Hydrology - Pollution

The two most profitable and industrial resources extracted from the continental shelf are

• sand/gravel

• oil

• metals/ores

• methane gas

The type of pollution where the origin of the pollution (often times human beings) can be designated.

• Point Source Pollution

• Non-Point Pollution

• Ground Water Pollution

The type of pollution where the origin of the pollution is difficult to pinpoint.

• Point Source Pollution

• Non-Point Pollution

• Ground Water Pollution

The most dangerous type of pollution for us as humans. It is almost impossible to remove the pollution once it occurs.

• Point Source Pollution

• Non-Point Pollution

• Ground Water Pollution

Answer explanation

Water containing chemicals, road salt, fertilizer, sewage, or other pollutants may find its way into groundwater and aquifers in a region through infiltration.

Polluted water sources (particularly plastics) are able to travel world-wide on the ocean’s currents

• True

• False

Which of the following is the most common source of ocean pollution.

• Sewage

• Farming

• Off-Shore Drilling

• Tourism

If a body of water has high turbidity levels, what can most likely be concluded?

• It has a low pH (acidic)

• It is too hot to drink

• It is unsafe to drink

• it contains a lot of chemicals

Answer explanation

High turbidity means that there are a lot of particles suspended in the water and light cannot get through. Low turbidity means that there are fewer particles in the water and it is more clear. Turbidity in a stream may increase from: soil erosion.

Which is the most common contamination source for freshwater resources?

• runoff

• digging wells

• melting glaciers

• lightning

Some factories can increase the amount of thermal pollution by dumping heated water into lakes and rivers.

How can this type of pollution affect aquatic environments?

• It can reduce the number of aquatic species in the environment.

• It can increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the environment.

• It can reduce the decomposition rate of organisms in the environment.

• It can increase the life expectancy of animals in the aquatic environment.

Estuaries are marine environments located in areas where fresh water from rivers flow into the ocean.

Estuaries are one of the most biologically productive ecosystems. Birds, fish, turtles and many other organisms inhabit these ecosystems.

Which will most likely cause changes to estuary habitats on a global scale?

• decreases in powerful hurricanes

• increases in earthquakes

• decreases in volcanic eruptions

• increases in sea level