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6: Surface Water

Last updated

Apr 1, 2025
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- 5.4: Volcanic Eruptions
- 6.1: Earth’s Fresh Water

Lumen Learning
Lumen Learning

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6.1: Earth’s Fresh Water
This page discusses the vital role of water on Earth, covering its properties in solid, liquid, and gas states. It notes that 97% of Earth's water is saltwater, with just 3% fresh water, mainly as ice. The hydrologic cycle, driven by solar energy, moves water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Concerns about groundwater overuse and the importance of water conservation policies are addressed.
6.2: Streams and Rivers
This page highlights the importance of freshwater in ecosystems and the water cycle. It describes streams and rivers as vital transporters of eroded materials, with streams varying in size and speed. The page details how streams carry materials through different loads and create floodplains and levees, while rivers deposit sediments forming deltas and alluvial fans. Deltas occur where river velocity decreases at ocean edges, and alluvial fans develop in flat, arid areas.
6.3: Groundwater
This page discusses groundwater as the largest freshwater reservoir found in aquifers. It explains the structure of aquifers, highlights key terms like water table and wells, and emphasizes the importance of balancing recharge and discharge for sustainability. The page warns that overuse can lead to water table decline and contamination, exemplified by the challenges facing the Ogallala Aquifer in the U.S.
6.4: Water Resources
6.5: Floods
This page discusses floods as natural events caused by excess water, often affecting low-lying areas due to heavy rainfall. It covers the sudden nature of flash floods and the role of vegetation in flood mitigation. The use of dams and levees to control floods is highlighted, along with their potential to shift flood risks. The summary emphasizes the dual nature of floods, noting their destructive impact alongside the benefits of nutrient-rich sediments for agriculture and ecosystems.
6.6: Wetlands
This page discusses wetlands as vital ecosystems characterized by water saturation and diverse vegetation, essential for water purification, flood control, and biodiversity. It highlights their roles in climate change mitigation and wastewater management. Despite their ecological importance, wetlands are threatened by human activities leading to degradation. Conservation efforts are critical, with methods such as remote sensing for monitoring.

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