Introduction Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is good water quality?
Water that is maintained to a certain standard as a resource for human or other forms of life
How do groundwater fed rivers vary to non-aquifer rivers and why?
There is less variability in flow range since aquifer rocks have more storage potential and absorb more rainfall and release it over a longer time scale. Even if there is no surface river flow, there is usually a flow of water underground through the aquifer rock.
How are clouds formed?
Air from evapotranspiration expands and cools to become saturated water vapor which condenses around small particles to form clouds
What are the main processes in the water cycle?
Evaporation
Circulation
Precipitation
Infiltration or Transportation
Percolation
Repeat
Explain the evaporation water cycle process?
Water evaporates where external heat allows transition from liquid to vapor and arises from transpiration from vegetation.
Explain the circulation water cycle process?
Air circulation transmits moisture horizontally and convective or vertical currents transmit moisture upwards.
Explain the precipitation water cycle process?
Water is returned to Earth through precipitation in the form or rain, snow or hail.
Explain the infiltration water cycle process?
Infiltration is the entry of precipitation into the soil and then downwards.
What is the rate of infiltration governed by?
Governed by permeability and existing soil saturation.
Explain the transportation water cycle process?
Where surface runoff moves along defined channels to the sea.
Explain the percolation water cycle process?
Where infiltrated water moves down through the aerated zone to join the body of groundwater seeping towards the sea.
Where do humans most greatly influence the water cycle?
Freshwater flows and natural regime of rivers
What are some key ways humans have influences the water cycle?
Urban and highway developments
Agricultural drainage
Change in Land Use / Vegetation
Abstraction
How does urban and highway development effect the water cycle?
Covers large areas with impermeable surfaces that do not allow rainwater to soak into the ground can cause flooding
Peak river flows increase with reductions in stream flow in dry weather
Reduces natural attenuation
How does agricultural effect the water cycle?
Improves field drainage and reduces wetlands and waterlogged soils which support stream flow in dry weather.
Increases stream flow in wet seasons and reduces it in dry.
Reduces amount of water reaching the aquifers.
Fertilisers can be absorbed in water and cause algae blooms.
How does natural vegetation effect the water cycle?
Adding vegetation:
Slows runoff across surface and breaks soil surface.
Delays water reaching a watercourse and maximise soakaway to ground.
Removing vegetation:
Reduces the absorption capacity of land
Rapid surface runoff
How does abstraction effect the water cycle?
Depletes rivers and aquifers.
What world trends are increasing the damage of humans on the water cycle?
Increasing population increases water demand
Increasing affluence increases per capita demand
Expansion of business activity
Rapid urbanisation increases requirement for water infrastructure
Climate change is changing precipitation patterns
Pollution with industry chemicals
Define water footprint for
a) a product
b) individuals
The total volume of freshwater used to make a product.
The total amount of freshwater used to produce the goods and services consumed by that individual
What are the 3 types of water footprint and explain each?
Blue - amount of water used to make the product that does not return to the catchment from where it was abstracted
Green - volume of rainwater used in the production process
Grey - volume of water required to dilute the pollutant effluent from making the product so that it doesn’t bring receiving water below standards
How does the UK externalise its water use and what are the effects?
Importing extensive goods from abroad.
Externalises pollution and water stress issues to exporting regions which has negative impacts on water resources and ecosystems globally.
How did life expectancy increase drastically in the 1800s?
Increase in investment in sanitation decreased child deaths.
Was discovered that sewage and drinking water needs separated - less diarrhoea and cholera
