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AQA A Level Geography > Water & Carbon Cycle > Flashcards

Water & Carbon Cycle Flashcards

1
Q

What is an Isolated System ?

A

These systems have no interaction with anything outside the system boundary. There is no input or output of energy or matter. Many controlled laboratory experiments are in this type of system and they are rare in nature.

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2
Q

What is a Closed System ?

A

These systems have transfers of energy both into and beyond the system boundary but not transfer of matter.

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3
Q

What is an Open System ?

A

These are where matter and energy can be transferred from the system across the boundary into the surrounding environment. Most ecosystems are examples of open systems.

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4
Q

What is Positive Feedback ?

A

The balance of the ecosystem is not in equilibrium. E.g. anthropogenic behaviour or deforestation.

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5
Q

What is Negative Feedback ?

A

Where the effects of an action (for example, the increased use of fossil fuels) are nullified by its subsequent knock on effects.

in equilibrium

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6
Q

How much of the Global water is fresh water ?

A

3%

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7
Q

What is the Cryosphere

A

The portions of the Earth’s surface where water is in solid form.

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8
Q

What is Throughfall ?

A

The portion of the precipitation that reaches the ground directly through gaps in the vegetation canopy and drips from leaves, twigs and stems. This occurs when the canopy-surface rainwater storage exceeds its storage capacity.

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9
Q

What is Throughflow ?

A

The movement of water downslope through the subsoil under the influence of gravity. It is particularly effective when underlying permeable rock prevents further downward movement.

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10
Q

What is the Water Balance ?

A

The balance of inputs (precipitation) and outputs (evapotranspiration) within a drainage basin.

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11
Q

Define a negative feedback Carbon Cycle ?

A

-Burning fossil fuels
-CO2 in the atmosphere
-Warmer atmosphere
-Faster rate of plant growth
-Increases photosynthesis
-CO2 removed from the atmosphere
-Cools the climate

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12
Q

Define a positive feedback Carbon Cycle ?

A

-Burning fossil fuels
-CO2 in the atmosphere
-Warmer atmosphere
-Polar ice caps melt
-Reduction in Albedo effect
-Increased dark surfaces
-More radiation absorbed
-Increases temperatures
-More ice melts.

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13
Q

What is Carbon Sequestration ?

A

The capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or from anthropogenic sources like large-scale stationary sources like power plants before it is released into the atmosphere. Orca Project, Iceland

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14
Q

What is the Lithosphere ?

A

The Earth’s crust and upper most mantle

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15
Q

What carbon stores are there in the Lithosphere ?

A

Inorganic stores of carbon include fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, oil shale.

Organic forms include litter and organic matter and humid substances found in soils.

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16
Q

What is the Hydrosphere?

A

A discontinuous layer of water at or near the Earth’s surface. It includes all liquid and frozen surface waters, groundwater held in soil and rock and atmospheric water vapour.

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17
Q

What is Permafrost ?

A

Ground that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years. The thickness of permafrost varies from less than one metre to more than 1,500 m.

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18
Q

What is Biological Water?

A

The water stored in all the biomass. It varies widely around the globe depending on the vegetation cover and type. Areas of dense rainforest store much more water than deserts. The role of animals as a water store is minimal.

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19
Q

What is a Drainage Basin ?

A

This is an area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. It includes water found on the surface, in the soil and in near-surface geology.

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20
Q

What is Evapotranspiration ?

A

The total output of water from the drainage basin directly back into the atmosphere.

Direct evaporation of water from plants

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21
Q

What is Percolation ?

A

The downward movement of water within the rock under the soil surface. Rates vary depending on the nature of the rock.

22
Q

What is Throughfall ?

A

The portion of the precipitation that reaches the ground directly through gaps in the vegetation canopy and drips from leaves, twigs and stems. This occurs when the canopy-surface rainwater storage exceeds its storage capacity.

23
Q

What is Throughflow ?

A

The movement of water down-slope through the subsoil under the influence of gravity. Itis particularly effective when underlying permeable rock prevents further downward movement.

24
Q

What is Bankfull?

A

the maximum discharge that a river channel is capable of carrying without flooding.

25
Q

What is the Lag time ?

A

the time between the peak rainfall and peak discharge.

26
Q

What is Peak Discharge?

A

the point on a flood hydrograph when river discharge is at its greatest.

27
Q

How can Deforestation affect the Water Cycle?

A

evapotranspiration is lower because the replacement vegetation has smaller leaves and roots and is less dense. Overland flow and throughflow occur because of the lack of vegetation. This leads to increased discharge and flashiness. This can cause localised flooding

Where deforestation is extensive, positive feedback can occur in the basin hydrological system, because evapotranspiration is low, much of the water leaves the area in the river channel rather than being recycled continuously between the forest and the atmosphere.

28
Q

What are the Carbon stores in the Lithosphere?

A
  • marine sediments and sedimentary rocks contain up to 100 million GtC
  • soil organic matter contains between 1,500 and 1,600 GtC
  • fossil fuel deposits of coal, oil and gas contain approximately 4,100 GtC
  • peat, which is dead but undecayed organic matter found in boggy areas contains approximately 250 GtC.
29
Q

What is the Lithosphere?

A

The crust and the uppermost mantle; this constitutes the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth.

30
Q

What are the Carbon Stores in the Hydrosphere?

