“Where’s Water?” Unit: Surface Water Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds
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Transcript of “Where’s Water?” Unit: Surface Water Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds
““Where’s Water?” Unit: Surface Water Where’s Water?” Unit: Surface Water
Rivers, Lakes, and PondsRivers, Lakes, and Ponds
River SystemsRiver Systems
The streams and smaller rivers that feed into a main river are called tributaries
Tributaries flow downward toward the main river, pulled by the force of gravity
A river and all its tributaries together make up a river system
River FeaturesRiver Features
Headwaters Tributaries Flood plain Oxbow lake Meander Mouth Delta Estuary
River FeaturesRiver FeaturesThe many small streams that come together
at the source (beginning) of a river are called its headwaters
The steep slope of the land causes the river to flow quickly
River FeaturesRiver FeaturesMeandersMeanders-looping curves in a riverMeanders can curve back on themselves.
The river may then cut a new, straight course, eventually leaving an oxbow lake
HorseshoeHorseshoeBendBend
of the Colorado River of the Colorado River near Page, AZnear Page, AZ
Ox Bow lake on MississippiOx Bow lake on Mississippi
River FeaturesRiver Features
The broad, flat valley through which a river flows is its flood plain
River FeaturesRiver FeaturesThe mouth of a river is where the river
flows into another body of waterA delta is created when the river slows
down and deposits the sediment it was carrying
Delta Formation
DEPOSITON OF MATERIAL BY THE RIVER WHEN IT ENTERS THE SEADEPOSITON OF MATERIAL BY THE RIVER WHEN IT ENTERS THE SEA
Mississippi Delta from Space Mississippi Delta from Space
MISSISSIPPI
WatershedsWatershedsThe land area that supplies water to a river
system is called a watershedWatersheds are sometimes known as
drainage basinsWe live in the Delaware River Watershed
DividesDivides
A ridge of land that separates one watershed from another is called a divide
Mountains are an example of a divide
DividesDivides
EstuariesEstuaries
An estuary is a coastal inlet or bay where fresh water from rivers mix with salty ocean water
Surface Water Part II: Surface Water Part II: Ponds and LakesPonds and Lakes
PondsPonds
Ponds are freshwaterPonds are shallowPonds form when
water collects in
low-lying areas of land
Plants grow at the bottom of ponds
LakesLakesLakes are freshwaterLakes are deepLakes form when
water collects in low-lying areas of land
Plants do not grow at the bottom of deep lakes
Lake Baikal, Russia
Lake FormationLake Formation
Lakes can be formed by natural processes or human efforts:
1. Volcanic lakes2. Glacier- made lakes3. Human- made lakes
A lake that stores water for human use is called a reservoir
Volcanic LakeVolcanic Lake
Glacier-Made LakesGlacier-Made Lakes
Human-Made LakesHuman-Made Lakes
Lakes Can ChangeLakes Can Change
Seasonal changes- water temperature at different depths changes during the year
Lake turnover-nutrients mixNutrients-substances such as
nitrogen and phosphorous that plants and algae grow
Lakes Can ChangeLakes Can Change
Long-term changesEutrophication-Algae and scum
forms on the surface of the water becomes so thick that it blocks out
sunlight and plants cannot carry out photosynthesis
Death of a body of fresh water
EutrophicationEutrophication
EutrophicationEutrophication
Ponds and LakesPonds and Lakes
SAME Freshwater Still, standing water Form when water
collects in hollows and low-lying areas of land
DIFFERENT Lakes are deeper Plants don’t grow at the
bottom of deep lakes Sunlight cannot reach
the bottom of a deep lake and photosynthesis cannot occur
Crater Lake and Lake Nyos LinksCrater Lake and Lake Nyos Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crater_lakehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/sto
ries/august/21/newsid_3380000/3380803.stm