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Surface water is exclusively defined as water found beneath the Earth's surface in underground aquifers.
Answer: False
Explanation: Surface water is defined as water located on top of the land, not exclusively beneath the Earth's surface in underground aquifers.
The term "blue water" is used to describe seawater and large oceanic bodies, differentiating it from land-based water.
Answer: False
Explanation: The term "blue water" is used to describe surface water, distinguishing it from seawater and large oceanic bodies.
Lakes, rivers, and wetlands are examples of semi-permanent surface water bodies.
Answer: False
Explanation: Lakes, rivers, and wetlands are examples of *permanent* surface water bodies, characterized by their year-round presence, not semi-permanent ones.
Ephemeral surface waters, such as seasonal creeks and waterholes, are characterized by their year-round presence.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ephemeral surface waters, such as seasonal creeks and waterholes, are characterized by their *intermittent* presence, existing only during specific times of the year, not year-round.
Human-made surface water bodies include natural lagoons and naturally occurring waterholes.
Answer: False
Explanation: Human-made surface water bodies include artificial lakes formed by dams and canals, not natural lagoons or naturally occurring waterholes.
A terrestrial waterbody is defined as a large body of saltwater, such as an ocean or sea.
Answer: False
Explanation: A terrestrial waterbody is defined as a body of water situated on land and surrounded by land, such as lakes and rivers, not a large body of saltwater like an ocean or sea.
Permanent surface waters are those that only exist during specific seasons or weather conditions.
Answer: False
Explanation: Permanent surface waters are those that are present *year-round*, not those that only exist during specific seasons or weather conditions.
Canals and artificial lakes formed by dams are examples of natural surface water features.
Answer: False
Explanation: Canals and artificial lakes formed by dams are examples of *human-made* surface water features, not natural ones.
What is the primary definition of surface water according to the provided text?
Answer: Water located on top of the land, forming bodies surrounded by land.
Explanation: Surface water is primarily defined as water situated on the Earth's surface, forming bodies that are surrounded by land.
Which term is used synonymously with surface water to distinguish it from seawater?
Answer: Blue water
Explanation: The term "blue water" is employed to refer to surface water, differentiating it from oceanic bodies.
Which category includes water bodies like lakes, rivers, and marshes that are present year-round?
Answer: Permanent waters
Explanation: Water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and marshes that persist throughout the year are classified as permanent surface waters.
Seasonal creeks and waterholes that exist only during specific times of the year fall under which classification?
Answer: Semi-permanent or ephemeral surface waters
Explanation: Surface water bodies characterized by their intermittent presence, such as seasonal creeks and waterholes, are classified as semi-permanent or ephemeral.
Which of the following is an example of a human-made surface water body?
Answer: An artificial lake created by a dam
Explanation: Artificial lakes formed by the construction of dams are examples of human-made surface water bodies.
Which of the following is NOT considered a permanent surface water body according to the source?
Answer: Seasonal creeks
Explanation: Seasonal creeks are characterized by their intermittent presence and are therefore not considered permanent surface water bodies, unlike lakes, rivers, and marshes.
The term "terrestrial waterbody" refers to water bodies that are:
Answer: Situated on land and surrounded by land.
Explanation: A terrestrial waterbody is defined as a body of water located on land and surrounded by land, such as lakes, rivers, and ponds.
Which type of surface water body is characterized by its intermittent presence, often existing only seasonally?
Answer: Semi-permanent or ephemeral waters
Explanation: Semi-permanent or ephemeral surface water bodies are distinguished by their intermittent presence, often existing only seasonally.
The primary origins of surface water are volcanic activity and geothermal springs.
Answer: False
Explanation: The primary origins of surface water are precipitation and snowmelt, not volcanic activity or geothermal springs.
Surface water levels can increase through infiltration, where water enters the ground.
Answer: False
Explanation: Surface water levels decrease through infiltration, as water seeps into the ground. Infiltration is a process by which water enters the soil or rock.
Evaporation is one of the two main processes by which surface water levels diminish.
Answer: True
Explanation: Evaporation, where water transforms into vapor and enters the atmosphere, is one of the two primary processes (along with infiltration) that cause surface water levels to diminish.
Annual runoff is measured as the total amount of water that evaporates from the land surface.
Answer: False
Explanation: Annual runoff is measured as the total amount of water that flows over the land surface from precipitation and snowmelt, not the amount that evaporates.
What are the two main natural sources contributing to the formation of surface water?
