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The Hydrosphere Flashcards

1
Q

What are the different reservoirs of water in the water cycle?

A

oceans
land ice
ground water
the atmosphere
living organisms
lakes and rivers
soil moisture

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2
Q

What does residence time mean?

A

average time a water molecule spends in a reservoir

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3
Q

What does transfer rate mean?

A

how much water moves over a period of time (molecules per min)

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4
Q

How do you work out residence time?

A

volume of water in reservoir/ mean transfer rate

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5
Q

Which reservoir has the longest residence time?

A

groundwater

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6
Q

Which reservoir has the shortest residence time?

A

living organisms

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7
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: evaporation

A

oceans to atmosphere

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8
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: precipitation

A

atmosphere to ground

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9
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: transpiration

A

plants to atmosphere

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10
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: runoff

A

land to ocean

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11
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: interception

A

atmosphere to plants

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12
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: infiltration

A

surface to soil

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13
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: percolation

A

downward movement of water through soil

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14
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: ground water flow

A

soil to rock

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15
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: transport by wind

A

over ocean to over land

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16
Q

Which reservoirs does water move between during this process: surface flow

A

unconfined flow of water over ground surface

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17
Q

Where does the energy come from that drives the water cycle?

A

the sun - drives evaporation

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18
Q

What does abstraction mean?

A

taking water from its natural reservoir for human use

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19
Q

How do human activities affect processes of the water cycle: urbanisation

A

reduces infiltration and ground water

increases surface runoff

increases interception (building use), slows down movement of water

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20
Q

How do human activities affect processes of the water cycle: abstraction

A

from groundwater - causes subsidence - increases surface level reservoirs

from oceans - increases water in living things

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21
Q

How do human activities affect processes of the water cycle: agriculture

A

increased abstraction and transpiration
decreased infiltration

soil gets compacted due to heavy machinery

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22
Q

How do human activities affect processes of the water cycle: deforestation

A

decreased transpiration, interception, infiltration

exposed soils, reduces water in atmosphere

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23
Q

How do human activities affect processes of the water cycle: afforestation

A

increased transpiration and interception
decreased infiltration

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24
Q

How do human activities affect processes of the water cycle: combustion of fossil fuels

