Follosco - Hydrology

SPECIALIZATION: PHYSICAL SCIENCES 19
Focus: Hydrology
By: Dr. Gloria L. Follosco
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS (LET)
REFRESHER COURSE
WHAT TO EXPECT
SPECIALIZATION:
AREA: PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Focus: Hydrology
LET Competencies:
1. Identify the processes in the hydrologic cycle and their effects on the environment.
2. Differentiate fresh and salt water in terms of properties and composition.
3. Prepared by: Dr. Gloria L.

Follosco
PART I – CONTENT UPDATE
PART I – CONTENT UPDATE
PART I: CONTENT UPDATES
The Earth is the only planet known to possess large amounts of water. Nearly 71 % of the Earth’s
surface is covered by the global ocean. That is why the Earth is called the water planet.
The Earth’s water is concentrated on or near the Earth’s surface in a zone called the
hydrosphere. The hydrosphere consists of all the water found in the ocean, the land, underground, and
the atmosphere.
More than 97 % of all water in the world is salty ocean water. Lakes, rivers, other surface
freshwater bodies make up less than 0.01% of all the water in the world. This water provides more than
half of all water for human use and for habitat.
The hydrologic cycle is the unending movement of water from the oceans to atmosphere, from
the atmosphere to the Earth’s land surface, and from the land surface back to the sea again. This cycle is
driven by the energy from the sun.
The sun helps sea water get airborne in the process of evaporation. Evaporation is the process
whereby a liquid changes to a gas gradually at temperatures below the boiling point. During evaporation
fast moving molecules escape from the surface of the liquid. Each kilogram of water that goes into the
vapor phase takes along the latent heat of vaporization from the environment. Because of this heat loss
from the surrounding, the remaining liquid would become cooler. Evaporation is a cooling process.
Winds transport the moisture-laden air at great distances until the complex process of cloud
formation happen. Condensation is the process whereby water vapor in air changes to the liquid state. In
order for condensation to occur, the water molecules must release energy, called latent heat of
condensation to the surrounding, equivalent to what was absorbed during evaporation. This energy plays
an important role in producing violent weather and can act to transfer great quantities of heat from tropical
oceans to locations going near the poles. Condensed water vapor in the atmosphere forms into fog, dew,
and clouds.
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Hydrology
Dr. Gloria L. Follosco
Focus: Hydrology
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Clouds are among the most clearly visible and observable aspects of the atmosphere. Clouds
are a form of condensation best described as visible aggregates of very, very small droplets of water or of
tiny crystals of ice. They provide a visible indication of what is going on in the atmosphere. Cloud
formation eventually results in precipitation. Precipitation is condensed water vapor that falls back to
earth as rain, hail, or snow. This water is fresh water.
Precipitation that falls to the land may run off (if land surface is paved), or soak into the ground (if
there are roots of plants to hold soil). Water that runs off is the source of water in the streams, rivers, or
lakes. Water that soaks to the ground is the source of groundwater.
Groundwater is one of the most important sources of fresh water. Unlike seawater, fresh water
has low salt content. It originated as precipitation that sinks into layers of soil and rock. As groundwater
penetrates the layer of rocks, natural filtering happens because water passes through spaces between
particles in rocks. Areas where surface water filters into an aquifer are recharge areas. Most aquifers
recharge very slowly.
Springs are natural flow of groundwater which results whenever the water table intersects the
ground surface. Some springs form when an aquiclude (impermeable layer composed of materials that
hinder or prevent water movement) blocks the downward movement of groundwater and forces it to move
laterally. An opening may also be bored into the zone of saturation to remove groundwater. This device is