Answer: Precipitation and snowmelt
Explanation: The principal natural sources contributing to the formation of surface water are precipitation (rain and snow) and the subsequent melting of snow and ice.
Which process causes surface water levels to decrease by water seeping into the ground?
Answer: Infiltration
Explanation: Infiltration is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil, leading to a decrease in surface water levels as it moves into the subsurface.
What does the measurement of "annual runoff" account for regarding surface water?
Answer: Total precipitation and snowmelt minus natural water usage and losses.
Explanation: Annual runoff quantifies the total volume of precipitation and snowmelt that flows across the land surface, after accounting for factors like evapotranspiration and infiltration.
Surface water serves critical roles in agriculture, industry, and recreation, in addition to providing drinking water.
Answer: True
Explanation: Surface water is essential for numerous applications, including agriculture (irrigation), industry, recreation, and providing potable drinking water.
Hydropower is generated by using the kinetic energy of flowing surface water to operate turbines.
Answer: True
Explanation: Hydropower generation relies on harnessing the kinetic energy of flowing surface water, typically directed through turbines.
According to the EPA, the majority of community water in the U.S. comes from groundwater sources.
Answer: False
Explanation: According to the EPA, the majority of community water in the U.S. comes from *surface water* sources, not groundwater sources.
Besides providing drinking water, which of the following is a key application of surface water mentioned in the source?
Answer: Irrigation in agriculture
Explanation: Beyond its role as a source for drinking water, surface water is critically important for irrigation in agriculture, supporting crop production.
How is hydropower generated using surface water resources?
Answer: By harnessing the energy of flowing water to turn turbines.
Explanation: Hydropower is generated by utilizing the kinetic energy of flowing surface water, typically channeled through turbines connected to generators.
According to the EPA, what approximate percentage of community water in the U.S. is sourced from surface water?
Answer: 68 percent
Explanation: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that approximately 68 percent of the water supplied to communities across the United States originates from surface water sources.
According to the USGS, surface water is classified as freshwater if it contains more than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids.
Answer: False
Explanation: According to the USGS, surface water is classified as freshwater if it contains *less than* 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids.
Stream gauges are primarily used to measure water quality parameters like pH and dissolved oxygen.
Answer: False
Explanation: Stream gauges are primarily used to measure the *flow and levels* of surface water, not water quality parameters like pH and dissolved oxygen.
Data from USGS stream gages is crucial for making informed decisions about water resource allocation.
Answer: True
Explanation: Data collected by USGS stream gage networks provides essential long-term records that support informed decisions regarding water resource allocation.
Surface water and groundwater are managed independently, with no significant interaction considered.
Answer: False
Explanation: Surface water and groundwater are managed as an interconnected system, as significant interactions and mutual influences are considered in their management.
Over-pumping groundwater can negatively impact the availability of surface water sources.
Answer: True
Explanation: Over-pumping groundwater, particularly in aquifers connected to surface water bodies, can lead to the depletion of surface water sources, demonstrating their interdependence.
Aquifers are known for their rapid response times, meaning water level changes are immediately apparent.
Answer: False
Explanation: Aquifers are known for their *long* response times, meaning water level changes are not immediately apparent, which is a critical factor in water management.
Temporarily halting groundwater use during water scarcity can help preserve surface water levels.
Answer: True
Explanation: Temporarily halting groundwater usage during periods of water scarcity can help maintain healthier levels in surface water bodies by allowing them to recharge more effectively from natural sources.
The California Water Science Center monitors surface water using approximately 500 stream gauges across the state.
Answer: True
Explanation: The California Water Science Center employs a network of approximately 500 stream gauges to monitor surface water flow and runoff within the state.
What is the threshold concentration of dissolved solids, according to the USGS, for surface water to be classified as freshwater?
Answer: 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L)
Explanation: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines freshwater as surface water containing less than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids.
What is the primary function of stream gauges in monitoring surface water resources?
Answer: To measure the flow and levels of rivers and streams.
Explanation: The primary function of stream gauges is to measure and record the flow rate and water levels in rivers and streams, providing critical data for surface water monitoring.
Why is the data collected by USGS stream gage networks considered significant for water management?
Answer: It provides long-term records for informed resource allocation decisions.
Explanation: USGS stream gage data is significant because its long-term records enable informed decisions regarding the allocation and management of water resources.
Why is the management of surface water and groundwater considered interconnected?
Answer: They influence each other and are part of a single system.
Explanation: Surface water and groundwater are managed as an interconnected system because they mutually influence each other, forming a single hydrological entity.
