Unit 7: Hydrology

Ocean currents distribute heat energy over the surface of Earth. The map illustrates a major pattern of water circulation in the oceans. Which point on the map has a colder climate because of the proximity to an ocean current? a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4

a) 1

Which is formed when a section of impermeable rock forces groundwater to move laterally & emerge onto the surface of Earth? a) A spring b) An aquifer c) A geyser d) A well

a) A spring

Which of the following best describes an interaction between Earth & solar energy that functions to warm up the planet? a) Absorption of solar energy by continental land masses b) Use of solar energy in the process of photosynthesis c) Reflection of solar energy from polar snowcaps d) Transformation of solar energy into auroras

a) Absorption of solar energy by continental land masses

The drilling for freshwater increases along a coastal area. What is a likely consequence of this action? a) An intrusion of salt water into aquifers b) The loss of water resources in estuaries c) The destruction of estuaries because of an increase in sea levels d) A decrease in salt concentration in inlet waterways

a) An intrusion of salt water into aquifers

Which best explains why population growth can result in water shortages and rationing in certain areas? a) Aquifers recharge slowly b) Lake water is reserved for recreation c) Increasing biomass decreases evaporation rates d) Tall buildings impede the development of rain clouds

a) Aquifers recharge slowly

The diagram shows an image of the major ocean currents. What phenomenon is most likely responsible for the currents' circulation patterns? a) Coriolis effect b) Density differences c) Sun's tidal effect d) Temperature differences

a) Coriolis effect

Acid precipitation can dissolve aluminum from soil. As aluminum is dissolved, it can flow into lakes and contaminate the water. High concentration of aluminum in lakes is fatal to many forms of aquatic life. This scenario provides evidence for which of these concepts? a) Environmental change can impact the quality of life for living organisms b) Environmental change always has a negative impact on organisms c) Acid rain is the most important environmental problem to address d) Acid rain is the leading cause of death to fish in lakes

a) Environmental change can impact the quality of life for living organisms

The mixing of cold Arctic Ocean water with warm surface Atlantic currents off the northwestern coast of Europe causes which effect? a) Sinking of water as it circulates southwest b) Reversal of current direction back toward the European coast c) Rise in water salinity & upwelling of affected currents d) Rapid evaporation & acceleration of currents toward the pole

a) Sinking of water as it circulates southwest

Sunlight is able to penetrate the top several meters of marine water, wher most plant and animal life exists. Which of these systems are interacting in this description? a) Solar energy and ocean systems b) Solar energy and weather systems c) Weather systems and ocean systems d) Solar energy, ocean systems, and weather systems

a) Solar energy and ocean systems

How will the presence of power plants burning fossil fuels most likely affect the water cycle? a) Sulfur and nitrogen emissions dissolve in rainwater to form acid rain b) Runoff containing emissions causes very large algai blooms in ponds c) Emissions cause the pH of water to change from 5.1 to 8.3 d) It will decrease the accumulation of water in the ocean

a) Sulfur and nitrogen emissions dissolve in rainwater to form acid rain

The Great Ocean Conveyer ocean current system runs north through the Atlantic from the equatorial region. If this current got disrupted, North American & European climates would become a) Rainier b) Colder c) Windier d) More humid

b) Colder

Hurricanes are driven by the energy they get from ocean water. Which property of water allows it to retain the energy needed to power a hurricane? a) Low vapor pressure b) High specific heat c) High surface tension d) Low freezing point

b) High specific heat

What is the main energy source for deep ocean currents that move large volumes of water around the planet? a) Heat from Earth's core b) Radiation from the Sun c) Tidal effects of the Moon d) Motion of tectonic plates

b) Radiation from the Sun

Why are ocean currents important to coastal regions? a) They produce high & low tides along coastal regions b) They can warm or cool the air temperatures along coastal regions c) They move vertically pushing warm water & nutrients to the surface along coastal regions d) They increase the rate of precipitation as cold water moves along coastal regions

b) They can warm or cool the air temperatures along coastal regions

The graph shows water table levels in an aquifer changing over a period of time. Which most likely caused the changes observed in the data over time? a) Increase in the amount of precipitation b) Increase in water conservation efforts c) Decrease in the amount of recharge d) Decrease in irrigation for farming

c) Decrease in the amount of recharge

Without oceans, the temperatures of Earth would vary widely from temperatures that currently exist. Which characteristic of the ocean most likely helps to maintain the temperatures of Earth? a) Depth of ocean b) Density of ocean water c) Evaporation of ocean water d) High humidity near the ocean

c) Evaporation of ocean water

Which statement best explains the role of evaporation in ocean currents? a) Evaporation adds salt to surface waters, forcing the water to sink b) Evaporation leads to the movement of air masses, causing surface currents c) Evaporation removes heat energy from surface waters, increasing the water density d) Evaporation increases the air pressure above surface waters, causing horizontal currents

c) Evaporation removes heat energy from surface waters, increasing the water density

