Grade 12: Hydrology & Oceanography 💧🌊

Interactive Lesson • $\text{Water}$ $\text{Cycle}$ • $\text{Aquifers}$ • $\text{Salinity}$ • $\text{Thermohaline}$ $\text{Circulation}$

Hydrology: $\text{The}$ $\text{Water}$ $\text{Cycle}$ 🌧️

  **$\text{Hydrology}$** is the study of the $\text{distribution}$ and $\text{movement}$ of $\text{water}$ on $\text{Earth}$. The $\text{Water}$ $\text{Cycle}$ is the key process driving this movement.

 
   

$\text{Evaporation}$

   

Liquid $\to$ $\text{Gas}$ (from $\text{surface}$ $\text{water}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Transpiration}$

   

Liquid $\to$ $\text{Gas}$ (from $\text{plants}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Condensation}$

   

Gas $\to$ $\text{Liquid}$ (forms $\text{clouds}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Precipitation}$

   

Water $\text{falling}$ back to $\text{Earth}$ ($\text{rain}$, $\text{snow}$).

 
 
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Groundwater $\text{Resources}$ ⛏️

  $\text{Groundwater}$ is water held $\text{underground}$ in the $\text{soil}$ or in $\text{pores}$ and $\text{crevices}$ in $\text{rock}$. It is a critical, but often overused, $\text{freshwater}$ $\text{resource}$.

 
   

$\text{Porosity}$

   

The $\text{percentage}$ of $\text{open}$ $\text{space}$ in a $\text{rock}$ or $\text{sediment}$ ($\text{determines}$ how much water it $\text{can}$ $\text{hold}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Permeability}$

   

The $\text{ability}$ of $\text{rock}$ or $\text{sediment}$ to $\text{transmit}$ $\text{fluid}$ ($\text{determines}$ how fast water $\text{can}$ $\text{flow}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Aquifer}$

   

A $\text{body}$ of $\text{rock}$ or $\text{sediment}$ that is $\text{porous}$ and $\text{permeable}$ $\text{enough}$ to $\text{yield}$ $\text{significant}$ $\text{quantities}$ of $\text{water}$.

 

Oceanography: $\text{Properties}$ $\text{of}$ $\text{Seawater}$ 🧂

 
   

$\text{Salinity}$

   

The total amount of $\text{dissolved}$ $\text{salts}$ in $\text{seawater}$. $\text{Averaged}$ at **35 $\text{parts}$ $\text{per}$ $\text{thousand}$** ($\text{ppt}$ or $\%_{o}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Density}$ ($\rho$)

   

Controlled by both $\text{temperature}$ ($T$) and $\text{salinity}$ ($S$). $\text{Cold}$, $\text{salty}$ water is $\text{most}$ $\text{dense}$.

 
 
   

$\text{Pycnocline}$

   

A $\text{layer}$ in the $\text{water}$ $\text{column}$ where the $\text{water}$ $\text{density}$ $\text{changes}$ $\text{rapidly}$ with $\text{depth}$.

 

Ocean $\text{Circulation}$ $\text{and}$ $\text{Energy}$ $\text{Transfer}$ 🔄

 
   

$\text{Surface}$ $\text{Currents}$

   

Primarily driven by $\text{wind}$ ($\text{e.g.,}$ $\text{Gulf}$ $\text{Stream}$). $\text{Affected}$ by the $\text{Coriolis}$ $\text{Effect}$ (rotation of $\text{Earth}$).

 
 
   

$\text{Tides}$

   

The $\text{periodic}$ $\text{rise}$ and $\text{fall}$ of $\text{sea}$ $\text{level}$ caused by the $\text{gravitational}$ $\text{pull}$ of the $\text{Moon}$ and the $\text{Sun}$.

 
 
   

$\text{Thermohaline}$ $\text{Circulation}$

   

Deep $\text{ocean}$ $\text{currents}$ driven by $\text{differences}$ in $\text{temperature}$ ($\text{thermo}$) and $\text{salinity}$ ($\text{haline}$), forming the $\text{Global}$ $\text{Conveyor}$ $\text{Belt}$.

 

⚡ $\text{Hydrology}$ $\text{and}$ $\text{Oceanography}$ $\text{Check}$!

Identify the $\text{term}$ that best describes the following statement.

 
The $\text{layer}$ where $\text{ocean}$ $\text{density}$ $\text{changes}$ $\text{most}$ $\text{quickly}$ with $\text{depth}$.
 
     
 
 

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