Hydrology EOG Evaluation

How would a large increase in the salinity of an estuary most likely affect the ecosystem of the estuary?

• All organisms would die.

• All organisms would continue to live as they now do.

• The number of salt-tolerant organisms would increase, and the number of salt-intolerant organisms would decrease.

• The number of salt-intolerant organisms would increase, and the number of salt-tolerant organisms would decrease

Answer explanation

A large increase in the salinity of an estuary would help the salt-tolerant organisms, and the number of salt-intolerant organisms would decrease.

An example might be a large storm surge of ocean water that overflows the beaches into an estuary.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which would indicate the water in a lake is not safe for drinking?

• many varieties of fish in the lake

• high dissolved-oxygen levels in the lake

• cold water temperature of the lake

• high turbidity levels in the lake

Answer explanation

many varieties of fish in the lake is a sign of "healthy" water

high dissolved-oxygen levels in the lake is a sign of "healthy" water

cold water temperature of the lake is a sign of "healthy" water

high turbidity (mud/dirt) levels in the lake is a sign of "unhealthy" water

Which best explains why all of the Earth’s freshwater is not available for human use?

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is only in lakes.

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is underground.

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is still in the water cycle.

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is frozen water.

Answer explanation

About 3% of Earth is freshwater.

Of that 3%, almost 70% is frozen at the North & South Poles and at the tops of mountains.

Less that 1% of freshwater is available for human use.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

How can upwellings improve fishing for ocean fishermen?

• hey cause the ocean water to get warmer.

• They cause ocean currents to remain calm.

• They bring nutrients from the cold, deep ocean waters.

• They bring ocean currents from the equator.

Answer explanation

Upwellings is the term where deep ocean currents bring nutrients from the cold, deep for fish to feed on.

This attracts small fish, which attract larger fish, which attract even larger fish.

Therfore, upwellings are great for fishing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

If a lake has excess levels of phosphates and nitrates in its water, what will most likely result?

• The temperature of the lake water will decrease.

• The turbidity levels of the lake will decrease.

• The dissolved-oxygen levels in the lake will increase.

• The growth of algae in the lake will increase.

Answer explanation

Excess levels of phosphates and nitrates in a lake, the growth of algae in the lake will increase because of the extra nutrients.

In that process algae will use up the dissolved oxygen in the water and the fish will die because of the lack of dissolved oxygen.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which action shows concern for the environment with regards to the resources of the oceans?

• developing technology which will allow for an increase in fish harvesting

• allowing factories to release untreated wastewater into the oceans

• filling in oceanfront wetlands in order to extend beachfront properties

• setting limits on fish harvesting in the oceans

Answer explanation

Resources in the oceans include fish. A healthy food source.

Overfishing has become a serious problem for the oceans.

Setting limits on the amount of fish being harvested allows the fish to repopulate.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

What effect does the water cycle have on the total amount of water on Earth?

• The total amount of water on Earth is constantly increasing.

• The total amount of water on Earth is constantly decreasing.

• The total amount of water on Earth remains relatively constant.

• The total amount of water on Earth changes due to periods of global warming and cooling

Answer explanation

The water cycle includes all of the water on Earth?

The total amount of water on Earth remains relatively constant (the same) unless astonauts take it into space.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which characteristic of water quality provides the most information regarding the health of a water system?

• clarity

• temperature

• concentration of heavy metals

• presence of indicator species

Answer explanation

An indicator species is also known as a bioindicator.

Indicator species are organisms that can tell us about the levels of pollution in an area by their presence or absence.

An example of an indicator species may be a frog. Frogs are very suspectable to death from chemicals. If there are no frogs in a pond, the pond may be polluted.

Where is most of Earth’s freshwater located?

• in the clouds

• in the ice caps

• in the ocean

• in the ground

Answer explanation

Most of Earth’s freshwater is located in the ice caps (North & South Poles and mountain tops.

The ocean is salt water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4