Twu Quiz

What percentage of global precipitation falls on the land compared to the oceans?

22 Percent

The Sun is the driving force behind the water cycle. Roughly how much of the Sun's energy is absorbed by the Earth's land surface and water?

48%

An aquifer is _____. Choose all that apply. a. an underground volume of rock and sand that contains water b. a reservoir of water occurring in underground caves and caverns c. not a significant source of drinking water worldwide d. a significant source of irrigation water

A and D

Soil moisture (wetness) is important for: a. Agricultural productivity b. Water quality c. Weather and climate forecasting d. Ecosystem health e. All of the above

All of the above

The amount of precipitation that soaks into the soil depends on a. how long the rain lasts b. whether or not there are plants around c. whether the soil is wet or dry d. all of the choices

All of the choices

The amount of water on Earth is

Always the same

Components of the hydrologic cycle include precipitation, condensation, surface runoff, and _____.

Evaporation

(T/F) Less energy is required for snowpack sublimation than for snowpack melting.

False

Globally, precipitation far exceeds evaporation.

False

More things can be dissolved in sulfuric acid than in water.

False

Rainwater is the purest form of water.

False

Sublimation can never be a factor in snowpack reduction.

False

The annual evaporation in arid regions can never exceed the annual precipitation amount.

False

Transpiration rates are greatest for _____.

Forests

Where is most of the earth's fresh water stored today? a. in polar ice sheets b. in rivers and lakes c. in the oceans d. in groundwater

In polar ice sheets

How does global warming affect the hydrologic cycle? a. It causes random variations in the cycle. b. It doesn't affect the cycle at all. c. It causes the cycle to accelerate. d. It causes the cycle to decelerate.

It causes the cycle to accelerate.

How long does it take a drop of water to travel through the water cycle?

It depends on the path the droplet takes.

Global warming is increasing the temperature of our lower atmosphere. How will this affect the amount of moisture in the air?

It will increase moisture

The percent of available freshwater is _____ of the total water on the Earth.

Less than 1%

Precipitation that falls near the equator is most likely to fall as

Rain into the ocean

________type soils have larger pore spaces and allow for greater infiltration and percolation than ____________ -type soils, which have more pore space and can hold more water.

Sandy, Clay

Where does the energy to drive the hydrologic cycle come from?

The Sun

Which of the following is the largest reservoir within the hydrologic cycle? a. Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets/cap b. the oceans c. groundwater d. the atmosphere

The oceans

The process by which water is taken up by plants and released into the atmosphere is called

Transpiration

(T/F) Withdrawing water from an aquifer can affect the depth to the local water table.

True

Condensation is water coming out of the air.

True

Sea water is slightly more basic (the pH value is higher) than most natural fresh water.

True

To accurately read water height in a glass rain gauge, you read the center of the water column, not the edge (meniscus) where the water meets the glass.

True

Surface runoff occurs when the precipitation rate is _____ the infiltration rate.

greater than