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the water cycle - geography > Key Definitions > Flashcards

Key Definitions Flashcards

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1
Q

Anticyclone

A

A system of high pressure, causing high temperatures and unreasonably high evaporation rates

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2
Q

Aquifer

A

A permeable or porous rock which stores water

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3
Q

Convectional precipitation

A

Solar radiation heats the air above the ground, causing it to rise, cool and condense forming precipitation (often as thunderstorms)

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4
Q

Cryosphere

A

The global water volume locked up within a frozen state

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5
Q

Depression

A
  • a system of low pressure, with fronts of precipitation where low and high pressure air masses meet
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6
Q

Desublimination

A

The change of state of water from gas to solid, without being a liquid (opposite of sublimination)

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7
Q

Drainage density

A

The total length of all rivers and streams divided by the area of the drainage basin

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8
Q

Drainage basin

A

The aired of land drained by a river and its tributaries

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9
Q

Drought

A

An extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical average for the region

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10
Q

Economic water scarcity

A

when water resources are available but insufficient economic wealth limits access to it

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11
Q

ENSO cycles

A

El Niño southern oscillations - naturally occurring phenomena that involves the movement if warm water through the equatorial pacific

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12
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

The combined total moisture transferred from the earth to the atmosphere, through evaporation and transpiration

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13
Q

Frontal precipitation

A

When air masses of different temperatures meet at a front, one mass will be forced over another, causing precipitation beneath the front

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14
Q

Global hydrological cycle

A

The continuous transfer of water between land, atmosphere and oceans. The earth is a closed system

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15
Q

Ground water flow

A

Water moving horizontally through permeable or porous rock due to gravity

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16
Q

Hydrologic drought

A

Insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of vegetation at a particular time

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17
Q

Infiltration

A

The movement of water vertically through the pores in soil

18
Q

Integrated drainage basin management

A

Establishing a frame of coordinated efforts between administrations and stakeholders to achieve balanced management of a basin

19
Q

Interception

A

Raindrops are prevented from falling directly onto the ground, instead hitting the leaves if a tree

20
Q

Meteorological drought

A

When long term precipitation trends are below average

21
Q

Monsoon

A

The drastic variation between wet and dry season for sub tropical areas, caused by a changing prevailing wind. Can lead to annual flooding

22
Q

Open system

A

A system affected by external flows and inputs

23
Q

Percolation

A

Water moving vertically from soil into permeable rock

24
Q

Physical water scarcity

A

A physical lack of available freshwater which cannot meet demand

25
Q

Relief precipitation

A

Precipitation caused when air masses are forced to rise over high land, determined by the relief/morphology of the kand

26
Q

River regime

A

The pattern of river discharge over a year

27
Q

Runoff

A

Water flowing over the surface if the ground e.g. after precipitation or snowmelt

28
Q

Salinisation

A

Where salt water contaminates freshwater stores or soils, creating saline conditions and reducing human use/consumption

29
Q

Saltwater encroachment

A

The movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers or May be caused by seal level rise, storm surges or over extraction

30
Q

Smart irrigation

A

Providing crops with a water supply less than optimal, To make crops resistant to water shortages

31
Q

Storm hydrograph

A

Variation of river discharge over a short period of time (days)

32
Q

Sublimation

A

The change of state of water from solid to gas, without being a liquid

33
Q

Through flow

A

Water moving horizontally through the soil, due to gravity

34
Q

Transpiration

A

The process through which water evaporates through the stomata in plant leaves

35
Q

Water budget

A

The annual balance between inputs and outputs within a system

36
Q

Water conservation

A

Strategies to reduce water usage and demand

37
Q

Water recycling

A

The treatment and purification of waste water, to increase supplly

38
Q

Water scarcity

A

There are limited renewable water sources (between 500 and 1000 cubic metres per capita per year)

39
Q

Water security

A

The ability to protect and access a sustainable source to adequately meet demand

40
Q

Water transfer

A

Hard engineering projects, such as pipeline or aqueducts, that divert water between basins to meet demand

41
Q

Watershed

A

The boundary between neighbouring drainage basin

the water cycle - geography (3 decks)

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