Water and Environmental Science

reservoir

• A large container for storing liquids

• A natural or artificial lake that holds a supply of water

• A type of water purification system

• A structure for diverting water from a river

hydrosphere

• the combined amount of all water found on Earth, including the water vapor in the atmosphere, the surface water, and the water found underground

• the layer of gases surrounding the planet

• the solid outer part of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle

• the region of the Earth where living organisms exist, including land, water, and air

watershed

• all of the land that drains precipitation and runoff into a river

• a small stream that flows into a larger river

• a region characterized by high rainfall and dense forests

• an area where water is stored underground

recharge

• occurs when water seeps into the ground and enters the aquifer

• is the process of water being used up by plants

• happens when water evaporates from the surface

• is the collection of water in rivers and lakes

coalescence

• the process by which droplets of water collect on dust or other particles, creating droplets

• the process of separating water into individual molecules

• the method of filtering water to remove impurities

• the technique of freezing water to form ice crystals

aquifer

• area of rock or sediment that holds groundwater

• layer of soil that prevents water from passing through

• source of surface water such as rivers and lakes

• type of vegetation that grows in wetland areas

adhesion

• the attraction between water molecules and other molecules

• the process of water evaporating

• the ability of water to dissolve substances

• the movement of water through soil

estuary

• an area where a river meets the ocean and has a lower salinity than the ocean but higher salinity than the river

• a freshwater lake that is completely surrounded by land

• a coastal area where the ocean meets the land and is characterized by high salinity

• a river that flows into another river and is known for its high sediment content

condensation

• the process by which a gas changes to a liquid

• the process by which a liquid changes to a gas

• the process of solidifying a gas

• the process of evaporating a liquid

wetland

• an area that is covered by water, either permanently or intermittently, and it is always saturated with water

• a dry area that is often used for agriculture

• a region characterized by high temperatures and low precipitation

• a type of forest that is flooded with saltwater