ES - Hydrosphere

• What does the Hydrosphere contain?

  Water in all its forms
• What type of bonds do water molecules form?

  Hydrogen bonds
• What must happen to hydrogen bonds for water to change to gas?

  They must be broken
• What is the boiling point of water related to?

  Breaking hydrogen bonds
• How do hydrogen bonds affect liquid water?

  They help form a lattice structure
• What are the changes of state in water?

  • Occur within a narrow temperature range
  • Allow the hydrological cycle to occur
• Why is the presence of liquid water environmentally significant?

  All living organisms require water
• What is the physiological role of water?

  It acts as a solvent for reactions
• How does water facilitate transport within organisms?

  It dissolves gases, sugars, and nutrients
• What effect does water evaporation have on temperature?

  It absorbs heat, causing temperatures to decline
• At what temperature does water have its highest density?

  4°C
• Why does ice float on water?

  Ice is less dense than water
• How does ice benefit aquatic organisms in lakes and ponds?

  It insulates water underneath, preventing freezing
• What is the high heat capacity of water beneficial for?

  It moderates temperature changes
• What are examples of aquatic habitats?

  Oceans, seas, lakes, marshes, rivers
• How did water protect living organisms before the ozone layer developed?

  It absorbed UV radiation
• What percentage of global water demand is used for agriculture?

  70%
• What is the primary use of water in industry?

  Cooling, heating, and washing
• What percentage of global water demand is for domestic uses?

  8%
• What is the residence time of water in oceans?

  Up to 4000 years
• What is the residence time of groundwater?

  100-10,000 years
• What is the residence time of lakes and rivers?

  2 months to 100 years
• What is the residence time of soil moisture?

  2 months
• What is the residence time of water in the atmosphere?

  10 days
• What is the residence time of water in living organisms?

  1 week
• Why is groundwater replenished slowly?

  It takes thousands of years to recharge
• What is residence time in the context of water resources?

  Average time water stays in a reservoir
• What is the effect of precipitation on atmospheric water vapor?

  It reduces the amount of water vapor
• What drives the hydrological cycle?

  Solar insolation warms water for evaporation
• What happens to energy once water is in the atmosphere?

  It converts to potential energy
• What are the outputs of the hydrological cycle?

  • Evaporation
  • Transpiration
  • River channel discharge
• What is interception in the hydrological cycle?

  Precipitation that lands on vegetation
• What is infiltration in the hydrological cycle?

  Surface water enters the ground
• What is percolation in the hydrological cycle?

  Movement of water between soil and rock
• What is groundwater flow?

  Movement of water through pore spaces
• What is runoff in the hydrological cycle?

  Water flowing over the surface of the ground
• What is evaporation in the hydrological cycle?

  Water changing from liquid to gas
• What is transpiration?

  Evaporation of water from plant leaves
• What is river channel discharge?

  Volume of water flowing past a point
• What is abstraction of water?

  Removing water from its source