Water on Earth
Water on Earth
Topic 2: How Water Affects The Earth
Waves, Tides, and Currents
Waves: Movements along the surface of water caused by wind
  • Waves move in a circular motion - ↺

    • Currents: Streams of seawater that circulate throught the ocean.
  • Currents are influenced by many things.

    • Tides: The regular rising and falling of large bodies of water.
  • Caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.

  • High Tide: Beside the moon, parallel.
  • Low Tide: Above and below the moon, perpendicular.

  • Spring Tide: Below or Above the moon, perpendicular.
  • Neap Tide: Below or Above the moon, perpendicular.

    • Glacial Action
    What is a Glacier?
  • Large bodies of Ice formed from snow that does not completely melt.
  • Gravity causes glaciers to move downslope and away from their source.

    • What is an Advancing Glacier?
  • A glacier that is moving forward, away from it's source.

  • What is a Retreating Glacier?
  • A glacier that is moving backwards, towards the source. Getting smaller.
  • Glaciers retreat due to warmth.

    • Evidence of Glacial Movement
    U Shaped Valley: Valleys carved out by glaciers, indicating a glacier was once present

    Moraines: Built up structure on the sides of a glacier.

    Drumlins: Oval or Elongated hills that form below the surface of a glacier.

    Topic 3: Aquatic Ecosystems
    Adaptations


    The main focus of this topic is to be able to differentiate and list examples of physical and behavioral adapatations, mainly focused in aquatic ecosystems.

    Well, what is an adaptation?

  • Adaptation: a physical structure or behavior that allows an organism to better survive in it's enviroment

    • Okay, but let's go even further.
  • Physical Adaptation: A physical change on an organism's body to suit their needs
  • Behavioral Adaptation: A behavioral change on an organism's body to suit their needs

    • All organisms need oxygen to survive. Aquatic organisms have adpated themselves to a life in water by various means. They take in dissolved oxygen that is in the water or, come up to the surface for air.
  • Gills: used by Fish and other aquatic creatures like Prawns, and Crabs
  • Blowhole: Located on the top of Dolphin and Whale heads, they have prolonged underwater breathing. They come up to the surface to take breaths.
  • Through the Skin: Most water based reptiles don't have lungs or gils. Instead they breathe directly through their skin

    • Moving in water presents difficulty, have you ever tried running in water? This is caused from water being a thicker medium than air.
  • Streamlined Shape: The body of a fish is long, thin and pointed at both ends. A streamlined shape moves faster through water.
  • Webbed Feet: Ideal for animals that swim, amphibians and birds have this.
  • Flippers: Mammals like Dolphins have flippers, they act as efficient paddles that help steer through the water.

    • Ocean water is colder than air, aquatic animals need to survive winter under ice.
  • Antifreeze Blood: Antarctic fish have this, Fish have special proteins in their blood that prevents ice crystals.
  • Blubber: A thick layer of fat beneath the skin that helps keep the body warm. See; Seals, Whales, and Walruses.

    • The Earth has Seasonal Changes
    , It's when an event happens routinely year by year, an event that significantly changes weather for many months.
  • Eutrophication: an excess algae growth caused by fertilizers; is an example of a seasonal change
  • Salmon Run
  • Sardine Run

    • Short Term Changes
     refer to inconsistent temporary changes that don't happen routinely. Like;
  • El Nino
  • Flooding or Raised Water Levels
  • Drought
  • Forest Fires

    • Long Term Changes
     refer to change that has a permanent effect on an ecosystem. Like;
  • Ice ages
  • Ocean Acidification

    • Pollution Today
    Water is essential for all life, but are we making sure it stays clean?

    What is Water Pollution?
  • Water becomes polluted when harmful substances eneter it. Polluted water is toxic to ecosystems and human consumption.

    • Where can water pollution be commonly found?
  • Surface Water - Lakes, rivers, ponds and oceans.
  • Groundwater - Which is our most important resource for drinking water.

    • What are the main sources of pollution?
  • Agriculture - Runoff brings fertilizer chemicals into water sources, causing eutrophication.
  • Wastewater and Stormwater - Sinks, showers, toilets, and hoses produce wastewater.
  • Oil Pollution - Oil and gasoline contribute a large portion to pollution.
  • Radioactive Substances - Emitting radiation which release into waters.

    • Ocean acidification is an increase in acidity (lower pH levels) of ocean water that are harmful to ocean ecosystems.