Term
|
Definition
| The water cycle is the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streaks and rivers, and return to the atmsphere by evaporation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Evaporation is when heat is added to water. The water turns from a liquid to gas (water vapour). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Melting occurs when heat is added to frozen water (ice). This makes the ice turn into liquid. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Condensation occurs when heat is taken away from water vapour. This means that the water vapour turns into liquid water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Solidfication occurs when heat is taken away from a liquid. This means that liquid water turns into frozen water (ice). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The freezing point is when liquid water turns into ice. The freezing point for fresh water is 0oC. The freezing point for salt water is -1.9oC.
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Deposition happens when water vapour turns directly into a solid (skipping the liquid state). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Sublimation occurs when ice turns directly into water vapour (skipping the liquid state). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A hydrologist is a person who studies Earth's water systems and helps find solution to problems of water quality and quantity. A hydrologist also uses their knowledge to control events such as flooding and soil erosion, and to prevent pollution of water sources. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Oceanographers are people who study ocean systems specifically. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Salinity is the amount of salt dissolved in water. The salinity is higher near the equator because of high rates of evaporation. The salinity is also higher near the North and South Poles because when the water freezes the water changes turns into ice leaving the salt behind. The salinity is usually lower near continents because the fresh water from the river empties into the ocean and dilutes the salt water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Density is a measure of the mass of an object of a given volume. Density is measured in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m2). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A run-off is the draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of an area of land, a building or structure, etc. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Gravity is a force that pulls everything toward the center of Earth. Under gravity's influence, rain hitting pavement or hard rock will flow along the ground until it hits a low point on the surface or finds its way onto a stream. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A drainage basin (also called watershed) is the area of land on which precipitation falls and works its way into a common river. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Ground water is the water that makes its way into the spaces of rocks. Ground water doesn't flow like a river, but it flows through the rock spaces. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An aquifer is a layer of rock that is porous and allows water to flow through it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Reservoirs are large man-made or natural lakes that store water until people need it. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The water table lies at a level called the zone of saturation. It is the depth of where water can be found. Below this level, all the pore spaces between rock particles are filled with water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Glaciers are large blocks or sheets of ice that slowly flow downhill. Glaciers cover about 10 percent of Earth's land area. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Crevasses are deep cracks in glacier. They form in front of the glacier if they reach an ocean. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Icebergs are big chunks of ice after a glacier breaks apart. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Weather is the process of breaking down rock into smaller fragments. There are two types of weathering: chemical weathering and pysical weathering. |
|
|
Term
Pysical weathering
[image] |
|
Definition
| In physical weathering, rocks are broken down by physical means, such as being scratched to bits by harder rocks, but they do not change their composition. |
|
|
Term
Chemical weathering
[image] |
|
Definition
| In chemical weathering, a chemical reaction causes rocks to break down, or decompose. When a chemical reaction occurs, the minerals in the rocks change their composition and the rock becomes weaker. |
|
|
Term
Biologival weathering
[image] |
|
Definition
| If physical or chemical weathering has been cause by a plant or anial, the process is referred to biological weathering. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Erosion is the process when fragments of rock are transported from their original location. The main transporter are water, glaciers, gravity, and wind. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Deposition is when the sediments are dropped off after they were transported from their original position. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Caves form when enough carbonic rock is dissolved by the acidic ground water. Over thousands of years the gaps in the ground become bigger to form caves. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Sinkholes are formed if the dissolved rock material lies close to the surface, or f the cave formed collapses. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Karst is an area with many sinkholes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Rapids are where the water moves very quickly over exposed pieces of rock. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A landsilde is a sudden, rapid movement of rock material down the slope of a hill or mountain. Landslides can cause tremendous damage. An example of a landslide is an avalanche. An avalanche is a landslide of snow and ice. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Striations are scratch marks left on rocks. They form as the ice sheets are pulled slowly downhill by gravity and as they scrape and carve the land they are passing over. |
|
|
Term
Features Carved By A Glacier
[image][image] |
|
Definition
There are 5 main features a glacier can carve.
1. Arête- narrow ridge (high ground) between two cirques
2. Cirque- bowl-shaped valley at the head of a glacier
3. Fiord- a narrow inlet of ocean between steep cliffs carved by glaciers
4. Hanging Valley- U-shaped valley cut off by a bigger valley created by a larger glacier
5. Horn- pyramid shaped peak located between three cirques
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A delta is an area of built-up sediment deposited where a river empties into an ocean or a lake. |
|
|
Term
Features Deposited By A Glacier
[image][image] |
|
Definition
There are 4 main features deposited by a glacier.
1. Erratic- a large boulder depositied on the ground by a glacier
2.Esker- winding ridge of material deposited by a stream running under a glacier
3. Moraine- ridge of rocky material deposited by a glacier
4. Outwash- material deposited by water from melting glaciers |
|
|
