The Hydrosphere KEY POINTS:

The planet consists of 4 spheres: the atmosphere, the biosphere, the hydrosphere, and the geosphere

The earth is the only known planet in our solar system with liquid water

The earth consists of approx. 71% water and 29% land

The earth’s water is 97% salt water / 3% freshwaterOf that 3%, 2 percent is frozen – not accessibleTherefore, only 1% of all the water on earth is

usable water (it’s actually less than 1% because most of that 1% is groundwater, but I’m rounding for now)

Earth’s Oceans

Ocean FloorContinental shelf – starts at the shore and

slopes into the oceanContinental slope – where the slope starts to

get deeperAbyssal plain – huge, dark flat region that

encompasses most of the ocean floor / covered with mud and remains of marine life

Mid-ocean ridge – underwater mountain rangeOcean trench – large, V-shaped valley

Where does the salt come from?

Main reason – surface water washes over rock containing salts such as sodium chloride (common table salt)

Also: Volcanoes

UpwellingWater that rises to the surface as a result of

upwelling is typically colder and is rich in nutrients. These nutrients “fertilize” surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often have high biological productivity.  Therefore, good fishing grounds typically are found where upwelling is common.

Measuring Water DepthToday's oceanographers use sonar instruments to generate a sound signal that is bounced or "echoed" off the sea floor and then recorded on board the ship. The speed of sound in water is 1,500 m per second, four times faster than the speed of sound in air. By carefully measuring the round-trip time of the sound waves and taking into account the variables of temperature and salinity, the depth of the water and the distance to another object can be measured accurately.

ProducersMain producers – algae, phytoplanktonLive in upper regionPerform photosynthesisSome are microscopicUse nutrients from upwellings to increase

population

ConsumersZooplankton (microscopic organisms that feed

on producers)Majority of marine life: fish, sharks, lobster, etc.

3 Major Marine Ecosystems

Shore – ocean meets landOpen ocean – away from shore, but not deep

oceanDeep ocean – deepest parts (abysmal plain)

Put up diagram on elmo to copy in notes

Shore ecosystemOcean meets landLots of light / shallow waterWaves and tides – few plantsSnails, crabs, mussels, clams, marine wormsTide pools fill with algae, sea urchins, etc.Shore birds join ecosystem

The Open OceanAway from shore / not deepVast / variety of organismsSunlight can reach about 200 meters =

producersMany types of fish will life in the upper region

with the producersJellyfish, fish, and squid can live below the

sunlight level. They eat what drifts down * some large consumers, like whales, live in the

upper region, but dive down to feed on the animals in the deeper ocean

The Deep OceanThousands of meters below the surfaceAbyssal plain / No light – no photosynthesisWater is cold / pressure is greatThermal vents (openings in the ocean floor)

release heat, creating areas of warmthAutotrophs live around these vents and use

chemosynthesis to surviveChemosynthesis – use energy stored in

chemical bonds to make food

Some Hydrosphere VocabularyHydrosphere – all of the water found on,

above, and under the earth’s surfaceFreshwater – water that is not saltyGroundwater – water located below the earth’s

surfaceAquifer – a rock layer that stores and collects

waterWatershed – an area of land that drains into a

stream, lake, river, or other body of waterEstuary – a place where freshwater from a river

meets and mixes with saltwater from an ocean

Ocean Basin – A part of the Earth’s surface that is covered by ocean water

Salinity – the saltiness of a body of waterPollution – the release of an unwanted

substance into the environmentMarine – found in or relating to the oceanUpwelling – the movement of cold, nutrient-rich

water from deep layers of the ocean up to the surface

Chemosynthesis – the process by which some organisms use the energy stored in chemical bonds to make their own food

Stewardship – the following of practices that protect Earth’s resources

Pollutant – a harmful material released into the environment

Point-source pollution – pollution that comes from a single, identifiable site

Non-point-source pollution – pollution that comes from many places or an unidentified source

Algal Bloom – an extremely rapid growth of algae caused by too many nutrients in the water

pH – a measure of how acidic or how basic a liquid is

Turbidity – a measure of how clear water is

Bioindicator – an organism used to monitor the health of an ecosystem

Monday, Jan. 7, 2013BRAINTEASER

What is the most abundant source of freshwater in North Carolina?

