, and transportation
Watersheds are drained by river systems

10. Watershed vs. River System

11. Groundwater Most fresh water, in sediments and rock formations
Water table = level of saturation
Includes Aquifers

12. Aquifers
Above it is the water table and it can contain rock, sand, gravel, and spaces where water can accumulate
“Underground Lake”

13. Porosity vs. Permeability
Porosity = percent of a rock that has spaces (pores)
Permeability = the ability of a rock or soil to allow water to flow through it
Gravel is high, clay is low

14. Recharge Zone
Permeable layers of soil and rock through which water percolates (flows) down into an aquifer
Sensitive to pollution because it can easily enter the aquifer
Aquifers can take thousands of years to “recharge”

15. Wells Reaches groundwater/aquifer
Sometimes more reliable than surface water
More filtered/purified water
Well can dry up if the groundwater level falls below the bottom of the well