called a well.
Groundwater provides most of the freshwater for agricultural and domestic use. Freshwaters are
economically important to people for their fish, for their often abundant bird life, and for recreation and
transportation. But, the amount of freshwater available for use is limited. Much of the freshwater is
unavailable for use because they are stored as glaciers when precipitation falls at high elevations.
Glaciers store large amounts of fresh water on land. If melted, they may cause sea level to rise.
What happens to rainwater that is not absorbed into the ground? Runoff flows across the surface
of the ground. Because water always seeks the lowest possible level, rainwater flows downward. It soon
collects in tiny channels called rills. The rills join to form brooks and streams. The brooks and streams
join together into rivers, and eventually into the sea. The streams that empty into a river are called
tributaries. River is fed by all the streams in its drainage basin. A divide separates one drainage basin
from another.
In many areas in the world, groundwater is being withdrawn from aquifers faster than it is being
replenished. Contaminants can also enter aquifers through recharge zones. Urban or agricultural runoff in
recharge zones is also a problem.
Oceans dominate the surface of the Earth. About 71% of the surface of the earth is ocean.
Pacific Ocean is the biggest of these oceans. Salt water in oceans is a complex solution of salt
consisting of about 3.5 % by weight dissolved mineral substances. The proportion of dissolved salts to
pure water is called salinity. It is expressed in parts per thousand ( 0 / 00). The average salinity of seawater
is 35 0/ 00. Sodium chloride together with magnesium chloride, sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate and
potassium chloride comprise 99% of the salt in the sea. Seawater is denser than freshwater.
Ocean water is so salty that it is harmful to nearly all forms of life except marine life. It cannot be
used for drinking or to grow land crops.
Oceanographers recognize a three-layered structure in the open oceans: shallow surface mixed
zone, a transition zone, and a deep zone. Temperature at the ocean surface is highest because it is here
that solar energy is received. Mixing of water by waves and turbulence from currents create rapid vertical
heat transfer in this area. Hence, this mixed surface zone is characterized by nearly uniform
temperatures. Below this zone, temperature decreases abruptly as depth increases. This zone of rapid
temperature change that marks the transition between warm surface layer and the deep zone is called
the thermocline. Below the thermocline, temperature falls slightly.
The ocean basin floor, which lies between the continental margin and the oceanic ridge, has different
features: deep-ocean trenches, abyssal plains and seamounts. Deep–ocean trenches are the long,
narrow, deepest part of the ocean floor, caused by the subduction of a tectonic plate against another.
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Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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Abyssal plains are the most level places on earth, found more widespread where there are no deep-
ocean trenches. Seamounts are isolated volcanic peaks, the greatest numbers of which are found in the
Pacific Ocean. Flat-topped seamounts are called guyots.
Other features of the ocean are the mid-ocean ridges, coral reefs, and atolls. Mid-ocean ridges
are the sites of sea-floor spreading, which are characterized by an elevated position, extensive faulting,
and many volcanic structures. On the ridge crest is a narrow region called the rift zone. This is the area
where magma from the asthenosphere moves upward to create the new ocean floor. Coral reefs,
constructed from the calcite-rich skeletal remains and secretions of corals and certain algae, are among
the most picturesque features in the ocean mostly found in warm waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Atolls are coral islands consisting of a continuous or broken ring of coral reef surrounding a central
lagoon. These coral reef structures form on the flanks of sinking volcanic islands.
PART II – ANALYZING TEST ITEMS
PART II – ANALYZING TEST ITEMS

