1. Why is water essential for life?

Andrew this question by explaining what biological functions it

serves and what it is about the properties of water that make it indispensable for these
purposes, be specific
Water is a constituent, in which it holds things together in our body. It acts as a solvent for
almost every biologically important substance. As water is a polar molecule, it can dissolve
eletrolytes and some non-electrolytes that are slightly polar. It regulates temperature as it
absorbs heat with a high heat capacity; transfers heat, which diffuses heat locally within the
body and removes heat through evaporative cooling. It acts as a transporter for food, nutrients,
waste products, carbon dioxide and oxygen. It acts as a lubricant by keeping joints from wearing
and internal organs from stick together. It helps in waste disposal. It breaks down larger
carbohydrates into simpler sugars for metabolism
2. Of all the water on Earth only a very small amount is directly available for human use. Why?
Oceans are the largest water reservoir on earth, containing 97% of all water on Earth. Ice caps
contain most freshwater on earth (2.1%). All freshwater sources are only 3% of the Earths
water. 75% are in ice caps and glaciers 10.5% are in shallow ground water, which we have access
through drilling, 13.5% is in deep ground water and less than 1% is on our lakes, rivers,
biosphere and atmosphere. We only have access to rivers and shallow ground water. We can
only use freshwater.
3. Why is water unevenly distributed on Earths surface? Which regions tend to have a lot of
rainfall, and why? Which regions are dry, and why?
There is uneven heating due to the Suns location in relation to the Earths surface as the Earth
is circular. A rotating earth changes the air circulation patterns which affect the levels of
precipitation, as a source of water and a cooling device is necessary for precipitation. Solar
heating is strongest at the equator and weakest at the pole. At equator, other air comes in to
replace the rising hot air with a rotating earth there is the creation of Hadley cells.
4. The conventional wisdom holds that the oceans are so vast and so productive that they can
supply the food needs of a large fraction of the worlds population. Is this conventional
wisdom correct? Why or why not Where is ocean productivity the highest and why?
Light and nutrients are necessary to support life. Biologically, the ocean is similar to a desert.
Primay producers fuel ocean life. Ocean productivity is highest at the surface where light can
reach it.
5. Explain 3 reasons why (apart from economic/political factors) it is difficult to prevent or detect
the depletion of important fisheries. Quantitatively, how important is aquaculture in fish
production? What risks are associated with marine aquaculture practices?
It is difficult to measure the fish population, marine organisms often migrate which makes it
hard to regulate how a fishing is managed when it constantly crosses borders and the countries
reach into the ocean is very limited thus inhibiting its ability to prevent or detect the depletion
of important fisheries. Overfishing, byctach, habitat alteration, and climate change are the risks
associated with aquaculture practices.
6. Describe two processes that generate tsunamis. Are tsunami waves shallow or deep water wave
and what properties distinguish these two types of waves? At what speed do tsunami waves
cross the deep ocean and what controls this speed? As tsunami waves approach coastal
waves, why do they become particularly destructive?
Earthquakes I the sea floor and submarine landslides caused by earthquakes generate tsunamis.
Pressure builds up as the water plates collide and the fault ruptures violently which led the
continental crust to unbend and the sea floor moves up and down, which creates a wave crest
and trough. Tsunamis are shallow water wave in really deep water. Deep water wave depth is
greater than half its wavelength and the water moves in circles in an up and forward and down
and back motion. One wave crashes the shore at about 800 km per hour in deep water and
when the water enters shallow water, it slows to 10 of km per hr, ad the trough of the wave
often hits before the crest. The water speed depends on wavelength. Shallow water wave depth
is less than 1/20
th
wavelength and the water moves mostly forward and back, not up and down
and the wave speed depends on water depth.
7. The ocean experiences two high tides a day and the magnitude of these tides changes
throughout the year. Why is that?
Tidal forces due to the differential gravitational pull of the Moon on the Earth which causes
deformation of the solid earth and ocean. The tidal forces cause a bulge on both sides of the
earth: facing the moon and on the opposite side away from the moon. As the earth spins the
water will rise and fall as it passes through these two bulges causing two ocean tides per day
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