Browse the glossary using this index

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A

Algal bloom

Fast growth of algae that can be toxic and dangerous for an ecosystem. It is usually caused by chemical imbalance, particularly if there is lots of phosporus from things like fertilisers. Remember the colour of Orange River last year when the water was really low?

If you have forgotten, here is a a photo from the Prospect Lake on the Orange River last summer. Disgusting hey Surprised ?

algal bloom

Algal Bloom Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algal_bloom

C

Climate

Climate is a long term pattern of weather (present conditions within two weeks).

Different climates can be classified and have similarities around the world. For example, Orange City has a Mediterranean climate, similar to areas of southern Italy.

climate monthly

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate

 


D

Desalination

The process of creating fresh water from sea water. There are many ways to extract salt out of water (reverse osmosis, heat ...) usually it takes some some form of distillation

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination

Here is an example of a desalination plant


E

Evapotranspiration

Sum of what plants amount of water plants use up to grow (transpiration) and the amount of water that dries up (evaporation).

Evapotranspiration

http://www.bom.gov.au/watl/eto/


P

Precipitation

A general term used to describe any form of moisture that comes from the atmosphere. Examples might be rain, snow, frost, dew, hail, fog, etc.

We probably don't get enough of it here at Orange City...

 

 


W

Water - in many languages

Ever wondered how you say 'water' in different languages?

I got my dad to read the word 'water' in eight different languages. Can you tell which ones?

And a nice picture to go with it...


Water in different languages

Here is how to say "water" in lots of different languages:

http://www.freelang.net/expressions/water.php