PART II: ANALYZING TEST ITEMS
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Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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1. Which is NOT true about surface water in the North Pole?

a. It is heated more by the sun. c. It is cooler than the water in the equator.
b. Its particles move generally slower. d. It is denser than the water in the equator.
It is cooler than the water in the equator.

It is denser than the water in the equator.
The answer is c.
The ocean’s surface water temperature varies with the amount of solar radiation received which
is primarily a function of latitude. The intensity of solar radiation in high latitudes is significantly
less than that received in tropical latitudes. Particles of water are closer if temperature is low, so
density of colder water is greater. Particles move slower if the temperature is lower.
Choice a: The poles receive slanting rays of light from the sun. Rays striking Earth at low
angle toward the poles travel through more of the atmosphere. This makes
radiation that is received at the surface less intense, so surface water is cooler in
the poles.
Choice b: If surface water is cooler in the poles, then, it is denser.
Choice d: Particles move generally slower if water is cooler.
2. What usually happens to the level of the water table during summer? It would probably _____.
a. be higher c. disappear
b. be lower d. remain the same
disappear
c. remain the same
The answer is b.
The primary source of practically all subsurface water is precipitation that soaks into the ground.
There are several factors that affect the amount of water that soaks into the ground. One of which
is the intensity of rainfall. The lesser the amount of rainfall the lower is the level of the water table.
Choices a, c, d: For as long as rock is saturated, there will be a water table because this
is the upper boundary of the zone of saturation. The height of the water
table depends on the amount of rainfall. There is less rainfall during
summer so the level of the water table is low, not high but it will never
disappear.
3. Temperature and salinity are the most significant factors in creating a dense mass of ocean
water. What probably happens if the rate of evaporation in ocean water increases?
a. The mineral salts also evaporate with water.
b. The salinity of ocean surface water decreases.
c. The density of surface ocean water decreases.
d. More mineral salts are left in the surface ocean water.
The answer is a.
When water evaporates the impurities do not go with the escaping molecules. Mineral salts are
left in the surface water. The density of the surface water, therefore, increases. Since salinity is
the amount of mineral salts dissolved in seawater, the salinity of surface water increases.
Choice b: Pure water evaporates leaving the impurities, which are the mineral
salts.
Choice c: Since mineral salts are left in the surface water and that the density of salt is
greater than the density of pure water, then, density of the surface water
increases.
Choice d: Salinity is the proportion of dissolved salts to pure water. If more mineral salts are
left in surface water, the density of surface water increases.
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Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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4. Oceanographers recognize that the structure of the open ocean has three layers described for
salinity. What is this zone where temperature rapidly changes called?
a. Deep zone c. High polar latitudes
b. Transition zone d. Shallow surface zone
High polar latitudes
Shallow surface zone
The correct answer is c.

Below the shallow surface zone, the temperature of ocean water decreases abruptly with depth.
This marks the transition between the warm surface layer and the deep zone. There is no mixing
of water in this layer.
Choice a: Solar energy is received at the ocean surface, so, it is here that the water
temperature is warmest. But, waves and the turbulence from currents mix these
waters. Heat vertically transfers, thus, making the temperature in this zone
uniform. This zone is called the shallow surface zone.
Choice b: In the high polar latitudes, surface water is cold and there is no so much change
in the temperature. So, the three- layered structure is not present.
Choice c: Below the transition zone is the deep zone where temperatures of ocean water is
very low and decreases only a few degrees.
5. Seawater has a salinity of 35 parts per thousand. If you get 1000 grams of seawater, how much
of this mass is mineral salt?
a. 3.5 g c. 100 g
b. 35 g d. 1000 g
100 g
1000 g
The correct answer is b.

Salinity is the proportion of dissolved salts to pure water. In other things, the proportion is
expressed in percent which is parts per hundred. But, the proportion of salts in seawater is small,
so scientists express salinity in parts per thousand.
Choice a: If there are 100 grams of seawater, the proportion of dissolved salts is 3.5. This is
part per hundred or percent.
Choices c, d: To determine the percentage of salts to pure water, we get 100 g of seawater. To
determine the part per thousand of salts to pure water, we have to get 1000 g of
seawater.
6. Before it rains, we usually feel warmer. Which of the following best explains this phenomenon?
a. Evaporation of water absorbs heat.
b. There are no condensation nuclei in the air.
c. Condensation of water vapor releases energy.
d. Clouds trap the infrared radiation from the surface of the earth.
7. Seawater contains mineral substances. Of these mineral substances which contribute the most to
the seawater’s salinity?
a. Sodium chloride c. Magnesium chloride
b. Sodium bicarbonate d. Sodium sulfate
Magnesium chloride
c. Sodium sulfate
8. Seawater is a complex solution of salts that make it salty. What do you call the proportion of
dissolved salts to pure water commonly expressed in parts per thousand?
a. Density c. Humidity
b. Salinity d. Specific gravity
Humidity
c. Specific gravity
9. The unending transfer of water from oceans into the atmosphere and then back to the ocean is
called __________.
a. rock cycle c. oxygen cycle
b. water cycle d. nitrogen cycle
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Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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oxygen cycle
c. nitrogen cycle
10. The hydrologic cycle consists of different processes involved in the unending exchange of water
from the surface to the atmosphere. Which is responsible for getting water into the atmosphere?
a. Evaporation c. Sublimation
b. Condensation d. Melting
Sublimation
Melting
For questions 11 to 13, please refer to the table below:
Amount of water Volume

