Hydrology Exam 3
Heated sea water causes
death of species, melting glaciers, seawater expansion, coral bleaching, and sea level rise
ablation > accumulation ELA at higher altitude glacier thins terminus is up valley This indicates...
negative net gain
Which latitude(s) would have brackish water? Select all that are correct. -High latitudes >60° N & S -The equator 0° -The Tropics (~23.5° N & S)
-High latitudes >60° N & S -The equator 0°
Which of the following is NOT a direct use of water? -water used to flush the toilet -water used to water the lawn -water used for drinking and cooking -water used to make electricity
-water used to make electricity
Which correctly reports the average salinity of the world's oceans? Select all that are correct? -35 g/kg -3.5% -35% -35‰
-35 g/kg -3.5% -35‰
Where does Denver's water go after being treated at the wastewater treatment plant? Choose all that could be correct. -Discharged into the Colorado River -Discharged into the South Platte River -To Front Range reservoirs -To the water recycling plant to be treated and reused.
-Discharged into the South Platte River -To the water recycling plant to be treated and reused.
Which is incorrectly matched? -Prior Appropriations Doctrine....beneficial use -Riparian Doctrine....priority system -Prior Appropriations Doctrine....seniority system -Riparian Doctrine....reasonable use
-Riparian Doctrine....priority system
Which of the following is true about the conditions during the last glacial maximum period of the Pleistocene about 12,000-30,000 years ago? -Sea levels were much lower than they are today -Sea levels were much higher than they are today -Lakes dotted the American West and Southwest. -The American West and Southwest was even drier than today with a Sahara-type desert covering the region.
-Sea levels were much lower than they are today -Lakes dotted the American West and Southwest.
Which of the following are true about snow as water resource? Select all that apply. -The Columbia River and Colorado Rivers are both examples of snowmelt-fed rivers. -"Snow Courses" are an example of automated snow measurement system -"Snow Pillows" are used to weigh the snowpack and convert that weight to a water equivalent -The U.S. Geological Survey directs the Cooperative Snow Survey Program. -Mountain snowpack provides a majority (50-80%) of the West's water supply in the U.S.
-The Columbia River and Colorado Rivers are both examples of snowmelt-fed rivers. -"Snow Pillows" are used to weigh the snowpack and convert that weight to a water equivalent -Mountain snowpack provides a majority (50-80%) of the West's water supply in the U.S.
Which of the following correctly describes the climate period we are currently in? -We are in an interglacial period of an ice age -We are in the glacial period of an ice age -We are in a hot house (greenhouse) period
-We are in an interglacial period of an ice age
Which of the following is true about ocean acidification? Select all that apply? -it is predicted that the ocean's pH could fall below 7.0 this century -agricultural runoff and water pollution is causing much of the ocean acidification problem. -a more acidic ocean will negatively affect organisms with carbonate shells and structures such as shellfish and coral -it is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans
-a more acidic ocean will negatively affect organisms with carbonate shells and structures such as shellfish and coral -it is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans
Which is NOT considered a strategy to supply more water to growing populations? -all of these are strategies -conservation -desalination -expanded storage & transport -recycling/reuse
-all of these are strategies
Two things that would increase seawater salinity
-evaporation -freezing of seawater
Which of the following would increase ocean salinity? -freezing of sea ice -groundwater runoff from land -mountain glacier melt and runoff -ocean precipitation
-freezing of sea ice
What is unique about the Quelccaya Ice Cap? Select all that are correct. -it is underlain by a volcano -it is expanding in area -it is in the tropics -it is getting thicker
-it is in the tropics
Which is NOT a likely change in the snowmelt hydrograph due to global warming? -shorter snowmelt period -lower snowmelt peak -later snowmelt peak
-later snowmelt peak
What trends are we seeing in low- and middle-elevation glacial ice across the globe? Select all that apply. -ice gain/accumulation caused by precipitation changes -negative net mass balance -ice loss/ablation caused by temperature changes -positive net mass balance
-negative net mass balance -ice loss/ablation caused by temperature changes
Global shipping causes problems in the ocean due to what 3 things
-oil spills -trash spills - The transportation of invasive species through ballast water
6 types of pollution
-plastic and trash -oil spills -storm runoff -pesticide runoff -sewage disposal -atmospheric deposition
Four things that would increase seawater salinity
-precipitation -river runoff -groundwater flow to ocean -melting of sea ice
Which was NOT one of the four original "beneficial uses" defined by the Doctrine of Prior Appropriation (though now it is considered one). -mining -recreation -municipal/domestic use -agriculture/irrigation -industry
-recreation
Which of the following might indicate that a glacier is experiencing a positive mass balance? -the ELA moves up (higher) in elevation -the glacier retreats -the ELA moves down (lower) in elevation -the glacier thins -the glacier thickens -the glacier advances
-the ELA moves down (lower) in elevation -the glacier thickens -the glacier advances
Which of the following would cause sea level rise? Select all that are correct. -warm water expansion -mountain/alpine glaciers melting -sea ice melting -ice sheets melting
-warm water expansion -mountain/alpine glaciers melting -ice sheets melting
Which of the following is NOT evidence of the flooding that occurred from Lake Missoula? -witness accounts -giant (10 ft) ripple marks made of gravels -Dry Falls--the largest waterfall in the world, though it is presently dry -Huge braided channel tracks called scablands
-witness accounts
How much of the total catch is by-catch
1/4
How much of Earth's population relies on glacier water
1/6th
Colorado has how many named glaciers
14
Our current ice age is the longest ever, how many years ago did it begin
2.58 million years ago
Match stage of snow-ice development with the best estimate of density for that stage. Firn
20-30%air 70-80% SWE
How many Ice ages in earth history
4
If the snowpack in a location is measured to be 10 m deep and has a density of 40% at the time of melt (snow density of 400g/1000cm3 as compared to water's density of 1000g/1000cm3), how much water equivalent would you expect once it has all melted?
