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Physical Geography OCR > ELSS-Water > Flashcards

ELSS-Water Flashcards

1
Q

How is Earth able to support life?

A
  • oceans regulate temperature
  • atmosphere is not too cold or hot
  • photosynthesis and carbon capture stop us breathing in too many toxins
  • water supply
  • rotation of earth create day and night
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2
Q

What is Earths atmosphere like?

A

-breathable atmosphere
-plenty of oxygen (about 21% of air is oxygen)
-small amount of carbon dioxide (about 0.04% of air is CO2)
-Earth’s atmosphere is kept on the planet by its pull of gravity

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3
Q

What is Earths climate like?

A

Temperature on Earth does not go from one extreme to the other either

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4
Q

Why is Earths water important?

A

-It is drinkable, and it allows life-providing molecules to move around easily
-About 71% of the Earths surface is water covered
-The oceans hold about 96.5% of all Earths water
-Water also exists in the air as water vapour, in rivers, glaciers, lakes, icecaps, in the ground as soil moisture and aquifers and also in humans
-water enables processes of growth, reproduction and metabolism
- water makes up 65-95% of all living organisms

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5
Q

What is Earths light like?

A

-All planets receive light from the Sun
-Plants need sun to grow through photosynthesis
-24 hours to spin on it’s axis which means that each side of the planet receives sunlight regularly

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6
Q

What is Earths sun like?

A

-Allows the Earth to receive the perfect amount of heat and light to allow life
-The Sun’s gravity keeps Earth in its orbit

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7
Q

What is the goldilocks zone and why do we need to live in this zone?

A

The goldilocks zone is known as the habitable zone and refers to the range of distances from a star within which a celestial body such as a a planet is able to maintain conditions suitable for life as we know it. For a planet to support life, it needs to have liquid water and the goldilocks zone is where the temperature is just right for water to exist. If the planet is too close, this may cause the water to evaporate and if it is too far away, the temperatures may be too cold causing water to freeze. Having the correct amount of sunlight allows photosynthesis to take place and for food to be created. If we are too close to the sun we would receive larger amounts of radiation from the sun which would damage our helath

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8
Q

What are the layers of the Earths atmosphere?

A

-Troposphere
-Stratosphere
-Mesosphere
-Thermosphere
-Exosphere

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9
Q

What is the troposphere?

A

-The most inner layer of Earths atmosphere
-Temperature ranges from 15 to -56.5 degrees Celsius
-Height ranges from 0 to 12-18 km

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10
Q

What is the stratosphere?

A

-The layer above the troposphere
-Temperature ranges from -56.5 to -2.5 degrees Celsius
-Height ranges from 11 to 50km

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11
Q

What is the mesosphere?

A

-The middle layer of the Earths atmosphere
-Temperature ranges from -2.5 to -86.5 degrees Celsius
-Height ranges from 40-50 to 80-90km

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12
Q

What is the thermosphere?

A

-Just below the Exosphere
-Temperature ranges from -86.5 to 1200 degrees Celsius
-Height ranges from 80-90 to 800km

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13
Q

What is the Exosphere?

A

-The outer layer of the Earths atmosphere
-Temperature is 1200 degrees Celsius
-Height ranges from 800 to 3000km

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14
Q

What is the use of water for Fauna (animals)?

A

-Respiration
-Chemical reactions including oxygen circulation and nutrients
-Fur covered animals cool by evaporation
-Water makes up 65-96% of all living organisms
-Washing and drinking

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15
Q

What is the use of water for Flora (plants)?

A

-Photosynthesis and respiration
-Maintaining rigidity otherwise they wilt
-Transport nutrients
-Crops are irrigated by water
-Transpiration releases water to cool plants

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16
Q

What is the use of water to people?

A

-Sweating (cooling)
-Economic resource (Electricity, crop irrigation, drinking, sewage, manufacturing and hydroelectric power)
-Oxygen circulation and nutrients
-Drinking
-Respiration

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17
Q

How important is water to climate?

A

-Absorbs, stores and releases heat in oceans
-Clouds reflect incoming solar radiation
-Water vapour (GHG) absorbs long wave radiation
-15 - 20 degrees Celsius lower otherwise

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18
Q

How can the water cycle be viewed as a system?