(%) (km3)
Ocean 97 1.3200Billion
Lakes, streams,
subsurface, and 2 0.0088 Billion
atmosphere
Ice sheets and
1 0.0292 Billion
glaciers
Total 100 % 1.36 Billion
11. By percentage, how much is the total amount of water on Earth found in the ocean?
a. 0.65 c. 97.2
b. 2.15 d. 100
97.2
c. 100
12. What is the percentage of water found in lakes, streams, subsurface and atmosphere?
a. 0.65 c. 97.2
b. 2.15 d. 100
97.2
c. 100
13. Which of the following contains the greatest volume of water on Earth?
a. Ice sheets and glaciers c. Groundwater
b. Atmosphere d. Oceans
Groundwater
c. Oceans
14. Water on Earth exists in different phases. In what phase of matter does condensed water vapor
exist?
a. Solid c. Gas
b. Liquid d.
Gas
c. Plasma
15. The change of phase undergone by water in the water cycle may be a heat-absorbing or a heat-
releasing process. Which of the following is a heat releasing process?
a. Condensation c. Melting
b. Evaporation d. Sublimation
c. Melting
d. Sublimation
16. In the water cycle, water is transferred from the ocean to the atmosphere, then, back to the ocean
again. Condensed water vapor falls back to earth as rain, sleet, or hail. Which of the following
refers to the water that falls to the Earth’s surface?
a. Condensation nuclei c. Precipitation
b. Water droplets d. Clouds
Precipitation
c. Clouds
24
Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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17. Tides are periodic changes in the elevation of ocean water at a specific location. Which of the
following causes tides?
a. Moon’s gravitational force on Earth c. Earth’s gravitational force on the sun
b. Earth’s gravitational force on the moon d. Strong winds that blow across ocean water
Earth’s gravitational force on the sun
c. Strong winds that blow across ocean water
18. The restless waters of the oceans are constantly in motion. All of the following cause motion of
the ocean water EXCEPT _______.
a. Tides c. density differences
b. Wind d. evaporation
c. density differences
d. evaporation
19. Salinity variations with depth correspond to the three- layered system in the open ocean. The
most dense ocean water is generally found in ____.
a. deep zone c. surface mixed zone
b. polar zone d. transition zone
surface mixed zone
c. transition zone
20. Water in the oceans is generally salty. The following are sources of the vast quantities of salts in
the ocean EXCEPT ______.
a. earth’s interior c. plants and animals
b. volcanic eruptions d. chemical weathering of rocks
plants and animals
c. chemical weathering of rocks
21. A lake is a body of water surrounded by land. All of the following can form a lake EXCEPT _____.
a. glaciers c. stream deposition
b. volcanic activity d. weathering of rocks
stream deposition
c. weathering of rocks
22. Several factors affect the way sediments are carried by agents of erosion. Which of the following
is TRUE about the way sediments are carried by agents of erosion?
a. A slow-moving river carries big particles of sediment.
b. Water and air can carry a wider range of sediment than ice.
c. The faster a medium moves the more sediment it can carry.
d. The smaller the particles of sediment, the nearer they are carried by streams.
23. Several factors affect the rate of deposition of sediments. Which one is NOT a factor?
a. Particle size c. Particle color
b. Particle shape d. Particle density
Particle color
c. Particle density
24. Lakes form either naturally or artificially. Which of the following is NOT a natural cause of the
formation of lakes?
a. Deep excavations c. River action
b. Earthquakes d. Volcanic action
River action
c. Volcanic action
25. The reservoir of groundwater is the zone of saturation, which is bounded on the top by the water
table. During rainy days, the water table would probably ___.
a. be lower c. disappear
b. be higher d. remain the same
disappear
25
Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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c. remain the same

