Surface water lesson

Surface Water

Where is Earth's freshwater found and stored?

Poll

What percentage of Earth's water is ocean?

• 3%

• 50%

• 97%

• 99%

Poll

What percentage of Earth's freshwater is not found in the ocean?

• 3%

• 50%

• 97%

• 99%

vocabulary words

(words to know)

divide

the boundary that separates one watershed from another

fresh water

any water not found in oceans or seas

groundwater

the water stored in the ground

reservoir

a large natural or human-made lake used to supply water

river system

a river and all its tributaries

runoff

the water that flows over the ground surface

tributary

a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake

watershed

an area of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers or seas

wetland

an area of land covered by shallow water part or all of the year

The Water Cycle

Life on Earth could not exist without water or the water cycle.

The Water Cycle

• The water cycle is the process of water circulating through the air, land, and oceans.

• Surface water evaporates into the atmosphere and becomes water vapor

• Water vapor later condenses and falls back to the surface as precipitation . 

Fresh Water on Earth 

Fresh water is any water not found in oceans and seas. 

Fresh Water on Earth 

• This includes ice sheets, lakes, rivers, groundwater, and water vapor

• Only 3 percent of Earth’s water is fresh water

• 75 percent of fresh water is frozen .

• Most of the remaining 25 percent is groundwater.

Multiple Select

Where is fresh water on Earth found?

• ice sheets

• lakes

• rivers

• groundwater

Multiple Choice

What percentage of Earth’s water is fresh water?

• 3%

• 75%

• 25%

• 99%

Multiple Choice

What percentage of fresh water is frozen?

• 3%

• 75%

• 25%

• 99%

Multiple Choice

What percentage of fresh water is groundwater?

• 3%

• 75%

• 25%

• 99%

Ice Sheets

Ice sheets make up approximately 75 percent of Earth’s fresh water

Ice Sheets

• Ice sheets are found near the poles and cover most of Antarctica and Greenland.

• Pieces that break off are called icebergs .

• Slowly melt as they drift toward warmer waters

Poll

Where are ice sheets found?

• Iceland

• Greenland

• Japan

• Antarctica

icebergs

Pieces that break off of ice sheets are called icebergs

Rivers and Lakes

Rivers and lakes are important sources of fresh water. They provide water for:

Open Ended

transportation

Open Ended

habitats

Open Ended

economic activities

Open Ended

tourism

Open Ended

drinking water

Open Ended

hydroelectric power

Groundwater

The largest source of Earth’s usable fresh water is groundwater

Groundwater

• Found below Earth’s surface between soil and rocks

• Supplies drinking water

• Used for irrigation

• Feeds lakes and rivers with water

Multiple Choice

What are three uses for groundwater?

• It is made of ice, Feeds lakes and rivers with water, Supplies drinking water, Used for irrigation

• Supplies drinking water, Feeds lakes and rivers with water, Supplies drinking water, Used for irrigation

• Supplies drinking water, good place to fish, Supplies drinking water, Used for irrigation

• Supplies drinking water, Feeds lakes and rivers with water, Supplies drinking water, Used for ice skating

A River’s Beginning

Rivers usually begin in mountainous regions.

A River’s Beginning

• Runoff from rain and melting snow forms streams.

• Streams combine with other streams to form small rivers and then larger rivers.

Multiple Select

Where do rivers start?

• in the sky

• in the artic

• in the mountains

• in the city

Tributaries

Small streams and rivers that combine to form larger rivers are called tributaries.

Tributaries

• Tributaries always flow toward the main river

• A river and all its tributaries make up a river system.

Multiple Choice

What do tributaries run into?

• groundwater

• ocean

• larger rivers

• lakes

Watersheds

The land area that supplies water to a river system is called a watershed.

Watersheds

• Watersheds are also called drainage basins. 

• Water is shed from the land after rain falls or snow melts.

Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Chesapeake Bay is a body of water that connects to the Atlantic Ocean

Chesapeake Bay Watershed

• Located in Maryland and Virginia

• Is one of the largest watersheds in the United States

Chesapeake Bay Watershed

• The Chesapeake Bay Watershed covers parts of six states and Washington, DC.

• Contains more than 100,000 tributaries

Poll

What do watersheds supply water to?

• river systems

• ponds

• lakes

• Bogs

Divides 

Watersheds are separated by ridges called divides

Divides 

• The divide is a ridge of high elevation .

• Streams on each side of the divide feed into different river systems.

The Continental Divide

The Continental Divide, also called the Great Divide, is the divide that separates North America into two watersheds.

The Continental Divide

• This divide separates the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds.

• The Great Divide is located in the Rocky Mountains.

Ponds

A pond is a small body of still fresh water

Ponds

• Ponds are smaller and shallower than lakes.

• Sunlight reaches the bottom.

• Water collects in low-lying areas.

• Small rivers or groundwater feed ponds.

• Water may flow out.

Multiple Choice

Ponds are smaller, and sunlight reaches the bottom.

• larger, and sunlight reaches the bottom

• smaller, and sunlight reaches the bottom

• smaller, and sunlight does not reach the bottom

Lakes

Lakes are larger bodies of still fresh water

Lakes

• Lakes are deeper and larger than ponds.

• Sunlight does not reach the bottom of lakes.

• No plant growth

• Few other organisms

• Cold, dark water

Multiple Choice

Lakes are

• larger, deeper, and colder with less plant growth

• smaller, deeper, and colder with less plant growth

• larger, deeper, and warmer with less plant growth

How Lakes Form

Lakes form in a variety of ways.

How Lakes Form

• Water from rain and snowmelt collects in an area of low -lying land.

• Depressions that fill with water are created by melting ice sheets.

• Low areas that fill with water can be created by the movement of Earth’s crust

• Lava or mudflows can block a river

• Humans can use dams to create reservoirs .

Wetlands

A land area covered with water for part or all of the year is called a wetland.

Wetlands

• Wetlands form where water is trapped in low areas.

• Wetlands also form where groundwater comes to the surface.

• Some wetlands fill up in the spring but dry up during summer.

Importance of Wetlands

Wetlands are important for a variety of reasons.

Importance of Wetlands

• Protect and improve water quality by filtering water

• Provide fish and wildlife habitats

• Store floodwaters 

• Maintain surface water flow during dry periods

Marshes, Swamps, and Bogs 

Three types of freshwater wetlands exist.

Marshes, Swamps, and Bogs 

• Marshes —grassy, covered by shallow water or stream 

• Swamps —look like flooded forests 

• Bogs —found in cool northern areas, highly acidic

Multiple Select

What are the three types of wetlands?

• lakes

• Bogs

• rivers

• Marshes

• Swamps

Coastal Wetlands

Coastal wetlands are a mixture of salt water and fresh water. 

Coastal Wetlands

• Include salt marshes and mangrove trees

• Hold soil in place with their roots and absorb the energy of waves on the shore