A

increased evaporation and precipitation

more water in the atmosphere, speeds up water cycle

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25
How do human activities affect processes of the water cycle: industry
increased atmospheric stores decrease surface stores and evaporation extracts water from ocean and rivers
26
Factors that cause the demand for water to change: population
increased pop = increased demand
27
Factors that cause the demand for water to change: change in affluence
increased affluence = increased demand = increased appliance use and activites
28
Factors that cause the demand for water to change: type of industry
chemical production = increased water service industry = decreased water
29
Factors that cause the demand for water to change: agriculture
intensive agriculture = increased water
30
What is most of the water used for in the service industry?
energy production
31
Reasons for the increase in demand of domestic water use
more accessible appliances growth of urbanisation population growth
32
Reasons for the increase in demand of agricultural water use
more intensive agriculture to meet demand
33
Reasons for the decrease in demand for industrial water use
moved from heavy industry to service industry
34
Define water footprint
a measure of the volume of fresh water utilized by a country/person/community/business
35
Why is Kuwait the most dependent country for water imports?
hot high population density high affluence
36
Why does chocolate have such a high water footprint?
to run the machines chocolate crops require a lot of water
37
Why does Brazil have the highest renewable water resources in the world?
amazon river used for HEP
38
Abstractive uses of water
drinking water appliances industry recreation agriculture mining power stations transportation
39
Exploitation of the River Nile
population increase = overfishing wetland degradation, deforestation, expansion of farmland = decreasing flow urban settlements = polluting water HEP dam in ethiopia = political unrest = The Nile Basin Initiative promotes cooperation amongst 11 countries in NE Africa
40
Uses of the River Nile
domestic, industrial, agricultural banks contain rich soil due to flooding
41
Exploitation of the Rivers of Tibet (Mikong River)
increase in population = more pressure on resources over 100 dams under development for HEP 167 hydropower plants dams prevent fish from migrating = do not reach spawning grounds
42
Uses of the Mikong River
3 billion dollar fishing and agriculture industry 25% of global freshwater catch supports crucial growth of crops
43
What is a reservoir (man made)?
an artificial lake where water is stored
44
Why do we build reservoirs?
to store the rain during wet seasons for drier years domestic use, flood risk management, HEP, agriculture, industry
45
Advantages of reservoirs
floodwater control power generation irrigation recreational use clean supply of water water for transport HEP
46
Disadvantages of reservoirs
loss of high quality agricultural land displacement of people impacts fish migration expensive water transfer between river basins is expensive
47
Environmental impacts of reservoirs: habitat change
upstream of dam = flooded = becomes a freshwater habitat downstream of dam = drier = grassland, woodland
48
Environmental impacts of reservoirs: wildlife migration barriers
dams stop the natural flow of water
49
Environmental impacts of reservoirs: changes in the river flow downstream of dams
less water arrives downstream river becomes smaller = lower water availability for downstream habitats
50
Environmental impacts of reservoirs: sedimentation
river flow decreases = particles settle sedimentation behind dam reduces space in reservoir
51
Environmental impacts of reservoirs: microclimate
HSHC moderates extremes of temp
52
Factors that affect reservoir location: topography
ideal location = valley with steep sides and a river running through
53
Factors that affect reservoir location: geology
impermeable bedrock
54
Factors that affect reservoir location: catchment area
larger catchment area = fuller reservoir
55
Factors that affect reservoir location: water supply
high precipitation levels
56
Factors that affect reservoir location: pollution risk
pollutants become concentrate (e.g. agrichemicals and sewage)
57
Factors that affect reservoir location: sedimentation
determine rates of soil erosion and catchment area
58
Factors that affect reservoir location: infrastructure
access roads already built = cheaper and easier
59
Factors that affect reservoir location: existing land use and land use conflicts
designations/agriculture/urban settlements
60
What is an estuarine barrage?
a dam built across the mouth of a river, creating a reservoir
61
Disadvantages of estuarine barrages
expensive difficult to build acts as a migration barrier causes sedimentation creates an obstacle for transport damages intertidal wetlands
62
Define aquifer
a body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater
63
How does porosity contribute to the formation of an aquifer?
allows water to be stored underground
64
What does porosity mean?
a measure of a rocks ability to hold a fluid
65
How does permeability contribute to the formation of an aquifer?
allows water to pass through from the surface
66
What does permeability mean?
a measure of the ability of a material to transmit fluids
67
How do geological structures contribute to the formation of an aquifer?
impermeable rocks prevent drainage syncline basin
68
What is a confined aquifer?
below land surface that is saturated with water
69
What is an unconfined aquifer?
rock is directly open at the surface of the ground and ground water is directly recharged
70
What is an artesian well?
a well drilled into an aquifer underneath the water table natural water pressure pushes the water up and out
71
Consequences of aquifer overuse: reduced supplies
limited supplies for agriculture, industry and domestic use less food security migration of people due to famine
72
Consequences of aquifer overuse: subsidence
overextraction leaves pore spaces empty, causing them to collapse
73
Consequences of aquifer overuse: changes in surface hydrology
disappearance of surface water features if levels drop below water table
74
Consequences of aquifer overuse: ecological impacts
loss of freshwater habitats local extinction of species migration of species imbalance in food chains
75
Consequences of aquifer overuse: saltwater incursion
overextraction causes permeable rocks to absorb saltwater cannot use water for drinking, irrigation or industry long residence time = long term problems
76
How can we monitor aquifer water levels and rates of depletion?
boreholes NASA - GRACE satellites
77
How do boreholes monitor aquifer levels?
physically measure the level of the water table (rising or falling?)
78
How do GRACE satellites monitor aquifer levels?
measures gravitational pull of the aquifer greater the mass = greater the pull
79
What is the most important aquifer in the UK?
the london basin water table is rising above the underground system = flooding
80
What is the London Basin used for?
domestic and service supplies historically used for industry
81
How has the water table changed in the SE over the years?
started to rise since less water is being extracted
82
Define aquifer recharge
the natural filling of an aquifer
83
How is the London Basin recharged?
precipitation percolates through the ground
84
How is rainwater harvested in modern buildings?
rainwater collected on rooftops installing gutters on roofs ground level catchment basins
85
New ways of exploiting water
sewage treatment desalination new aquifers reusing agricultural draining water cloud seeding
86
How are aquifers recharged artificially?
remove water from reservoirs where there is a surplus and transfer it to the aquifer
87
How can reservoirs be used to regulate river flow?
maintains flow at moderate levels all year round
88
What is meant by inter basin transfer?
surplus of water in one basin is moved into a basin that has been depleted
89
How can afforestation help with water supplies?
interception = slows down flow of water more water infiltrates to become ground water more vegetation = increased organic matter in the soil
90
How can we reduce domestic water consumption?
water meters
91
How can we reduce agricultural water consumption?
drip irrigation = crops only take up water when they need to
92
Impact of high turbidity
blocks light for photosynthesis ruins aesthetics
93
Impacts of pH extremes
cause corrosion of pipework denatures cells and enzymes metals dissolve faster in acidic conditions
94
Impacts of high calcium content
precipitate may build up on pipework appliances
95
Impacts of high pesticide concentration
harmful to non-intended insects many are liposoluble = builds up = effects magnify up the food chain
96
Impacts of high heavy metal concentration
toxic affects CNS and cognitive ability
97
Impacts of dissolved oxygen
supports bacteria that decompose organic matter
98
Impacts of chlorine retention
allows water to kill pathogens over a period of time
99
What does the presence of E.coli suggest?
polluted water
100
Methods of freshwater treatment: screening
water passed through metal grids removes large items
101
Methods of freshwater treatment: sedimentation
water stored in tanks for a number of days, allows suspended solids to settle out
102
Methods of freshwater treatment: aeration
air bubbled through water to stimulate aerobic bacteria bacteria breaks down organic matter, killing anaerobic bacteria
103
Methods of freshwater treatment: flocculation
chemicals added to remove charges on particles (e.g. clay), allowing them to clump together
104
Methods of freshwater treatment: filtration
water percolates through sand and gravel beds removes bacteria and remaining particles
105
Methods of freshwater treatment: activated carbon filters
small carbon crystals added pesticides adsorb to the crystals
106
Methods of freshwater treatment: sterilisation
add chloring/UV/ozone removes pathogens
107
Methods of freshwater treatment: pH control
neutralises water
108
Methods of freshwater treatment: fluoridation
add fluoride to water resolves public health issue
109
Methods of freshwater treatment: ion exchange
ion exchange resins are added metal ions adsorb to the resin removes metals
110
Describe the process of reverse osmosis
water molecules forced through semi-permeable membrane at high pressure, salt can't pass through energy intense and expensive remaining salt water returned to the ocean
111
Describe the process of distillation
evaporate salt water capture and condense water vapour salt remains in original container requires large energy input = expensive

Environmental Science (27 decks)

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