d.
PART III – ENHANCING TEST TAKING SKILLS
26
Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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PART III: PRACTICE TEST

PART III – ENHANCING TEST TAKING SKILLS
1. Ocean water contains mineral salts. Approximately what percentage (by weight) of Earth’s ocean
water is mineral salt?
a. 3.5 % c. 71 %
b. 35 % d. 97 %
71 %
c. 97 %
2. A view of Earth from space shows that the planet is dominated by oceans. Which of these oceans
is the largest?
a. Arctic Ocean c. Pacific Ocean
b. Atlantic Ocean d. Indian Ocean
c. Pacific Ocean
d. Indian Ocean
3. Below the surface zone of the open ocean water is a layer where temperature rapidly changes.
What is this layer called?
a. Transition zone c. Surface zone
b. Deep zone d. Polar zone
Surface zone
c. Polar zone
4. Salinity of ocean water changes as a consequence of changes in the water content of the
solution. What happens to the salinity of the ocean water when the rate of evaporation increases?
a. It increases. c. It remains the same.
b. It decreases. d. It depends on the depth of the ocean.
It remains the same.
c. It depends on the depth of the ocean.
5. What happens to the density of ocean water when its temperature increases?
b. It decreases. d. It cannot be determined.
It remains the same.
c. It cannot be determined.
6. Aside from producing surface current in ocean water winds can also induce vertical movement of
ocean water. What do you call this rising of cold water from deeper ocean to replace warmer
surface water?
a. Ocean circulation c. Surfing
b. Reefing d. Upwelling
Surfing
c. Upwelling
7. All of the following are brought about by coastal upwelling EXCEPT____.

