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Exploring Water Resources
uses two national-scale investigations, one local investigation,
and two local case studies in which students explore the following
concepts: 1) water on Earth exists in several large global reservoirs
and moves between these reservoirs through the various processes collectively
called the hydrologic cycle, 2) fresh water comprises a very small
percentage of Earth's water supply, and much of this fresh water is
not easily accessible, 3) wind, weather fronts, convection, and topography
determine where precipitation occur, 4) topography and other characteristics
of the land surface determine how surface water moves, 5) human-related
and environmental factors infl uence our ability to utilize water
resources, 6) wise water management is a crucial factor in sustaining
the current and future global population.** |
- Unit 1 - Global water resevoirs | Overview
| Sample
- Students examine how the global water
supply moves through the hydrologic cycle, estimate the size
of important global water reservoirs, and explore methods of
obtaining water from these reservoirs for human use. Using a
scenario whereby global warming melts polar ice caps, students
determine how changes in sea level affect human populations
through the loss of habitable areas and croplands.
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- Unit 2- The renewable resource | Overview
| Sample
- Students investigate factors influencing
global and regional precipitation patterns and examine the ecological
and socioeconomic consequences. Students also examine the influence
of topography and land characteristics on surface water flow.
Finally, they examine the relationship between precipitation
and discharge in important U.S. watersheds, and learn how biological
processes interact with climate to affect runoff.
Highlights -
North America rivers & drainage basins screen-shot
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- Unit 3 - Using water wisely | Overview
| Sample
- Students explore relationships between
precipitation and water use patterns across the U.S. They investigate
state and county water use in major economic sectors (domestic,
agricultural, power, etc.), and gain an understanding of the
critical importance of this resource and the complex issues
that are involved in its management.
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- Unit 4 - Water for a desert city | Overview
- The activities in this unit focus on
a local case study of the challenges of obtaining and providing
water as well as the economic and environmental consequences
of ground water removal in Tucson, Arizona.
Highlights -
Tucson precipitation contours screen-shot, Tucson water quality screen-shot
** The SAGUARO Exploring GIS Investigations
for Earth Science curriculum requries the use of ESRI's ArcView®
GIS software version 3.0 for Macintosh or 3.2 and higher for PC.
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