A
  • the surface layer (euphotic zone) where sunlight penetrates so that photosynthesis can take place contains approximately 900 GtC.
  • the intermediate (twilight zone) and the deep layer of water contain approximately 37,100 GtC
  • living organic matter (fish, plankton, bacteria, etc.) amount to approximately 30 GtC and dissolved organic matter 700 GtC.
31
Q

What is Anthropogenic Carbon ?

A

Carbon dioxide generated by human activity.

32
Q

What are the Carbon stores in the Biosphere ?

A

Living vegetation - stores 19% of the Earth’s carbon
Plant litter
Soil humus
Peat
Animals

33
Q

What is the Name of the Observatory that Measures Atmospheric Carbon?

A

Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii since 1958

34
Q

What is the current level of carbon in the atmosphere

A

422 ppm

35
Q

What is the process of Decomposition ?

A

Decomposition is carried out by decomposers whose special role is to break down the cells and tissues in dead organisms into large biomolecules and then break those biomolecules down into smaller molecules and individual atoms. Decomposition ensures that the important elements of life can be continually recycled into the soil and made available for life. Decomposers release carbon through respiration.

36
Q

What is the Oceanic Carbon Pump?

A

The oceanic carbon pump: The concept of vertical deep mixing, where carbon dioxide is transported from the ocean surface to the ocean depths by sinking cold water in the high latitudes. If brought to the surface (for instance, by upwelling) the cold water will warm up and release some of its carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

37
Q

What is Biomass Combustion ?

A

This is the burning of living and dead vegetation. It includes human-induced burning as well as naturally occurring fires. Commonly occurring in boreal foresting in Siberia and Alaska, in savannah grasslands and in temperate forests in the US and Europe.

38
Q

How does the Cement Industry contribute CO2 into the Atmosphere?

A

5% of global anthropogenic CO2

39
Q

What is the large source of carbon emissions within agriculture?

A

Methane produced by livestock during digestion and released via belches. In 2011 this accounted for 39% of the sectors total emissions.

Rice Cultivation, when rice fields are flooding they release high levels of methane

40
Q

What is Carbon Sequestration ?

A

capturing CO, from the atmosphere and putting it into long-term storage. There are two primary types of carbon sequestration:

Geologic Sequestration – CO, is captured at its source (for example, power plants or industrial processes) and then injected in liquid form into stores underground. These could be depleted oil and gas reservoirs, thin, uneconomic coal seams, deep salt formations and the deep ocean.

Terrestrial or biologic sequestration – this involves the use of plants to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and then to store it as carbon in the stems and roots of the plants as well as in the soil.

41
Q

How does a change in ocean salinity effect Ocean Currents?

A

Slowing down of the large-scale oceanic circulation in the North-East Atlantic. This in turn will have an effect on the climate of North West Europe.

42
Q

What is the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?

A
  • The impact on the climate from the additional heat retained due to the increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that humans have released into the Earth’s atmosphere since the industrial revolution?
43
Q

What is the CCS technology?

A
  • Capturing the CO2: Capture technologies allow the separation of CO2 from gases produced in electricity generation and industrial processes by one of three methods: pre-combustion capture, post-combustior capture and oxy-fuel combustion.
  • Transporting the CO, by pipeline or by ship to the storage location: Millions of tonnes of CO2 are already transported annually for commercial purposes by road tanker, ship and pipelines.
  • Securely storing the carbon dioxide emissions underground in depleted oil and gas fields, deep saline aquifer formations several kilometres below the surface or the deep ocean.
44
Q

What is a Natural negative feedback loop.

A

Plant growth
Faster plant growth photosynthesis
more CO2 absorbed in biosphere.

45
Q

What is a Human negative feedback loop ?

A

Reduction in burning fossil fuels
New technologies, alternative energy

46
Q

What are some carbon capture strategies ?

A

Geological sequestration
- old mines
- Southern Green Gas Power Station Australia

Terrestrial Sequestration
- tree growth

Direct Carbon Capture
- Iceland Orca 36k tons of CO2 per year
- equivalent of 7.8k yearly car emissions

47
Q

What is Sublimation ?

A

Transfer from a solid state (ice) to a gaseous state (water vapour) and vice versa

48
Q

What are the 3 Cells ?

A

Polar Cell
Ferrel Cell
Hadley Cell

49
Q

What are the key characteristics of a flashy hydrograph?

A

Basin Size – Small basins often lead to a rapid water transfer

Rock type – impermeable rocks encourage rapid overland flow

Land use – urbanisation encourages rapid water transfer

Relief – steep slopes lead to rapid water transfer

Soil water – saturated soil results in rapid overland flow

50
Q

What are the key characteristics of a flat hydrograph?

A

Basin size – large basins result in relatively slow water transfer

Rock type – permeable rocks encourage a slow transfer by groundwater flow

Land use – forests slow down water transfer because of interception

Relief – gentle slopes slow down water transfer

Soil Water – dry soil soaks up water and slows down its transfer

51
Q

Case Study example of irrigation ?

A

Middle East - water abstracted from aquifers, running the risk of becoming depleted.

If the stores drop below sea level they can become contaminated by sea water ( Sea Water Intrusion)

52
Q

What are the 6 different key parts of soil water budget graph ?

A

1) soil moisture surplus

2) soil moisture deficit

3) soil moisture recharge

4) potential evapotranspiration

5) mean precipitation

6) field capacity

AQA A Level Geography (10 decks)

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