Hydrosphere

The Water Cycle

Introduction: Earth's water is always in movement, and the natural water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over millions of years.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this section you will be able to:

• demonstrate the water cycle using words, pictures, and tools
• analyze a water cycle illustration and identify key processes that perpetuate the water cycle
• explain each process that comprises the water cycle
• explain how energy is transferred throughout the water cycle
• create a water cycle chart from memory
• state why water conservation is important to the water cycle

Essential Question: How do the dynamics of the water cycle help to better understand the hydrosphere and its relationship to the lithosphere?

Key Vocabulary Terms: solar energy, transpiration, evaporation, sublimation, condensation, infiltration, precipitation, run-off, groundwater, coalescence, surface water, rain, sleet, snow, ice caps, hail, percolation, aquifer, reservoir, water vapor, and glacier. The definitions to these term can be found in Quizlet.com.

The video below is an excellent overview of the water cycle. While watching the video, have your notes available so that you can record the definitions of key terms.

Use the PowerPoint below to complete your notes on the water cycle.

Click on USGS Earth's Water to learn more about the distribution of water on Earth. Use this site to help complete the four water cycle concept maps.

Watch the NOAA Water Cycle video to learn more about the water cycle. Use this video to complete the worksheet NOAA Water Cycle Video Questions

Click on The Water Cycle for Schools and Students: Advanced Students to identify key vocabulary terms and their meanings as related to the water cycle. You will use these terms to complete the Water Cycle Cloze. You will use some terms multiple times.

Watch the video below to learn how heat is transferred. Create a Venn diagram depicting the similarities and differences of the three types of heat transfer.

Click on Shmoop Phase Changes to learn how energy plays a role in water changing phases. Define the following terms: phase changes, heat, melting point, vaporization, boiling point, sublimation, freezing point, condensation and deposition. Write your definition in your notes.

Phases of Matter Particle Diagrams

Phases of Matter Particle Diagrams Observation Questions: A particle diagram is a visual representation of the particles of a substance that helps to conceptualize what may be happening on a micro level. The particles are typically represented as dots. Digital particle diagrams can also show the movement of particles within a particular substance. Use the above diagrams and your notes to answer the questions below. If you need additional help, click on Matter: Definition & the Five States of Matter for online assistance. Left click on the illustration to enlarged the diagram and see greater details.

1. What phase of matter is represented by Diagram A, Diagram B, and Diagram C?
2. Describe the motion of particles in Diagram A, Diagram B, and Diagram C.
3. Compare and contrast the kinetic energy of the particles in each diagram.
4. Identify which illustration represents matter with a definite volume. or no definite volume.
5. Identify which illustration represents matter with a definite shape or no definite volume.

Energy Form & Change Simulation: In this simulation, you will be able to “see” several different forms of energy and the changes (transfers) that can occur between them. You are also able to work with a system where you can manipulate the energy input, observe the process of electrical energy generation and manipulate the output. Use the simulation below to complete Energy Forms and Simulations Activity.

Use the following vocabulary terms to write a summary on the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, transpiration, precipitation, sublimation, infiltration, percolation, water-table, runoff, reservoir, coalescence, groundwater, surface water, solar energy, gravity. and icecaps. Highlight or underline the terms each time they are used.

Surface Water

Introduction: Surface water is comprised of all the water in rivers, streams, creeks, lakes, and reservoirs—are vitally important to our everyday life. The main uses of surface water include drinking-water and other public uses, irrigation uses, and for use by the thermoelectric-power industry to cool electricity-generating equipment.

Learning Objectives: Upon competition of this section, you will be able to

• explain why precipitation becomes surface water
• describe the factors that determine the rate by which water seeps into the ground
• explain the process of stream develop
• explain how stream systems form
• differentiate the 3 ways streams carry their load
• predict how sediments move in a stream
• identify the factors that determine a stream discharge
• explain why flooding occurs
• compare and contrast upstream and downstream flooding
• describe stream valleys and how they form
• explain why meandering streams form and how water flows in them
• compare and contrast an alluvial fan and delta
• describe the formation of lakes
• explain how stream experience rejuvenation
• explain the process of eutrophication
• differentiate between wetland types (e.g. marsh, swamp, bog, fen, etc.)

Key Vocabulary: runoff, solution, suspension, bedload, flood, flood plain, upstream flooding, downstream flooding, watershed, divide, stream, carrying capacity, discharge, stream channel, stream banks, V shape channel, meander, oxbow lake, delta, alluvial fan, rejuvenation, lake, eutrophication, wetland, estuary, bog, swamp, fen, marsh, etc

Essential Question: How do the dynamics of surface water help to better understand the hydrosphere and its relationship to the lithosphere.

Complete Surface Water Notes using the PowerPoint below.

Surface Water Videos

• Earth Revealed: Running Water: Rivers, Erosion, and Deposition
• Earth Revealed: Running Water: Landscape Evolution

North Carolina River Basins: The map of North Carolina's river basins should be color coded so that you can easily identify the major river basins. You should also highlight the rivers that comprise them and mark the location of the Appalachian Mountains.

Access the websites below and read about the types of wetlands. Write a brief description of a fen and five reasons why estuaries are important.

• Estuarine Science
• Wetland Types and Classification
• North Carolina Wetlands

Using the Discover North Carolina's River Basins booklet below answer the related questions that can be found in your notebook.

Essential Question: Why is learning about the river basins of North Carolina vitally important?

