3.2.2 The Hydrosphere

Question 1

What is the hydrosphere?

Answer 1

The hydrosphere includes all the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and water in the atmosphere.

Question 2

What is the global hydrological cycle?

Answer 2

The global hydrological cycle is the continuous movement of water through the oceans, atmosphere, and continents, maintaining dynamic equilibrium.

Question 3

What is the main process by which water moves from oceans to the atmosphere?

Answer 3

Evaporation from the oceans.

Question 4

How much water evaporates from the oceans annually in the global hydrological cycle?

Answer 4

413 units

Question 5

What term describes water movement from continents to oceans through rivers?

Answer 5

Channel runoff

Question 6

What are the two forms of water transfer from continents to the atmosphere?

Answer 6

Evaporation and transpiration.

Question 7

What is “dynamic equilibrium” in the context of the global hydrological cycle

Answer 7

It refers to the balance maintained in the water cycle, where inputs and outputs remain relatively constant over time.

Question 8

How much water is transported from the oceans to the atmosphere above the sea?

Answer 8

373 units

Question 9

How much water is transported from the oceans to the atmosphere above land?

Answer 9

40 units

Question 10

How much water precipitates onto land from the atmosphere?

Answer 10

113 units

Question 11

How much water is transferred to the atmosphere from land through evaporation and transpiration?

Answer 11

73 units

Question 12

How much water is transported from land to oceans via channel runoff (rivers)?

Answer 12

40 units

Question 13

What is transpiration

Answer 13

Plants adsorb soil moisture via their roots & give off water vapour through pores on their leaf surfaces

Question 14

What is evapotranspiration

Answer 14

Flux of water from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere via the process of evaporation and transpiration

Question 15

What percentage of the Earth’s water is in the oceans (saltwater)?

Answer 15

97.5%

Question 16

What percentage of the Earth’s water is freshwater?

Answer 16

2.5%

Question 17

What percentage of freshwater is stored in the cryosphere?

Answer 17

68.7%

Question 18

What percentage of freshwater is stored as groundwater?

Answer 18

30.1%

Question 19

What percentage of accessible surface freshwater is in lakes?

Answer 19

52%

Question 20

What percentage of accessible surface freshwater is in soil moisture?

Answer 20

38%

Question 21

What percentage of accessible surface freshwater is in rivers?

Answer 21

1%

Question 22

What is the residence time of water in oceans?

Answer 22

3,600 years

Question 23

What is the residence time of water in the cryosphere?

Answer 23

15,000 years

Question 24

What is the residence time of water in groundwater?

Answer 24

10,000years

Question 25

What is the residence time of water in rivers and lakes?

Answer 25

2 weeks to 50 weeks

Question 26

What is the residence time of water in rivers and lakes?

Answer 26

2 weeks to 50 weeks

Question 27

What is the residence time of water in soil moisture?

Answer 27

2 weeks to 10 years

Question 28

What is the residence time of water in the atmosphere?

Answer 28

7 years

Question 29

What is the residence time of water in the biosphere?

Answer 29

10 days

Question 30

What is “residence time” in the context of the hydrological cycle?

Answer 30

The average time a water molecule spends in a store.

Question 31

What percentage of all water falls as precipitation each year and where does most water remain

Answer 31

0.035%. Most water remains in the stores, unavailable for use

Question 32

What can releasing more water from storage cause and why

Answer 32

Increases yearly budget because if it has a long residence time its is exploiting a non-renewable resource

Question 33

Explain the global water distribution

Answer 33

Although water is a renewable resource, it’s unevenly distributed around the world. Precipitation isn’t consistent throughout the year

Question 34

Give ways how humans may try to solve problems of inconsistent supply over a year

Answer 34

Storing water Abstracting water from aquifers Abstracting water from rivers and lakes Transforming water from one place to another Desalinating water

Question 35

Why is demand for water rising

Answer 35

Global population rise Increased irrigation (70% of global water supply is used in farming) Industrialisation Increased per-capita use