List 3 things people do in their homes that damage our local water supply.

WatershedsWhat are they?

and Why Should I Care?

A Divide separates two watersheds

What is a Watershed?An area of land that drains water, sediment, and pollutants into a common body of water.

Watersheds are separated by higher land areas called divides (mountains, ridges, etc.).

Water in a WatershedWithin a watershed, precipitation collects and drains into a river, lake, stream, or the ocean

GROUNDWATER and SURFACE WATER both contribute to the water in a watershed

Watersheds collect RunOff

Factors Affecting Runoff - Space

1. The amount of space between particles of dirt, soil & rock.

(Pavement doesn’t allow runoff to soak into the ground.)

Pervious

Impervious

Porous

PermeableImpermeabl

e

Factors affecting RunOff - Buffers

Factors affecting Runoff – Amount(A large amount of rainfall over a short amount of time)

Factors affecting RunOff – GravityWater moves from

Higher elevations to Lower elevations

What is the difference between a watershed and a river basin?Both terms describe land that drains

into a river, stream or lake

Watershed vs River BasinBoth terms describe land that

drains into a river, stream or lake, but…River Basin: drains into a large

riverWatershed: drains into a smaller

river or stream

From Watershed to River Basin

Larger river basins are made up of many interconnected watershedsExample: Cape Fear and Neuse River

Basins are made of many small watersheds

The water in a watershed runs to the lowest point—a river, stream, lake, or the ocean

Tributaries: Smaller streams and rivers that feed a main river.A river and its tributaries make up a

river system.

STOP PointSplit up into groups / Go over directions for

making your watersheds / Divide up the jobs and set up your game plan

Throughout the week, we will work on our watersheds after discussing pertinent information

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013• What is a watershed, and why are they necessary?

Why is it important to monitor the health of your local watershed?

Wed., Jan. 9, 2013BRAINTEASER

What do Wetlands do that helps our ecosystem? (3 main things)

Can water from a stream on a mountain affect an estuary hundreds of kilometers away? EXPLAIN!

POLLUTIONPollutantsPoint-Source PollutionNon-Point-Source Pollution

Pollution in our Watershed

•Point Source pollution

• Point source pollution comes from a definite source:– Factories– Refineries– Municipal Facility

• Sewage Treatment Plant

Pollution in our Watershed

• Non-Point Source PollutionPollution that does not come from a single point or location.

Pollution in our Watershed

• Point Source Pollution

•35%

• Non- Point Source Pollution

•65%

STEWARDSHIPNow that you know most

pollution doesn’t come from big business, but from everywhere and everyone, what can we do to help fix this serious problem?

STEWARDSHIP – Following practices that protect Earth’s resources

REMEMBER!A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT STARTS WITH

YOU!

STOP POINT!WORK ON WATERSHEDS

Thurs., Jan. 10, 2013How does the weather affect

water quality?

We are using a sponge to represent the wetland, what do you suppose a wetland does?

Other water sourcesGroundwaterAquiferWetlandEstuary

DO YOU REMEMBER: Where else does the water go?

What is groundwater?The water found in cracks and

pores in sand, gravel and rocks below the earth’s surface

What is an aquifer?A porous rock layer underground

that is a reservoir for water

AquifersThe freshwater we drink

often comes from aquifersPeople drill wells into

aquifersSome are near the surface;

others are as much as 1000 meters below the surface

Other areas of Surface Water

What is a wetland?An area where the water table is at, near or above the land surface long enough during the year to support adapted plant growth

What are the types of wetlands?

Swamps, bogs, and marshesSwamp: a wetland dominated

by treesBogs: a wetland dominated by

peat mossMarshes: a wetland dominated

by grasses

Why are Wetlands Important?

They trap sediment:The trapped sediment cannot enter into

lakes and streams. This keeps streams and lakes clear.

They use a lot of excess nutrients:Wetlands near lakes and streams use these

nutrients for their plant growth. Decreasing eutrophication.

Wetlands provide habitats for both water and land animals.