A student created a diagram of farmland with runoff from cornfields to a nearby pond. What was the student probably trying to model? a) How acid rain kills pond plants b) How pond water is use to irrigate crops c) How fertilizers can get into ponds and cause algae blooms d) How toxic chemicals from industrial wastes can poison pond water

c) How fertilizers can get into ponds and cause algae blooms

What consequences could an exponentially growing human population have on drinkable water? a) It could cause a decrease in the amount of waste & pollutants in the water supply b) It could cause an increase in the amount of water available for the population c) It could cause an increase in cases of waterborne diseases d) It could cause a decrease in needing water for survival

c) It could cause an increase in cases of waterborne diseases

How could a long-term decrease in precipitation impact an area? a) It could increase the average water level of lakes in the area b) It could increase the amount of flooding in the area c) It could decrease the amount of possible infiltration in the area d) It could decrease the possible amount of damage to crops in the area

c) It could decrease the amount of possible infiltration in the area

A change in the pattern of warm ocean currents can cause a climate change by a) Releasing thermal energy in irregular spurts b) Absorbing thermal energy from the Sun's rays c) Moving thermal energy from one place to another d) Increasing the ocean's capacity for absorbing thermal energy

c) Moving thermal energy from one place to another

Which of these has the greatest capacity for strong thermal energy from the Sun? a) Air b) Land c) Oceans d) Plants

c) Oceans

Residents in a seaside town experience onshore breezes from the ocean during hot sunny days and offshore breezes from the land during cool nights. How does the ocean affect this pattern? a) Warm air sinks over the ocean & moves onto land b) Cold air rises over the land & moves over the ocean c) The land heats & cools faster than the ocean heats & cools d) The ocean heats & cools faster than the land heats & cools

c) The land heats & cools faster than the ocean heats & cools

Nevada's annual precipitation averages between 21 & 24 cm. In comparison, Washington state averages bewteen 96 & 97 cm of precipiation per year. Which of these factors has the greatest impact on the difference in precipitation between these two states? a) The relative sizes of each state b) The types of industry found in each state c) The location of each state on the continent d) The relative frequency of volcanic activity in each state

c) The location of each state on the continent

Which statement about the relationship between the ocean & atmosphere is most accurate? a) Ocean currents do not affect the atmosphere b) The atmosphere stores more heat than the ocean c) The ocean can hold heat more efficiently than the air d) Ocean currents can move faster than air or wind currents

c) The ocean can hold heat more efficiently than the air

The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt shows the flow pattern of deep-sea density currents. Which statement best describes an effect caused by these currents. a) They prevent tsunamis from occurring b) They control the occurrence of low & high tides c) They influence climate by distributing energy from the Sun d) They cause hurricanes to move in a counterclockwise direction

c) They influence climate by distributing energy from the Sun

Look at the list of features of a watershed below a highway. 1. roadside soil and plants 2. nearby lakes and streams 3. underground water system 4. wells for drinking water Which of these features belong in a model of how salt used to melt ice on roads can damage the environment? a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 1, 2, and 3 only d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Which human activity directly affects the quality of freshwater resources? a) Depleting the ozone layer b) Burning gasoline in car engines c) Throwing trash out of car windows d) Allowing runoff from agricultural fields

d) Allowing runoff from agricultural fields

Which results from the unequal heating of ocean water of Earth? a) A constant sea level b) Changes in tidal patterns c) Unchanging climate for all regions on Earth d) Changes in ocean current patterns

d) Changes in ocean current patterns

How does the warm air over the ocean contribute to the formation of hurricanes? a) Storms which form along the equator travel to cooler ocean waters b) Air & water from the ocean spin to Earth's rotation & create a spiral effect d) Heat & evaporating water from the ocean surface provide energy for hurricanes d) Ocean waters create high air pressure that builds upward with surrounding cool air

d) Heat & evaporating water from the ocean surface provide energy for hurricanes

The climate of an area would be expected to have the least fluctuations in temperatures where the a) Atmospheric nitrogen is low b) Vegetation is sparse c) Days are longest d) Humidity is high

d) Humidity is high

A local government is considering whether to build a dam. Which is an advantage of building this structure? a) It can decrease the accumulation of sediment in the water b) It can improve the natural habitat of plants & animals c) It is an inexpensive process d) It can create a storage place for water

d) It can create a storage place for water

St. Augustine, Florida, & San Antonio, Texas are located near the same latitude. However, average winter temperatures in St. Augustine are higher than in San Antonio. Which most influences the milder temperatures of St. Augustine, Florida? a) Increased cloud cover b) Reduced solar radiation c) Distance north of the equator d) Nearness to ocean currents

d) Nearness to ocean currents

Both southern California & southern Nevada are arid to semi-arid regions. Which of these has a large influence on the climate in southern California but has little influence on the climate in southern Nevada? a) Availability of fresh water b) Varieties of plant life c) Changes in elevation d) Proximity to the ocean

d) Proximity to the ocean

A student compares the climate of two towns located on the same latitude. One town is located near the ocean & the second town is inland. Which environmental difference will most likely be observed with increasing distance from the ocean? a) The number of daylight hours increases b) The summer and winter seasons become milder c) The intensity of sunlight on the ground is greater d) The temperature difference between day and night increases

d) The temperature difference between day and night increases