hydrosphere notes nwebsite.notebook The Hydrosphere 1
Earth's outer layer of water found as liquid gas or solid. Stats: 71% of earth is water 97.5% of this water is in the oceans 2.5% left is rivers, lakes, icecaps and glaciers 79% of the 2.5% is frozen 2
We can separate the hydrosphere into 3 general categories: 1. Inland water def: bodies of freshwater found on the continents. It unites rivers, lakes and groundwater. To study inland water we divide the continent up into catchment areas Catchment Area or watershed When it rains, water accumulates in streams and filters through the soil. The natural slope of the land causes water to flow into a larger body of water such as a lake. Def: All the area from which water empties into the same large body of water. Why must land be slanted? USDA Watershed Learning Animation For ASI Communications by VFX Direct.mp4 Whats's a Watershed.mp4 How pollutants affect catchment areas and watersheds The more catchment areas a river has the more polluted the water river may become. The lower the catchment area is the more polluted it will be. Remember all rivers will lead to an ocean!! Aspects which affect watersheds topography: Natural and artificial features of the area geology: rocks climate vegetation: plant life agriculture: farming 3
hydrosphere notes nwebsite.notebook 2. The cryosphere def: Frozen water on earth's surface. The cryosphere encompasses: ice floes, glaciers, permafrost, frozen lakes and rivers and snow Ice floes vs glaciers Glaciers Ice Floes (pack ice) Formed as a slow sliding mass of ice formed on Are composed of slabs of land. ice floating on the surface of the water. Formation As snow accumulates on Created due to the cold top of the glacier, the temperatures which freeze layers below are compacted and form ice. the top layer of the earth. As the ocean water freezes, the salt is pushed into the ocean water below the ice. When chunks break off they fall into the sea and create icebergs. Content and location Freshwater on land Freshwater in ocean polar regions Pictures iceberg *Ice floes do not affect sea level, but icebergs do. Pack Ice in the Weddell Sea.mp4 Iceberg tsunami.mp4 The Collapse of a Glacier.mp4 Glacier Surfing Alaska (HD).mp4 4
3. The oceans Large masses of salt water There are two types of currents Surface currents Subsurface currents (Deep currents) also called thermohaline circulation. Surface Currents Only go 400 m deep Are controlled by wind Also affected by the rotation of the earth 5
Subsurface currents thermohaline circulation Are caused by the density of water. The thermohaline circulation acts like a huge 'conveyer belt' connecting the surface and subsurface circulations. Responsible for distribution of heat around the world since the water will travel to all the oceans. Causes seasons because allows cold area to get warm and warm areas to get cold. How it works In the polar regions, cold dense surface water sinks to the boom of the ocean floor and travels along the ocean floor. When it gets to warmer regions (such as the equator) the warmer less dense water is heated and rises back up to the surface. Then the warm water travels along the surface. When it gets to the Polar Regions, the warm water gets cooled once more, sinks and the process repeats itself. Polar Equator Salt differences? Water which is more salty will sink because it is more dense. Water which is less salty will rise because it is less dense. Salts come from the erosion of rock. Density of water is affected by 2 factors: 1 the salt content in water 2 the temperature of water Most dense water = salty cold water Least dense water = less salty warm water What affect will pack ice and glaciers melng have on thermahiline circulaon? As the glaciers and pack ice melt, they decrease the salinity of the water. Decreased salinity means water is less dense. If the water is less dense it will not sink and go to the bottom of the ocean = less thermahaline circ. Surfing Scientist live experiment Thermohaline circulation.mp4 The great ocean conveyor.mp4 The Gulf Stream & Climate Change.mp4 6
Past Exam Questions 1. Which of the following statements describes the impact of thermohaline circulation on climate? A) It regulates the world s climate B) It decreases the world s average temperature C) It increases the world s average temperature D) It has no notable impact on the world s climate. 2. The diagram below shows four different locations (1,2,3 and 4) and the site of a toxic spill identified by the letter X. Which statement about the impact of the toxic spill is TRUE? A) Location 1 will be the most affected, since the flow of water will carry the toxic substance into the lake. B) Location 2 will be only slightly affected, since the current will prevent the toxic substance from accumulating. C) Because of the terrain, only location 3 will be affected. D) Location 4 will be affected the most, since it is downstream from the spill. 7
Attachments Whats's_a_Watershed.mp4 USDA_Watershed_Learning_Animation_ _For_ASI_Communications_by_VFX_Direct.mp4 The_Collapse_of_a_Glacier.mp4 Glacier_Surfing_Alaska_ HD.mp4 Pack_Ice_in_the_Weddell_Sea.mp4 Iceberg_tsunami.mp4 The_great_ocean_conveyor.mp4 Surfing_Scientist_live_experiment_Thermohaline_circulation.mp4 USDA Watershed Learning Animation For ASI Communications by VFX Direct.mp4 Whats's a Watershed.mp4 Pack Ice in the Weddell Sea.mp4 Iceberg tsunami.mp4 The Collapse of a Glacier.mp4 Glacier Surfing Alaska HD.mp4 Surfing Scientist live experiment Thermohaline circulation.mp4 The great ocean conveyor.mp4 The Gulf Stream & Climate Change.mp4