What is a direct consequence of over-pumping groundwater, especially near rivers?
Answer: Depletion of surface water sources.
Explanation: Over-pumping groundwater, particularly in areas adjacent to rivers, can directly lead to the depletion of surface water sources due to the interconnectedness of these water systems.
What characteristic of aquifers makes certain management strategies, like temporary usage bans, important?
Answer: Their long response times, meaning changes take time to manifest.
Explanation: The long response times of aquifers, meaning changes in water levels or flow take considerable time to become apparent, underscore the importance of proactive management strategies, such as temporary usage bans during scarcity.
What is a potential benefit of temporarily halting groundwater usage during periods of water scarcity?
Answer: It helps maintain healthier levels in surface water bodies.
Explanation: Temporarily halting groundwater usage during periods of water scarcity can contribute to maintaining healthier levels in surface water bodies by allowing them to recharge more effectively.
Which of the following best describes the relationship between surface water and groundwater management?
Answer: They are managed as an interconnected system due to mutual influence.
Explanation: Surface water and groundwater management are intrinsically linked and are best approached as an interconnected system due to their mutual influence on each other.
How do stream gauges help in managing water resources, according to the USGS context?
Answer: By providing data for informed decisions on water allocation.
Explanation: Stream gauges provide crucial data that supports informed decisions regarding the allocation and management of water resources.
Climate change contributes to rising sea levels mainly by increasing the Earth's ocean volume through volcanic eruptions.
Answer: False
Explanation: Climate change contributes to rising sea levels primarily through the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and thermal expansion of ocean water, not through volcanic eruptions.
Rising sea levels caused by climate change can lead to saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
Answer: True
Explanation: Rising sea levels, a consequence of climate change, can exacerbate saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers, contaminating vital water resources.
Climate change primarily improves the quality of surface water by increasing dilution capacity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Climate change generally *degrades* the quality of surface water by increasing evaporation (concentrating pollutants) and altering precipitation patterns, rather than improving it through increased dilution capacity.
Climate change is associated with decreased evaporation rates but increased precipitation.
Answer: False
Explanation: Climate change is associated with *increased* evaporation rates and *decreased* precipitation in many regions, altering the water cycle balance.
The melting of glaciers and sea ice is a significant factor contributing to global sea level rise.
Answer: True
Explanation: The melting of glaciers and sea ice, accelerated by climate change, is a primary contributor to the observed rise in global sea levels.
Saltwater intrusion occurs when freshwater from rivers flows into the ocean, reducing salinity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Saltwater intrusion occurs when saline ocean water moves into freshwater aquifers or surface water bodies, typically due to rising sea levels or over-extraction of freshwater, not when freshwater flows into the ocean.
Climate change impacts on surface water quality and levels generally benefit local wildlife populations.
Answer: False
Explanation: Climate change impacts on surface water quality and levels generally *stress* local ecosystems and wildlife populations, rather than benefiting them.
According to the source, what is a primary way climate change contributes to rising sea levels?
Answer: Accelerated melting of sea ice and glaciers.
Explanation: The accelerated melting of sea ice and glaciers is identified as a primary mechanism through which climate change contributes to rising global sea levels.
How does climate change negatively impact surface water quality according to the text?
Answer: By increasing evaporation, which can concentrate pollutants.
Explanation: Climate change can negatively impact surface water quality by increasing evaporation rates, which leads to a higher concentration of pollutants in the remaining water.
Which change in the water cycle is attributed to climate change in the provided text?
Answer: Increased evaporation and decreased precipitation.
Explanation: Climate change is associated with increased evaporation rates and decreased precipitation in many regions, significantly altering the balance of the water cycle.
What is the main environmental stressor on ecosystems and wildlife linked to climate change's effects on surface water?
Answer: Altered water levels and quality.
Explanation: The primary environmental stressor on ecosystems and wildlife resulting from climate change's impact on surface water is the alteration of water levels and quality.
What is the primary mechanism by which climate change causes rising sea levels, as stated in the source?
Answer: Melting of land-based ice (glaciers and ice sheets).
Explanation: The primary mechanisms by which climate change causes rising sea levels are the melting of land-based ice (glaciers and ice sheets) and the thermal expansion of seawater.
What does the source suggest about the impact of pollution from human activities on surface water?
Answer: It can degrade water quality by altering chemical composition.
Explanation: Pollution from human activities can degrade surface water quality by introducing contaminants that alter its chemical composition.