301

In this module, we learned that fresh water makes up a tiny fraction of all water on Earth and that most of this fresh water is locked up in the form of ice and glaciers. Groundwater is a type of available freshwater and it can be found as either confined or unconfined aquifers that may experience fast or slow recharge. In some parts of the world the rate of water withdrawal for human use is faster than the rate of aquifer recharge. Surface waters such as streams, rivers, wetlands, and lakes are important sources of freshwater, and wetlands can be important for flood control. Finally, we learned that the climatic differences in the availability of precipitation can interact with human land use to cause dramatic floods and droughts in different parts of the world. In the next module, we will examine how humans have worked to alter the natural distribution of water in ways that better suit human needs.

Module 26 AP^® Review Questions

Question 1

1. The Nile

2. The Congo

3. The Mississippi

4. The Yellow River

5. The Volga

Question 2

1. decreased groundwater recharge.

2. spring formation.

3. a cone of depression.

4. increased groundwater recharge.

5. a rise in the water table.

Question 3

1. They have increased fertility.

2. Humans are unable to use them.

3. They occur near ponds and lakes.

4. They are the result of glaciation.

5. They occur in areas with saltwater intrusions.

Question 4

1. is the result of precipitation.

2. sometimes occurs as a spring.

3. occurs rapidly in confined aquifers.

4. can cause saltwater intrusions.

5. does not occur in unconfined aquifers.