4.6. Sediments

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is diffusion?

   Hint

   Think about how a drop of food coloring spreads in water.

2. 2.

   Name one environment where sediment transport is primarily through diffusion.

   Hint

   Consider where water might not mix well.

3. 3.

   What is the primary mechanism of mass transfer in sediments?

   • Advection
   • Diffusion
   • Convection

   Hint

   Think about how substances spread in still water.

4. 4.

   True or False: Advection is often the dominant factor in moving pollutants through sediments.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider how stagnant water behaves.

5. 5.

   Evaluate how diffusion impacts the contamination levels in sediments over a period of decades. Consider what factors influence the rate of diffusion.

   Hint

   Think about how temperature might relate to molecular movement.

6. 6.

   Analyze the implications of thermal stratification on pollutant distribution in lakes and its consequences for environmental management.

   Hint

   Consider how warm and cold water affects heavy and light substances.