Hydrosphere

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What is the hydrosphere?

Back

The hydrosphere is the combined mass of water found on, under, and above the surface of a planet, including oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and groundwater.

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What is freshwater?

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Freshwater is water that has a low concentration of dissolved salts, found in rivers, lakes, and glaciers, and is essential for drinking, agriculture, and sanitation.

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What is the water table?

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The water table is the boundary between the zone of saturation, where soil and rock are fully saturated with water, and the unsaturated zone above it.

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What are ocean currents?

Back

Ocean currents are large-scale movements of water within the world's oceans, driven by factors such as wind, water density differences, and the Earth's rotation.

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What is a watershed?

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A watershed is an area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet, such as a river, lake, or ocean.

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What is the difference between surface water and groundwater?

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Surface water is found in bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and ponds, while groundwater is water that is stored beneath the Earth's surface in soil and rock formations.

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What is a groin in coastal management?

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A groin is a structure built out from a beach to prevent erosion and control sediment movement by trapping sand carried by longshore currents.

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What causes ocean currents?

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Ocean currents are caused by wind, the rotation of the Earth, differences in water temperature and salinity, and the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.

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What is an aquifer?

Back

An aquifer is a geological formation that can store and transmit water, providing a source of groundwater for wells and springs.

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What is longshore drift?

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Longshore drift is the process by which sand and sediment are transported along a beach by the action of waves and currents.