A

On a large scale the water cycle is a global hydrological cycle where energy from the sun enters and leaves. The total amount of water in the cycle is always the same; no water enters or exits and as a result this is an example of a closed system. On a smaller scale the water cycle can be apart of the drainage base system which is an open system

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19
Q

What type of system is the EARTHs water cycle and why?

A

It is a closed system as no water can enter or leave the system

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20
Q

What type of systems are SMALL SCALE water cycles and why?

A

Open systems as water can be added by precipitation and lost at the mouth of a river or through evaporation

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21
Q

What is residence time?

A

Tells us on average how long water remains in each of the stores

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22
Q

Why is water vapour much higher at the equator than around the poles and are they more common on land or sea?

A

This is because at the equator the sun’s rays are more concentrated, evaporating more of the oceans water. Water vapour levels are lower on land compared to oceans as the water is evaporated off the ocean’s surface

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23
Q

What are the oceans stores inputs and outputs for the water cycle?

A

Inputs are Precipitation, surface runoff, groundwater, rivers and the Outputs are Evaporation, human removal - desalination

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24
Q

What is the lands inputs and outputs for the water cycle?

A

Inputs are precipitation, infiltration and the Outputs are Evaporation, transpiration, human removal - desalination, runoff, through flow & ground water flow

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25
Q

What are the atmospheric stores inputs and outputs for the water cycle?

A

The inputs are Evaporation, transpiration and the Outputs are precipitation and condensation

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26
Q

What are the effects of high intensity/prolonged precipitation on Mountainous environments?

A

Likely to be snow on the ground for months meaning a lag between precipitation and runoff and there may not be much infiltration due to steep relief. High intensity precipitation moves very quickly overland less infiltration, lots of surface runoff and throughflow. Prolonged precipitation can lead to flooding due to saturated ground, increase in groundwater levels, low infiltration and throughflow rates.

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27
Q

What is Sublimation?

A

Sublimation is the process of a solid becoming a gas, without going through becoming a liquid first. It is not easy to see and an example we can observe is frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice) which sublimates at an ordinary air pressure and temperature.

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28
Q

What is a drainage basin?

A

An area drained by a river and its tributaries

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29
Q

What is a watershed?

A

The boundary between two drainage basins

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30
Q

What is a tributary?

A

A small stream or river which leads into a larger river

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31
Q

What is a confluence?

A

The point where two or more tributaries join

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32
Q

What is a mouth?

A

the end of the river where it meets the sea

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33
Q

What is interception and the factors effecting it?

A

When water is intercepted and stored on branches/ leaves of plants before evaporating or falling to the ground and the factors effecting it are Interception storage capacity, Wind speed and Species.

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34
Q

What are the factors affecting the rate of infiltration and description?

A

Soil type- If the soil is very permeable then water infiltrates easily
Saturation- If soil is already saturated there will be no room for more water making it less permeable
Relief-steeper relief less infiltration

35
Q

What is overland flow and the factors affecting it?

A

When the rate of rainfall exceeds infiltration capacity overland flow occurs or When soil becomes saturated and the water table rises to the surface. The factors affecting overland flow are how saturated the soil is and how much previous rainfall.

36
Q

What are the factors affecting throughflow?

A

Soil type-if soil is denser the rate will be slower
Tree roots-slows the water down and absorbs some of it
Relief-steeper the relief faster the through flow

37
Q

What are the factors affecting groundwater flow?

A

Underlying rock is permeable-more water can percolate eventually emerging at the surface as springs or seepages

38
Q

What is ablation and the factors affecting it?

A

Ablation refers to the loss of ice and snow from the glacier’s surface due to melting, sublimation (ice turning directly into water vapor), or calving (breaking off of ice chunks). The factors affecting it are Higher temps ~ more ablation due to melting, Evaporation, Sublimation and Calving.

39
Q

How does climate affect water cycle processes?

A

Warmer temperatures lead to more evaporation and precipitation.
Saturated overland flow leads to increased surface runoff if it rained previously. Rate of rain falling ~ if it’s faster than the rate of percolation (movement of water through soil or porous rock layers) or infiltration causes over land flow.