4m
Match stage of snow-ice development with the best estimate of density for that stage. Snow after Settling
60% air 40% SWE
of the 14 named Colorado glaciers, how many are bigger than 0.1 km2
7
How much of earths surface is covered by ocean
71%
Match stage of snow-ice development with the best estimate of density for that stage. Freshly Fallen Snow
95% air 5% SWE
How much of earth's water is located in the ocean
97.2%
What formed Lake Missoula?
An ice dam from the Purcell lobe of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet
The salinity of seawater by latitude N: Tropic: Equator: Tropic: S:
Brackish Brine Brackish Brine Brackish
Formula for carbonic acid
CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3
Pluvial lakes
Caused by wetter climate conditions
Water as property, water can be stored or moved, can buy and sell water, beneficial use, priority system
Doctrine of prior appropriation
Water laws in dry mountain states
Doctrine of prior appropriation
True or False Ocean acidification is primarily due to acid rain caused by NOx emissions and SO4 emissions from industry.
False ocean acidification is primarily caused by the dissolution of CO2 as carbonic acid
What is the name of our current interglacial period
Holocene
What are the 3 continental glacier types from largest to smallest
Ice Sheet, Ice Cap, Ice Field
What is the difference between ice cap and ice field
Ice cap fully covers mountains like a dome
The graph of salinity by latitude looks like
M
What are the five main Gyres
North Atlantic (gulf stream), North Pacific (great pacific garbage patch), Indian, South Pacific, South Atlantic
What 3 things are likely to occur to snow due to climate change
decreased snow pack/more precipitation as rain earlier snowmelt and runoff more dust on snow
Name 4 oceans largest to smallest
Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic
What is the name of the ice age we are currently in
Pleistocene
What are the two types of paleo lakes
Pluvial lakes and glacial lakes
Land ownership system, reasonable use of water, no priority
Riparian Doctrine
Water laws in humid, eastern states
Riparian Doctrine
How is water measured as a resource
SWE (snow water equivalent)
What are the three ways to measure snow
Satellite Manual measurements along "snow course" Automatic Snotel Station
4 pieces of evidence that lake Missoula caused floods
Scablands deposition of large rounded rocks giant current ripple deposits layered flood sediments
Denver gets most of its water from the _______ ________ watershed
South Platte
lake Missoula caused multiple floods because
The lake would become too deep and the dam would break causing a large flood, then the glacier would move in more and provide a new ice wall until the lake would become too strong again
Two forms of desalination
Thermal distillation and reverse osmosis
What is responsible for deep water circulation in earth's oceans
Thermohaline conveyer belt
True or False Chloride is more abundant than sodium in seawater
True
True or False Ice Ages (glacial ages) include periods of cold temperatures when glaciers advance as well as periods of warmer temperature when glaciers retreat.
True
True or False : Instream use would be considered a non-consumptive use of water
True
True or False: The conversion from snow to glacial ice can take as long as 1000 years or as short as several years.
