4.1 - INTRODUCTION TO WATER SYSTEMS

Question 1

Describe the hydrological cycle

Answer 1

The sequence of water movement through the atmosphere in gas, liquid and solid form. Driven by solar energy and gravity.

Question 2

Define “water budget”

Answer 2

Estimate of the amount of water in different storages on Earth:
- 97% salt water, 3% freshwater (70% in icecaps/glaciers) (30% held underground in aquifers)
- <1% of freshwater found in lakes, soil water, atmospheric vapor, rivers and biota.

Question 3

Define “aquifers”

Answer 3

Rocks that store underground water

Question 4

Define “advection”

Answer 4

Horizontal movement of water in atmosphere (liquid, solid or gas state).

Question 5

Define “evaporation”

Answer 5

liquid → gas

Question 6

Define “transpiration”

Answer 6

plants absorb water through roots → transport it to other parts of plant

Question 7

Define “sublimation”

Answer 7

solid → gas WITHOUT liquid state (e.g. snow/ice changing into vapor before it melts [porque hace un frio fuertaso])

Question 8

Define “evapotranspiration”

Answer 8

Water evaporates from plants, mainly through their leaves. Gets water vapor back into the air.

Question 9

Define “condensation”

Answer 9

Vapor in the air changed into liquid (e.g. clouds)

Question 10

Define “precipitation”

Answer 10

Water that falls to Earth from the atmosphere.
Its form depends on the temp (e.g. rain, snow, hail, etc.)

Question 11

Describe a “climate graph”

Answer 11

Summarises variations in precipitation and temperature over time for a location.
Precipitation: bars
Temp: line graph

Question 12

Define a “drainage basin system”

Answer 12

The area of land drained by a body of water and its tributaries.
Water falls as precipitation to land, and then gravity ensures the water is “pulled” downhill to return to the sea.

Question 13

Define “throughflow”

Answer 13

Water flowing through the soil

Question 14

Define “infiltration”

Answer 14

The passage of water into the soil

Question 15

Define “percolation”

Answer 15

Downward vertical movement of water within soil or rock

Question 16

Define “stores”

Answer 16

Places where water is stored

Question 17

Define “transfers”

Answer 17

Where water is flowing through the drainage basin system

Question 18

Define “inputs”

Answer 18

Where water enters the system

Question 19

Define “outputs”

Answer 19

Where water is lost to the system

Question 20

Forms of human activity that can impact infiltration and surface runoff:

Answer 20

• Agriculture: compaction of soil affects infiltration capacity rate.
• Deforestation: reduced infiltration, Increased surface runoff, lower groundwater recharge, increased soil erosion, greater flood risk
• Urbanization: increased amount of precipitation turned into surface runoff (concrete in roofs → flood risk high)

Question 21

What does the “conveyor belt” do?

Answer 21

• Distributes the sun’s heat around the globe.
• Regulates the amount of sea ice.
• Supplies heat to polar regions.

Question 22

Define “upwelling”

Answer 22

The upward movement of deep, colder water towards the surface, distributing nutrients