40
Q

How does relief affect water cycle processes?

A

Speed of overland flow will increase if the relief is steeper and
Infiltration is slower on slopes with a high relief.

41
Q

How does geology affect water cycle processes

A

-If there are rocks underneath there will be groundwater flow
-Rocks that are more porous e.g. chalk will increase groundwater flow due to more percolation
-Compact soil reduces infiltration and increases surface runoff

42
Q

What is the water balance?

A

This is the balance between inputs into a drainage basin and outputs

43
Q

What is the water balance equation?

A

Precipitation = evapotranspiration + streamflow +/- storage

44
Q

What is water surplus?

A

Water surplus occurs when precipitation is greater than evapotranspiration and streamflow. This will create saturated soil

45
Q

What is water deficit?

A

Water deficit occurs when precipitation is less than evapotranspiration and streamflow. This will create dry soil

46
Q

What are the processes that take place for a cloud to be formed?

A

1.Throughthe process of convection a parcel of warm air will rise
2.Because the parcel of air is warmer than its surroundings it is therefore less dense and buoyant (this situation is known as atmospheric instability)
3.The DALR states that cooling caused by adiabatic expension will be about 10 DC for every 1km
4.As the parcel of air cools it will eventually reach its dew point (this is when condensation occurs and a cloud starts to form)
5.As condensation occurs latent heat is given off
6.Now the air has become saturated with water and becaye of the latent heat being given off, the rising parcel of air continues to cool but at a slower rate at 7DC for every 1km
7.The air will continue to rise until it becomes the same temperature as the surrounding air
8.At this point condensation will stop and mark the top of the cloud
9.Air cannot rise any further as it is teh same temperature as its surroundings and the atmosphere is now stable

47
Q

What is lapse rate and the 2 types of them?

A

The rate of decrease in temperature with height. The 2 types are Environmental lapse rate and adiabatic lapse rate.

48
Q

What is the definition for ELR and the process for it?

A

ELR is the decrease in temperature usually expected with an increase in height through the troposphere.
-Short-wave radiation travels from the sun and a small percentage is conducted into the soil while most is long-wave radiation heating the atmosphere near the ground decreasing with height and altitude
-ELR is 6.5°C per 1000m on average
-This can vary with air turbulence, air surface temperature
-On a hot day it will be higher but when winds are strong it will be lower

49
Q

What is the definition for ALR and the process for it?

A

-This is with a parcel of self contained air meaning there is no heat exchange with the surroundings
-Instead it is the change in temp of the parcel due to a change in pressure
-As the parcel rises it is surrounded by less dense air allowing the air to expand and fill the space around it as pressure is reduced with height
-Air that is not saturated will rise, expand and cool at the set rate of 10°C per 1000m!

50
Q

What are the 2 types of ALR?

A

Dry Adiabatic lapse rate (DALR) and Saturated Adiabatic lapse rate (SALR)

51
Q

What is the process of DALR?

A

Is the rate at which a parcel of dry air (i.e. less than 100% humidity so that condensation is not taking place) cools. Cooling caused by adiabatic expansion is approximately 100C/KM

52
Q

What is SALR?

A

The saturated adiabatic lapse rate (SALR): is the rate at which a saturated parcel of air (i.e. one in which condensation is occurring) cools as it rises through the atmosphere. The rate of cooling is slower, between 3-90C/km because condensation releases latent heat

53
Q

Why does saturated air not cool as quickly?

A

Saturated air contains condensed water (i.e. water that has turned from a gas to a liquid). When condensation occurs latent heat is released which is the exact opposite of evaporation! This prevents the air from cooling as rapidly

54
Q

What is a stable parcel of air?

A

When the parcel of air is at the same temperature as the surrounding environment, it will stop rising and eventually sink down

55
Q

What is an unstable parcel of air?

A

When a parcel of air is warmer than the surrounding environment it will continue to rise

56
Q

What is adiabatic expansion?

A

This is the description of what happens to a parcel of air as it rises, it describes how the air pressure decreases causing an increase in volume and a decrease in temperature

57
Q

What are diurnal changes in the water cycle?

