Evapotranspiration

Question 1

Define a solute?

Answer 1

A substance that dissolves in a solvent and can travel with the solvent
An example is salt or sugar; when the water is removed, the salt is left behind

Question 2

What is evapotranspiration?
What is transpiration?

Answer 2

The process where water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces
Transpiration is the process where water is transferred into the atmosphere from plants

Question 3

What is considered a meteorological drought? How does this compare to an agricultural drought?

Answer 3

When there is a prolonged time with less than average precipitation
An agricultural drought occurs after, when there is a shortfall in available water to the crop

Question 4

What is potential evapotranspiration?

Answer 4

PET is the amount of water that could evaporate and transpire

Question 5

What would be a good indication of a dry climate, where water availability is limited

Answer 5

When PET exceeds actual precipitation, which leads to droughts or arid conditions over a time-frame
- the demand by the atmosphere for moisture is greater than the precipitation

Question 6

What causes the dry conditions in Greenland and Africa?

Answer 6

Areas of converging winds
Greenland is in the middle of the polar easterlies and the westerlies
Africa is in the ICTZ (middle of the northeast trade winds and the southeast trade winds)

Question 7

How do warmer temperatures with climate change affect salinity?

Answer 7

The hotter the temperatures, the more water that’s pulled out of the soil and into the atmosphere. This pulls more salt to the surface, increasing salinity through evapotranspiration.
- over time, crops become less productive

Question 8

How is climate change affecting omega blocking?

Answer 8

Blocks are getting bigger and hot days are getting hotter

Question 9

What is Turgor? When can you see reduced turgor?

Answer 9

The rigidity of a plant is due to the pressure of the cell contents against the cell walls.
Turgor is lost or greatly diminished in wilting

Question 10

Is salt or drought worse?

Answer 10

One of them is bad but with climate change, both of them occurring is double as bad
- can set up a negative feedback lop