ONE PERSON from each group go and get your watershed

We are going to send one person around with the pollutants for your watershed. Sprinkle a little bit in the correct areas.

Chocolate = manure / eroded soilOrange = agriculture chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers)

Green = lawn care chemicals

LET IT RAIN!Today, the forecast calls for RAIN! WHEN I TELL YOU TO: Use the spray bottle to

rain in the mountains.The colors will mix with the water to show how

pollution can wash through a watershed (RUNOFF)

Let’s compare the projects with buffers and the projects without buffers…

Follow upAnswer follow up questions based on your

observations and what you learned this week.

Other areas of surface water - Estuaries

What is an Estuary?A body of water in which freshwater from a river

meets and mixes with salt water from the oceanThe NEUSE RIVER flows into the PAMLICO

SOUND (an estuary)The CAPE FEAR RIVER flows directly into the

ATLANTIC OCEAN

ESTUARY INFO:Nursery Habitats – rich in nutrients and plant

life (food and places to hide)Feeding GroundsA lot of biodiversityMost of our seafood comes from them (fish,

shrimp, clams, crab, etc.)Water is BRACKISHOther names: inlets, bays, harbors, lagoons,

and sounds

Salinityis the saltiness or dissolved salt

content of a body of water or in soil. Salinity levels vary in different parts

of the oceanTypically 3.5%Challenge Question: Who can

explain the logic behind this statement???

Salinity is lower where precipitation is higher than evaporation.

Monday, Jan. 14, 2013Name at least 2 examples of Point source

pollution and 2 examples of Non-point-source pollution.

Many people enjoy spending time on sailboats and motorboats. How can these people avoid contributing to water pollution?

Water QualityScientists test water quality with thermometers

and water metersThey also collect water samples to check for

substances dissolved in the water, temperature of the water, and kinds of organisms that live there

Factors that affect water quality

Seasonal changes in temperature affect oxygen levels

Weather affects quality due to erosion during heavy rain storms

Depth of the water and speed of the currents affect the quality

Human activity (adding chemicals)

Physical IndicatorsDissolved Oxygen and Temperature

Colder water holds more oxygen than warmer waterAs the temperature increases – The dissolved oxygen

decreasesHealthy water has med. to cold water and heavily

dissolved oxygen levelsIf the water gets to hot, fish kills can occur (an event

where a large number of fish die)

Physical IndicatorsPH

A measure of how acidic or basic a liquid isA ph scale is numbered 0-14 / 7 is nuetralBelow seven is acidic / above seven is basicSea water is around 8.0 or 9.0 – slightly basicAcid rain makes water too acidic (low ph)Too much algae makes water too basic (high

ph)

Physical IndicatorsTurbidity

A measure of how clean water isHigh turbidity (cloudy water) is UnhealthySoil from runoff can cause high turbidity – not

always permanentRapid growth of algae = high turbidityMarine life need clear water so that they can get

sunlight

Chemical Indicators of unhealthy water

High levels of nitrates and phosphates (found in fertilizers) = algal blooms

Algal bloom – extremely rapid growth of algae

They block sunlight can cause high turbidity

Example: Pfiesteria (found in NC) is poisonous

Dead ZonesWhen algae and other aquatic plants grow in

large numbers, they use up all of their resources and die off. As decomposers break down their remains, they use up a lot of oxygen. As oxygen levels get low, other marine life die. This is called a low oxygen DEAD ZONE. The dead algae sinks to the bottom of the ocean, where the oxygen can’t be replaced easily due to lack of sunlight.

Biological IndicatorsBioindicators – organisms used to monitor the

health of an ecosystemEX: fish require a lot of oxygen – a lot of trout

would mean healthy waterA lot of diversity = healthy waterA lot of Insect Larvae = clean waterBUT Blackfly larvae = polluted water because

they can handle the polluted water

Stop Point – TEST WATER SAMPLES

Draw chart from the board on your paperAfter testing answer the following questions:

Is your water acidic or basic? Explain.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that the pH of drinking water be between 6.5 and 8.5. Does the pH of your water fall in this range?

What’s wrong with this picture