A

-More likely to expect rainfall in the afternoon, this is because the suns rays are stronger during the morning right up until 12 and this will cause water to be evaporated to then be cooled when temperatures decline and be precipitated during the afternoon.
-Higher rates of precipitation during the middle of the day.
-Plants transpire more during the day leading to more evapotranspiration during the day
-Dew point is where evaporation transfers to precipitation. This point is different depending on back ground temperatures and other factors.

58
Q

What are seasonal changes in the water cycle (evapotranspiration)?

A

-In the summer when there is more thermal energy there will be increased evapotranspiration taking more water into the atmosphere
-However in the winter months there will be less evapotranspiration due to less thermal energy input
-More plants in summer

59
Q

What are seasonal changes in the water cycle (precipitation)?

A

-When there is more evapotranspiration there is more likely to be large sums of rainfall following at a cooler time when the water vapour cools and condenses into precipitation
-This will occur more in winter where solar energy input is low

60
Q

What are the seasonal changes in the water cycle (interception)?

A

-There will be increased interception when there is more vegetation with leaves present which will be in summer months
-Interception will decrease in winter when deciduous trees lose their leaves due to a lack of solar energy input
-However due to rainfall being less in summer there isn’t as much rain to intercept as there is in winter

61
Q

What are the seasonal changes in the water cycle (soil moisture store)?

A

-The soil moisture store will be largest at times of low solar input
-This is due to increased precipitation as water vapour can cool and condense to come down as rain and saturate the soil in winter.
-Due to plants extracting water from the ground soil moisture will decrease.
-Ground is harder and more dried out in summer, so increased surface runoff

62
Q

What are the seasonal changes in the water cycle (lake stores)?

A

-Lake stores will be higher at maximum times of precipitation with lower solar energy input
-This means water vapour can cool and condense coming down as rain into basins and running off into lakes once the soil is saturated or if the rainfall is fast
-As times of high solar energy input there will be more water being evaporated off the top layers of the lake which will reduce its store
-This means in winter when evaporation rates are slow as temperatures are at their lowest lakes will have a larger store

63
Q

What are the seasonal changes in the water cycle (river flow)?

A

-River flow increases at times of mass precipitation
-Precipitation will occur at cooler times when water vapour can cool and condense resulting in rainfall
-This rainfall will run off the drainage basins and into the river particularly when there has been a lot of previous rainfall and the ground dis saturated
-The more rain running into rivers the faster it will flow

64
Q

What are long term changes to the water cycle (Glacial and interglacial)?

A

-Increase in the ice sheet store, permafrost store.
-Decrease in the ocean store, vegetation store, atmospheric store.
-Decrease in evapotranspiration and precipitation.

65
Q

What is the impact of long term climate change on the water cycle?

A

-Increased evaporation and therefore water vapour in the atmosphere
-More water vapour acts as a greenhouse gas further raising temperatures, increasing evaporation and precipitation
-Increased precipitation will lead to higher runoff and greater flood risks
-Water vapour is a source of energy in the atmosphere releasing latent heat on condensation. More events such as hurricanes and mid-latitude storms become more powerful and frequent
-Accelerated melting of glaciers and ice sheets shrinks the store of water in the cryosphere
-Accelerated melting of permafrost

66
Q

What are human impacts on the natural water cycle through changes in land uses (urbanisation flows)?

A

-The addition of hard surfaces such as concrete within a previously rural area will increase surface run off of water making it more likely to flood within an area
-Impermeable surfaces will decrease infiltration and percolation as water doesn’t reach the soil due to a barrier
-As trees need to be cut down for the construction of houses and infrastructure there is less interception meaning water will reach the ground at a faster rate again increasing the chance of flooding
-As of drainage systems and lots of surface runoff there is a decrease in evaporation
-However man made rivers or dams will lead to increase evaporation and precipitation in other areas due to a large mass of stagnant water with a larger surface area

67
Q

What are human impacts on the natural water cycle through changes in land uses (urbanisation stores)?

A

-As water runs off at a faster rate the ground water store will decrease. Water doesn’t reach the ground due to impermeable surfaces
-There will be a decrease in biomass as trees can access water as its run off or channelled into drains
-There will be a smaller soil store again due to water not reaching it.