True
tidewater glacier
a glacier that ends in the sea
piedmont glacier
a large, fan-shaped glacier that forms when one or more valley glaciers flow into a wide lowland area
Zone that melts during summer and freezes during winter
ablation
What indicates a negative net gain
ablation > accumulation ELA at higher altitude glacier thins terminus is up valley
Slowing down the thermohaline conveyer belt would cause
abrupt global cooling
zone that survives summer
accumulation
What indicates a positive net gain
accumulation > ablation ELA at lower elevation glacier thickens terminus moves forward
What is the primary use of water in the world
agriculture
Identify whether the following glacier types are alpine/mountain glaciers or continental glaciers. cirque Glacier
alpine/mountain
Identify whether the following glacier types are alpine/mountain glaciers or continental glaciers. piedmont glacier
alpine/mountain
Identify whether the following glacier types are alpine/mountain glaciers or continental glaciers. tidewater glacier
alpine/mountain
Identify whether the following glacier types are alpine/mountain glaciers or continental glaciers. valley glacier
alpine/mountain
What is the CFS (centralized forecasting system)
amount of water percent of average helps plan ahead for reservoir storage
Ships take on _______________ water, which often unintentionally transports species that can become invasive in the locations they are discharged.
ballast
The term ____________ applies to water that is less than 35‰ (parts per thousand) salts such as the Gulf of Bothnia between Sweden and Finland that has heavy freshwater runoff and a salinity of about 10‰.
brackish
What salinity of water is more dense
brine
The upper part of the glacier
brittle zone
Where in the glacier is the least friction and fastest movement
brittle zone
What causes ocean acidification
carbon dioxide and water makes carbonic acid
cirque glacier
circular or bowl-shaped recess of a mountain
Which of the following would likely be the densest ocean water that is likely to sink and help propel the global thermohaline circulation in the ocean?
cold brine
What temperature of water is more dense
cold water
Would Denver's trans-basin water diversions be considered consumptive or non-consumptive?
consumptive
Identify whether the following glacier types are alpine/mountain glaciers or continental glaciers. ice cap
continental
Identify whether the following glacier types are alpine/mountain glaciers or continental glaciers. ice field
continental
Identify whether the following glacier types are alpine/mountain glaciers or continental glaciers. ice sheet
continental
vertical crack in brittle zone
crevasse
The accumulation zone on a glacier ends at the _______ line that marks the elevation above which the winter snow and ice remained intact throughout the summer melting season, but below which melting occurs.
equilibrium
ELA
equilibrium line altitude
What causes a dead zone
excess nutrients in the water from runoff cause an algae bloom, the algae die and use up oxygen as they decompose, this causes a hypoxic zone void of oxygen
True or False? The model data shown in class indicates that Colorado's precipitation is going to decrease significantly in the future.
false
valley glacier
glaciers that form in valleys in high, mountainous areas, river of ice
Eutrophication leads to _______________ that can kill ocean species and create dead zones.
hypoxia
Glacial Lakes
ice dams block rivers
What was recently added to Colorado's list of beneficial uses of water
instream environmental flow, in channel recreational flow
the south platte river is naturally a ______ river
intermittent
Match stage of snow-ice development with the best estimate of density for that stage. Glacial Ice
less than 20% air more than 80% SWE
more dust on snow events will lead to
lowered reflectiveness of snow and more rapid melt
How do you calculate snow density
mass (snow)/ Volume (snow) vs 1000g/1000cm3
Ice ages are caused by
minor changes in Earth's rotation and orbit.
rock glacier
mountain glacier and has active flow; usually includes rocks and fine material
Most Colorado's precipitation falls
on the west side of the continental divide
the south platte river is now ______ due to added treated water
perennial
Two qualities of a glacier
permanent flowing
Hot house period is a time with no
permanent ice on earth
The flowing part of the glacier
plastic zone
The greatest threat to ocean ecosystems is
pollution
accumulation > ablation ELA at lower elevation glacier thickens terminus moves forward This indicates...
positive net gain
Two concerns for the future of water
quantity and quality
How do you calculate SWE
snow depth x Density
2 pieces of evidence that lake Missoula existed
strandlines fine grained lake sediment
What are Gyres
surface currents created by wind and coriolis
Thermohaline currents are driven by ________ and _________
temperature and salinity
The eastern slope in Colorado is 80% of ____
the population
In the United States, which use withdraws the most water?
thermoelectric power generation
Moving water from the west side of the continental divide to the east side is
trans-basin diversion
In ______ regions glaciers are a more stable water supply than just precipitation
tropical
True or False? The model data shown in class indicates that Colorado's temperature is going to increase in the future.
true
Water that is used incorporated into or used to produce food and goods is also known as ___________ water
virtual
The western slope in Colorado receives 80% of ____
water
The ocean is a source of
water (desalination), minerals, products, and food
Non-consumptive use
water is returned to where it came from
Consumptive use
water not returned to its original source (evaporated, transpired, moved)
Can glacial outbursts floods occur today?
yes