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Water Flashcards

(59 cards)

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1
Q

Stores

A

reservoirs where water is held, such as oceans

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2
Q

Fluxes

A

rate of flow between the stores

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3
Q

Processes

A

physical mechanisms that drive the fluxes of water between the stores

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4
Q

Blue water

A

water in freshwater lakes, rivers, wetlands and aquifers

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5
Q

Green water

A

Water stored in soil or that stays on top of it or in vegetation.

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6
Q

Precipitation

A

movement of water from the atmosphere to the ground

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7
Q

residence time of water

A

Average time a water molecule resides in that part of the cycle

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8
Q

fossil water

A

Ancient, deep groundwater from former wetter periods

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9
Q

Transpiration

A

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant

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10
Q

Groundwater flow

A

Slow transfer of percolated water underground through porous rocks

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11
Q

Which store of water has the shortest residence time?

A

Atmospheric - about 10 days. After that, it turns into precipitation and falls to the Earth.

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12
Q

What kind of cycle is the water cycle?

A

Closed - we drink the same water as dinosaurs

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13
Q

Where is the majority of water?

A

In oceans - 97.5%

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14
Q

Global Water Budget

A

annual balance between precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff. (annual balance between inputs and outputs.)

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15
Q

What does the global water budget do?

A

limits water availability for human use

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16
Q

What is a drainage basin?

A

The area of land drained by a river

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17
Q

Interception

A

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

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18
Q

watershed

A

an area/ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.

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19
Q

Infiltration

A

the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil

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20
Q

4 main stores of water

A

oceans, cryosphere, surface runoff, atmosphere

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21
Q

surface runoff/overland flow

A

water that flows over land until it reaches lakes, rivers, or other areas

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22
Q

How much freshwater is stored in the cryosphere?

A

69%

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23
Q

Convectional rainfall

A

formed by rising currents of warm, moist air. common in tropical areas

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24
Q

Cyclonic (frontal) rainfall

Study These Flashcards
A

Warm air forced to rise above cold due to differing densities, then condenses

25
Orographic rainfall
produced when a moving moist air mass encounters a mountain range, rises, cools, and releases condensed moisture that falls as rain
26
infiltration capacity
the maximum rate at which soil can absorb water
27
factors affecting infiltration rates
antecedent conditions, soil texture, slope angle, vegetation cover
28
Percolation
downward movement of water through soil and rock due to gravity.
29
Evapotranspiration
evaporation from soil plus transpiration from plants.
30
physical factors affecting drainage basin
climate, soil, geology, relief, vegetation
31
how does climate affect the drainage basin?
influences the type and amount of precipitation overall and the amount of evaporation, as well as vegetation type
32
how does relief affect the drainage basin?
altitude can affect precipitation, slope angle can affect surface runoff rates
33
what are the human factors affecting the drainage basin?
- River Management: Reservoirs restrict river flows. Abstraction reduces river flows and lowers water tables - Deforestation: = less evapotranspiration, more infiltration - Changing land use - agriculture + urbanisation
34
How has deforestation (of over 20%) impacted the DB in Amazonia?
- Less humidity, precipitation, transpiration - More surface run off, infiltration, evaporation, soil erosion and silt being fed into rivers.
35
cloud seeding
scattering of chemicals such as silver iodide into clouds to bring about rain
36
water budget equation
Precipitation (Input) = Channel discharge + evapotranspiration (Output) +/- changes in storage
37
river regime
annual variation in the discharge or flow of a river at a particular point, usually measured in cumecs.
38
character of a river's regime is influenced by...
river size, location of measurement, precipitation, temp, geology + soil, type of vegetation cover
39
What is a storm hydrograph and what does it show?
graph showing discharge changes over a short period. Plots the occurrence of a short period of rain over a drainage basin and the subsequent discharge of a river.
40
Storm hydrograph features
rising limb, peak discharge ,lag time, falling or recessional limb, base flow.
41
factors affecting shape of storm hydrograph
- Shape: circular - rapid drainage. long, narrow - slower - Size: Smaller = shorter lag time. - Drainage Density: higher = more flood risk. - Rock Type: Impermeable = more rapid increase in discharge - Soil and Vegetation: Roots take up water, reducing - Relief: Steeper = quicker
42
meteorological drought
defined by comparing an area's current precipitation with the area's typical precipitation and by analyzing how long the dry period lasts
43
agricultural drought
precipitation cannot supply enough moisture to the ground to support an area's crops
44
hydrological drought
Deficiencies in surface and subsurface water supplies that originates from precipitation shortfall
45
Famine drought
humanitarian crisis - widespread failure of agricultural systems = food shortages and famines with severe social, economic and environmental impacts.
46
ENSO
high pressure accumulates above Australia, = drought like conditions, whilst S. America becomes a low pressure centre, at high risk of flooding and intense rainfall. Every 3-7 yrs, usually for 18 months.
47
Effects of El Nino, Australia, 2006
extremely low rainfall. Caused River Murray to dry up in places, reducing food production, wellbeing and water supply. Exacerbated by poor human management over water sources. 6 million sheep died as result of the drought whilst thousands migrated away.
48
Aquifer
body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater.
49
meteorological causes of flooding
- intense storms (= flash flooding) - prolonged, heavy rain, eg Asian monsoon - rapid snowmelt during a particularly warm spring, eg in Siberia.
50
3 socio-economic impacts of flooding
- spread of water borne disease - damage to property - trauma
51
3 environmental impacts of flooding
- recharged groundwater stores - breeding, migration and dispersal (animals) - soil replenishment
52
Water stress
water availability is less than water demand, either currently or projected for the future (below 1,700 m³ per person)
53
Water scarcity
lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region (below 1000m³ per person.)
54
physical causes of water insecurity
climate, evaporation + evapotranspiration, discharge into the sea, saltwater encroachment at the coast
55
Human causes of water insecurity
- contamination of water by pollution - over-abstraction from rivers, lakes and aquifers and the acute need to replenish these dwindling stores
56
Why is there a growing demand for water?
- population growth - economic development - rising living standards
57
Physical scarcity
more than 75% of a country's or region's blue water flows are being used. not enough to meet demands
58
Economic scarcity
use of blue water sources is limited by lack of capital, technology and good governance. estimated 1 billion people are restricted from accessing blue water by high levels of poverty.
59
What dominates the use of water?
Agriculture; about 3,770 kms of water are withdrawn/yr, over 2x the amount for industrial and domestic purposes.

Water (5 decks)

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