a. growth of plankton
b. increase in populations of fish
c. warming of water in the Pacific off the coast of California
d. bringing greater concentration of nutrients to the ocean surface
8. Salinity variations in the open ocean normally range from 33% to 37%. What happens to the
density of seawater when its salinity increases?
b. It decreases. d. It depends on the temperature of water.
c. It remains the same.
It depends on the temperature of water.
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Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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9. An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal water body that is connected to the ocean. Which of the
following DOES NOT happen in an estuary?
a. Freshwater from the river becomes salty.
b. There is so much growth of sea grasses and phytoplankton.
c. Salinity of seawater is reduced by freshwater inflow of the river water.
d. The river provides constant supply of nutrients and organic matter to living things.
For questions 10 to 13, follow the instruction: Arrange in order of occurrence how thermohaline
circulation happens.
a. Water at the surface of the ocean is made colder by heat loss to the atmosphere or water
at the surface is made saltier by removal of water by evaporation.
b. Less dense water displaced by denser water moves back toward zone where denser
water formed.
c. Denser water then sinks toward the ocean bottom.
d. Denser water displaces less dense water.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14. Movement of ocean water is not confined to surface currents but significant deep-water
movements also occur. Which of the following creates deep ocean circulation?
a. Wind c. Earthquake
b. Air pressure d. Differences in density of water
Earthquake
c. Differences in density of water
15. In what oceans is the densest water found?
a. Arctic and Antarctic Oceans c. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
b. Arctic and Pacific Oceans d. Indian and Pacific oceans
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
c. Indian and Pacific oceans
16. Two factors are most significant in creating a dense mass of water in the ocean. Which are
these?
a. Temperature and salinity c. Salinity and pressure
b. Temperature and pressure d. Volume and temperature
Salinity and pressure
c. Volume and temperature
17. Heat spontaneously transfers from a body of high temperature to a body of low temperature.
What happens to a given mass of seawater when heat flows into it?
a. Its temperature increases. c. It becomes denser.
b. Its particles move closer. d. It becomes colder.
c. It becomes denser.
It becomes colder.
18. The underground region in which most of the spaces in between rock particles are filled with
water and the rest with air is called ______.
a. zone of saturation c. water table
b. zone of aeration d. aquiclude
water table
c. aquiclude
28
Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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19. Which of the following is TRUE of spaces between soil or rock particles if rock or soil is
saturated?
a. They are completely filled with air. c. They are partly filled with water.
b. They are completely filled with water. d. They contain nothing.
c. They are partly filled with water.
They contain nothing.
20. One of the most interesting properties of water is the way in which its volume changes when its
temperature is changed. Which of the following is an unusual behavior of water as a liquid?
a. At 4 0 C the density of water is 1 g/cm3.
b. At room temperature the volume increases as temperature increases.
c. Below room temperature, its volume decreases as temperature decreases.
d. As temperature is cooled below 40C the volume of water increases until it freezes at 00C.
21. The oceans contain many dissolved salts. What is the most abundant salt in seawater?
a. Calcium chloride c. Sodium chloride
b. Magnesium chloride d. Sodium bicarbonat
c. Sodium chloride
Sodium bicarbonate
22. Cold ocean currents have many climatic influences. Which one is NOT a climatic influence of cold
ocean currents?
a. It influences temperatures of adjacent land areas.
b. It has a dramatic impact on tropical deserts existing along the west coast of continents.
c. It causes temperature of air to approach and often reach due point.
d. It causes adjacent land areas to have low relative humidity and less fog.
23. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about water resources on Earth?
a. Total water abundance is a problem on a global scale.
b. More than 99 % of Earth’s water in its natural state is unavailable or unsuitable for
beneficial human use.
c. As the world’s population and industrial production increase, the amount of water used
also increases.
d. The amount of water for which all the people, plants and animals on Earth compete is
much less than 1 %.
24. Water covers about 71 % of Earth’s surface, but not all people have enough water to drink. Why?
a. A greater percentage of our water on Earth is salty water.
b. Most of the freshwater are stored in glaciers and ice caps.
c. Many of our water bodies are polluted.
d. All of a,b,c
25. Water on Earth may be fresh or salt water. Which of the following contains salt water?
a. Lake c. River
b. Ocean d. Spring
River
c. Spring
PART IV– KEY TO CORRECTION

29
Hydrology
Focus: Hydrology
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PART IV: KEY TO CORRECTION
Part II.
a
b
a
b
b
c
a
b
b
a
c
a
d
b
a
c
a
d
a
c
d
c
c
d
b
Part III.
a
c
d
b
b
d
c
a
a
a
c
d
b
a
a
a
a
b
b
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Focus: Hydrology
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a
c
d
a
a
d. c
31
Hydrology

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SPECIALIZATION: PHYSICAL SCIENCES 19

PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

AREA: PHYSICAL SCIENCES

3. Prepared by: Dr. Gloria L.

PART I – CONTENT UPDATE

PART I – CONTENT UPDATE

PART I: CONTENT UPDATES

PART II – ANALYZING TEST ITEMS

PART II – ANALYZING TEST ITEMS

1. Which is NOT true about surface water in the North Pole?

It is cooler than the water in the equator.

Choice b: If surface water is cooler in the poles, then, it is denser.

Choice d: Particles move generally slower if water is cooler.

The correct answer is c.

The correct answer is b.

For questions 11 to 13, please refer to the table below:

Amount of water Volume

c. remain the same

PART III: PRACTICE TEST

7. All of the following are brought about by coastal upwelling EXCEPT____.

PART IV– KEY TO CORRECTION

PART IV: KEY TO CORRECTION

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