E.S. 9: Fresh waterE.S. 9: Fresh water

SMS Earth ScienceSMS Earth Science

Fresh waterFresh water EarthEarth’’s freshwater supply is s freshwater supply is finitefinite.. Water isWater is continously continously being passed through being passed through

the the hydrologic cyclehydrologic cycle..

Major Regional WatershedsMajor Regional Watersheds

WatershedWatershed / / Drainage BasinDrainage Basin: area where: area whereall the water drains to the same place.all the water drains to the same place.

River DevelopmentRiver Development

Water DepositionWater Deposition

Alluvial fanAlluvial fan: river water from a mountain: river water from a mountainempties into a empties into a flood plainflood plain and deposits and depositssediment.sediment.

DeltaDelta: River water empties into an ocean: River water empties into an oceanand deposits sediment.and deposits sediment.

Barrier IslandsBarrier Islands: waves leave sand deposits: waves leave sand depositsthat form islands parallel to the shore.that form islands parallel to the shore.

Alluvial FanAlluvial Fan

FloodplainFloodplain

DeltaDelta

Barrier IslandBarrier Island

PermeablePermeable vs. Impermeable vs. Impermeable

Permeable: water can pass through.Permeable: water can pass through. Reason for water stored undergroundReason for water stored underground..

Impermeable: water cannot pass through.Impermeable: water cannot pass through.

Groundwater RegionsGroundwater Regions

Water Table and WellsWater Table and Wells

KarstKarst Topography Topography Karst Karst topography includes features liketopography includes features like

cavescaves and and sinkholessinkholes..

Karst Karst TopographyTopography

KarstKarst is common in the is common in the Valley and RidgeValley and Ridgeregion of VA.region of VA. Limestone bedrockLimestone bedrock

Karst Karst TopographyTopography

These form whenThese form whenlimestone limestone orordolomitedolomite is slowly is slowlydissolved away bydissolved away byacidicacidicgroundwater.groundwater.

KarstKarst Topography Topography

StalactitesStalactites (top) and (top) andstalagmitesstalagmites(ground) form from(ground) form fromcarbonate depositscarbonate depositsin drippingin drippingunderground water.underground water.

Sediment PollutionSediment Pollution ErosionErosion and and runoffrunoff of loose sediment from of loose sediment from

construction sites, cleared forests, etc.construction sites, cleared forests, etc. Sediment blocks light for aquatic plantsSediment blocks light for aquatic plants

and can cover eggs of animals in theand can cover eggs of animals in thewater.water.

Chemical PollutionChemical Pollution PesticidePesticide runoff from lawns and crop fields can runoff from lawns and crop fields can

be harmful to organismsbe harmful to organisms.. FertilizerFertilizer runoff from crop fields allows algae to runoff from crop fields allows algae to

bloom (rapid growth) in ponds/lakes andbloom (rapid growth) in ponds/lakes andcauses fish and other organisms to die.causes fish and other organisms to die.

Waste PollutionWaste Pollution Human waste, detergents, soaps, etcHuman waste, detergents, soaps, etc…… are taken are taken

to a treatment plant before being filtered backto a treatment plant before being filtered backinto water supplies.into water supplies.

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