Enquiry 1 what are the processes operating within the hydrological cycle from global to local scale

Question 1

water cycle

Answer 1

operates on a variety of scales where physical processes control the circulation of water between stores on land, oceans, the cryosphere and atmosphere

Question 2

type of cycle

Answer 2

closed system with inputs (precip), outputs, stores and flows

driven by solar energy and gravitational potential energy

Question 3

stage 1

Answer 3

EVAPORATION: water vapour from oceans is lifted and condensed in the atmosphere to form clouds

Question 4

stage 2

Answer 4

MOISTURE: transported around the globe, some evaporates back into atmos and some percolate the ground to form groundwater

Question 5

stage 3

Answer 5

Balance of water that remains on the surface is called RUNOFF and is emptied into lakes, rivers and streams which carry it back to the ocean

Question 6

ocean store

Answer 6

water- 96.9%

residence time- 3,600yrs

Question 7

Icecaps

Answer 7

water- 1.9%

residence time- 15,000yrs (size dependent)

Question 8

groundwater

Answer 8

water- 1.1

residence time- up to 10,000 yrs

Question 9

rivers/lakes

Answer 9

water-0.01

residence time- 2 weeks to 10yrs

Question 10

blue water

Answer 10

water in rivers/lakes (visible)

Question 11

green water

Answer 11

water in soil/vegetation (invisible)

Question 12

deep-seated groundwater

Answer 12

not renewable
Sahara desert
fossil water
result of the pluvial period
not reachable

Question 13

accessible stores

Answer 13

soil moisture

lost to other stores by evap/ transpiration/ groundwater flow

Question 14

water for life support

Answer 14

2.5% of global water is freshwater
rivers have 0.007% so are a source of conflict/disputes
30% in groundwater/ some fossil water (slow turnover period)

Question 15

drainage basin

Answer 15

an area of land drained by a river

Question 16

interception

Answer 16

precip that does not reach the soil as it is intercepted by vegetation and forest floor

Question 17

throughflow

Answer 17

flowing of water within the soil, moving towards the river

Question 18

infiltration

Answer 18

water on the ground soaking into the soils and porous rock

Question 19

percolation

Answer 19

movement of water through the soil or underlying porous rock, being stored as groundwater

Question 20

outputs in a drainage basin

Answer 20

evapo
runoff (all the water that enters a river channel and eventually flows out of the drainage basin)

Question 21

evapotranspiration in a drainage basin system

Answer 21

the total output of water from the drainage basin directly into the atmos

Question 22

stores in a drainage basin

Answer 22

interception storage
surface water
soil water
groundwater
channel storage

Question 23

transfers in a drainage basin

Answer 23

stemflow
infiltration
overland flow
channel flow

Question 24

watershed

Answer 24

boundary that separates one drainage basin from another, typically following a ridge or high land

Question 25

drainage basin as an open system

Answer 25

it exchanges matter with its surroundings

Question 26

human disruptions to the drainage basin

Answer 26

deforestation
farming and irrigation 
dam construction 
pollution from industry
urbanisation

Question 27

physical factors affecting outputs (climate)

Answer 27

climate- (temp and precip patterns determine availability and vary according to latitude)
seasonality determines patterns
summer temp increases evap but plant growth increases transpiration
equatorial areas receive the most rainfall

Question 28

physical factors affecting outputs (geology)

Answer 28

geology- determines underground storage according to permeability

Question 29

physical factors affecting outputs (river systems)

Answer 29

flow increases downstream but climate creates variation in discharge and water loss

Question 30

Water budgets

Answer 30

Show the annual balance between inputs (precipitation) and outputs(evapotranspiration) and their impact on soil water availability

Question 31

Water budgets influenced by

Answer 31

Climate types

Temperate- mood temps and steady climate

Tropical-tropical wet/ monsoon/ wet and dry seasons

Polar-tundra and Ice caps. Tundra summers are short and in ice cap seasons temps are seldom above freezing

Question 32

Storm hydrographs main features

Answer 32

Peak discharge- reached after peak rainfall

Rainfall input- discharge rise and rising limb

Storm input cease and river water decrease- recessional limb

Time interval- between peak rainfall and discharge= lag time

Discharge returns to normal (base flow)

Question 33

Storm hydrographs shape factors

Answer 33

Shape- circular basin( shorter lag time and ‘flashy river’)
Elongated basin (delayed and ‘flat river’) 

Weather/climate- high temp (high evap) and steady rain (less infiltration) = flat river

Human activity- urbanisation(impermeable) = flashy river

Question 34

Soil moisture budget

Answer 34

Soil moisture surplus

Soil water utilisation

Soil water deficit

Soil water recharge

Field capacity