Surface Water Inquiry Questions: Click on Surface Water to access the online Chapter 9 of the textbook. The Surface Inquiry Questions were taken directly from it. (Make sure the answer you record for each question fully reflects the concept. These questions will help you to form the foundational knowledge and understanding of each concept.)

Complete the surface water illustrations in your notebook.

Groundwater

Introduction: Groundwater is a part of the water cycle. Some part of the precipitation that lands on the ground surface infiltrates into the subsurface. The part that continues downward through the soil until it reaches rock material that is saturated is groundwater recharge. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers. Water in the saturated groundwater system moves slowly and may eventually discharge into streams, lakes, and oceans. It is used in the following ways:

• Groundwater supplies drinking water for 51% of the total U.S. population and 99% of the rural population.
• Groundwater helps grow our food. 64% of groundwater is used for irrigation to grow crops.
• Groundwater is an important component in many industrial processes.
• Groundwater is a source of recharge for lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this section, you will be able to:

• explain the role of ground water as an important water supply to the USA
• explain how large amounts of water is stored underground
• differentiate between porosity and permeability
• describe and label zones of saturation, water table, and zone of airation
• compare and contrast confined and unconfined aquifers
• explain how groundwater dissolves limestone and forms caves and other natural features
• compare and contrast normal wells and artesian wells
• identify the hazards that threaten groundwater supplies
• describe how groundwater interacts with heated volcanic regions to form hot springs and geysers

Essesntial Question: How do the dynamics of groundwater help to better understand the hydrosphere and its relationship to the lithosphere.

Key Vocabulary: infiltration, percolation, porosity, permeability, confined aquifer, unconfined aquifer, aquiclude, artesian aquifer, zone of saturation, water table, perched water table, zone of aeration, karst topography, cave, sinkhole, stalactite, stalagmite, well, artesian well, drawdown, recharge, geyser, subsidence, cone of depression, hot spring, calcium carbonate.

Use the PowerPoint below to complete your Groundwater notes.

Click on World Revealed:Groundwater to access the video. You are to watch the entire video and take notes while watching it. You will use your notes to build your background knowledge of groundwater and to write a summary capturing key concepts. At the end of the summary write any questions that you still have concerning groundwater

Confined & Unconfined Aquifers

Use your notes and the above illustration to answer the Confined & Unconfined Aquifers Observation Questions.

Groundwater Inquiry Questions: Use the online Chapter 10 of the textbook below and your own online research to answer the the Groundwater Inquiry Questions. Use USGS Water Science School:Groundwater as a primary resource. (Make sure the answer you record for each question fully reflects the concept. These questions will help you to form the foundational knowledge and understanding of each concept.)

Groundwater Illustration: Draw and label the following: confined aquifer, unconfined aquifer, recharge area, ordinary well, artesians well, dry well, perched well, zone of aeration, zone of saturation, water table, cone depression, ground subsidence, aquiclude/aquitard, gaining river, and losing river.

Oceanography

Introduction: Traditionally, oceanography has been divided into four separate but related branches: physical oceanography, chemical oceanography, marine geology, and marine ecology. Physical oceanography deals with the properties of seawater (temperature, density, pressure, and so on), its movement (waves, currents, and tides), and the interactions between the ocean waters and the atmosphere. Chemical oceanography has to do with the composition of seawater and the biogeochemical cycles that affect it. Marine geology focuses on the structure, features, and evolution of the ocean basins. Marine ecology, also called biological oceanography, involves the study of the plants and animals of the sea, including life cycles and food production.

Complete the Oceanography Notes using the PowerPoint below.

Click on The Endless Voyage (you will need to sign in to your Class Project account using your student id to access) and watch the video Beneath the Surface. After you have viewed the video, write a brief summary of four interesting facts you learned about oceanic water. Make sure you understand what happens to temperature, light, sound, and pressure as one descends from the surface to the bottom of the ocean.

Ocean Water Inquiry Questions: The answers to the Oceanic Water Inquiry Questions can be found in Chapter 15 of the textbook below or on NOAA's website, The Ocean. Please use the links to learn more about ocean layers, seawater composition, ocean current circulation, waves, tides, sea breeze, and marine layers.

Ocean's Thermocline, Halocline, & Pycnocline

Ocean's Thermocline, Halocline, & Pycnocline Observation Questions: The prefix thermo means heat, halo means salt, and pycno means density. The suffix cline means gradient or change in. Use the illustrations above to answer the Ocean's Thermocline, Halocline, & Pycnocline Observation Questions

The Coriolis Effect

Ocean currents bend to the right in the northern hemisphere because the Earth is rotating. Ocean currents bend to the left in the southern hemisphere. This is called the Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect influences any object traveling over great distances from north to south. In this example, an object moving from the North Pole to the Equator appears to move to the west. The object did not move westward, the earth rotated beneath it.

Ocean's Global Conveyor Belt

The worldwide ocean currents of the thermohaline circulation system are extremely complex. The flow of cold, saline surface water (blue) downward and toward the equator can only be clearly recognized in the Atlantic. Warm surface water (red) flows in the opposite direction, toward the pole. In other areas the current relationships are not as clear-cut as they are in the Gulf Stream system (between North America and ­Europe). The Circumpolar Current flows around Antarctica, and does so throughout the total depth of the water column. The small yellow circles in the polar regions indicate convection areas. The dark areas are characterized by high salinity and the white areas by low salinity. Salty areas are mostly located in the warm subtropics because of the high evaporation rates here. © maribus (nach Meincke et al., 2003)

Use the above illustration and your notes to answer The Ocean's Global Conveyor Belt Questions in your notebook.