passes through living organisms and returns to the oceans.
How much water evaporates each year from the world's oceans? - ANSWER 500,000km
Three principal factors controlling global water deficits and surpluses: - ANSWER Global
atmospheric circulation, proximity to water sources, and topography.
Rain Shadow Effect - ANSWER Cool, dry air descends from the mountaintop down the
other side of the mountain (leeward side) creating dry areas with very little precipitation.
How much liquid water do the oceans hold? - ANSWER 97%
Oceans role: - ANSWER Play major role in moderating earth's climate. The currents mod-
erate climate by redistributing warm and cold water around the earth.
How much of the world's water is classified as fresh? - ANSWER 2.4%
Groundwater - ANSWER Second largest reservoir of fresh water.
Infiltration - ANSWER Process of water percolating through the soil and into fractures and
permeable rocks.
Zone of aeration - ANSWER Upper soil layers that hold both air and water.
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, Zone of saturation - ANSWER Lower soil layers where all spaces are filled with water.
Water table - ANSWER Top of zone of saturation.
Aquifers - ANSWER Porous layers of sand, gravel, or rock lying below the water table.
Artesian - ANSWER Pressurized aquifer intersects the surface (water flows without pump-
ing).
Recharge zones - ANSWER Areas where water infiltrates into an aquifer.
Smallest water reservoirs - ANSWER Contains < 0.001% of total water supply.
How many gallons per person per year needed to meet needs (According to UN)? - AN-
SWER 264,172 gallons
Water Stress - ANSWER Occurs when human and ecosystem needs exceed the renewable
water supplies, resulting in competition.
Withdrawal - ANSWER Total amount of water removed from a water body.
Consumption - ANSWER Loss of water due to evaporation, absorption, or contamination.
How much water does agriculture claim? - ANSWER 70% of total water withdrawal and
85% of consumption.
What fraction of people lack indoor plumbing? - ANSWER 2/3 of the worlds population.
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