68
Q

What are human impacts on the natural water cycle through changes in land uses (Farming flows)?

A

-Evapotranspiration decreases with clearance (if forest previously there) or increases (if arid area previously cultivate and irrigated there). May affect rainfall downwind
-Heavy machinery compacts soils which increases surface run-off, which increases peak flows on streams draining farmland
-Ploughing increases evaporation and soil moisture loss
-Furrows ploughed downslope act as drainage channels – accelerates run-off and soil erosion. Infiltration greater due to ploughing as break up of soil makes it easier
-Hill farming takes place on steep slopes – fast surface run-off.
-Over half of global soils are now classified as degraded as a result of intense agriculture practise.

69
Q

What are the human impacts on the natural water cycle through changes in land uses (farming stores)?

A

-Terraced farming increases surface storage of water and slows surface run-off
-Crop irrigation diverts surface water from rivers and groundwater (reduces downstream flow and can reduce water table) to cultivated land
-Some of this is extracted by crops from soil storage and released by transpiration
-Most lost to evaporation and in artificial soil drainage
-Agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater extraction
-Intense agriculture has caused global soils to lose between 40-60% of their organic carbon

70
Q

What are the human impacts on the natural water cycle through changes in land uses (forestry flow)?

A

-Addition of trees will increase interception reducing the amount of time taken for precipitation to reach the ground
-Trees will aid infiltration and percolation as roots break up the soil allowing water to pass through
-Increased evapotranspiration due to a larger biomass store

71
Q

What are the human impacts on the natural water cycle through changes in land uses (afforestation stores)?

A

-Increase in the biomass store due to more trees being present taking up water
-Increase in groundwater and soil store due to water reaching the ground and no permeable surfaces distrusting this as well as roots aiding the water into the soil

72
Q

What are the brief sources and issues with groundwater extraction?

A

-Aquifer source of water ~ rock that stores water easily. Usually sedimentary. In Cambridge it is chalk
-Groundwater is a reliable source as it doesn’t change with evaporation. However if it is extracted at a quicker rate then precipitation it will run out. Water takes a long time to reach the ground water store
-In some cases wells can be build as water under pressure just rises to the surfaces - this is another method of extraction

73
Q

What is an aquifer?

A

An aquifer is a rock saturated with water

74
Q

What is a confined aquifer?

A

A confining layer of impermeable rock separates the aquifer. Low hydraulic conductivity.

75
Q

What is an unconfined aquifer?

A

There is nothing on top of the rock layer that is confining the aquifer. It’s not sealed off.

76
Q

What is a syncline?

A

A downfolded, basin-like geological structure

77
Q

What is artesian pressure?

A

The hydrostatic pressure exerted on groundwater that when tapped will rise to the surface under its own pressure

78
Q

What is potentiometric surface?

A

An imaginary surface that defines the theoretical level to which water would rise in a confined aquifer

79
Q

What is an artesian basin?

A

-When sedimentary rocks for a syncline basin, an aquifer confined between impermeable rock layers may contain groundwater which is under artesian pressure
-If this groundwater is tapped by a well or borehole, water will flow to the surface under its own pressure. This is an artesian aquifer
-The level to which the water will rise is determined by the height of the water table in areas of recharge on the edges of the basin and is know as the potentiometer is surface

80
Q

Global management of the water cycle (forestry benefits)?

A

-Stabilises the regional water cycle whilst offsetting 430 million tonnes of carbon a year as well
-Supports indigenous forest communities
-Promotes ecotourism and protects biodiversity

81
Q

Global management of the water cycle (forestry reducing drought)?

A

-Forests retain excess rainwater, preventing extreme run-off
-This water can be released in dry seasons helping to provide clean water and mitigate the effects

82
Q

Global management of the water cycle (forestry reducing flooding)?

A

-Prevent soil erosion
-Increase interception reducing time taken for water to reach the ground
-Aids infiltration into soils reducing water surface store and increasing soil water store
-Takes up water themselves

83
Q
A

Physical Geography OCR (10 decks)

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