-Glaciers are often referred to as fresh water storehouses that slow the passage of water through the water cycle. They also provide information about the Earth’s past climates because of the way ice accumulates and endures. -Ice Age: Periods of cooling on Earth and at least 7 major ice ages on Earth. -Global Warming: The increase in the average temperatures of the Earth’s oceans and air near Earth’s surface. This is causing more glaciers to melt. Drainage Basins or Watershed: An area of land from which water drains into a certain body of water. Lakes, ponds, rivers and oceans are drainage basins. All of the fresh water on Earth is a part of a drainage basin. Canada has five major drainage basins (Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico and the Hudson Bay). -A divide is an area of very high ground that usually separates one drainage basin from another. -Continental Divide: the Rocky Mountains separate the Pacific drainage basin from drainage basins to the east of the Rocky Mountains. Run-off: Precipitation that falls to land and flows into creeks, streams and rivers and eventually into the ocean. The water does not evaporate or soak into the ground. Water will flow with gravity until it hits a low point on the surface or finds its way to a stream. Factors Affecting Run-off: 1. The nature of the ground material: Rock = water not absorbed as much= more run-off Soil= water is absorbed more= less run-off 2.Amount of rain: rain=saturated ground=more run-off 3.Length of time it rains: Long periods of rain= saturated ground=more run-off 4.The slope of the land: Steeper slope of land=faster moving water=less water absorbed= more run-off 5.The amount of vegetation: Little vegetation = less water absorbed by trees, grass and shrubs=more run-off 6.Amount of development in the area: Areas with more pavement/concrete=less water absorbed=more run-off.
-Glaciers are often referred to as fresh water storehouses that slow the passage of water through the water cycle. They also provide information about the Earth’s past climates because of the way ice accumulates and endures. -Ice Age: Periods of cooling on Earth and at least 7 major ice ages on Earth. -Global Warming: The increase in the average temperatures of the Earth’s oceans and air near Earth’s surface. This is causing more glaciers to melt. Drainage Basins or Watershed: An area of land from which water drains into a certain body of water. Lakes, ponds, rivers and oceans are drainage basins. All of the fresh water on Earth is a part of a drainage basin. Canada has five major drainage basins (Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico and the Hudson Bay). -A divide is an area of very high ground that usually separates one drainage basin from another. -Continental Divide: the Rocky Mountains separate the Pacific drainage basin from drainage basins to the east of the Rocky Mountains. Run-off: Precipitation that falls to land and flows into creeks, streams and rivers and eventually into the ocean. The water does not evaporate or soak into the ground. Water will flow with gravity until it hits a low point on the surface or finds its way to a stream. Factors Affecting Run-off: 1. The nature of the ground material: Rock = water not absorbed as much= more run-off Soil= water is absorbed more= less run-off 2.Amount of rain: rain=saturated ground=more run-off 3.Length of time it rains: Long periods of rain= saturated ground=more run-off 4.The slope of the land: Steeper slope of land=faster moving water=less water absorbed= more run-off 5.The amount of vegetation: Little vegetation = less water absorbed by trees, grass and shrubs=more run-off 6.Amount of development in the area: Areas with more pavement/concrete=less water absorbed=more run-off.
chapter%201%20notes%20grade%208%20science.docx