Water and Carbon Cycle Flashcards
(43 cards)
1
Q
system
A
- an assemblage of stors and flows that work together by a driving process
2
Q
key parts of a system
A
- inputs
- stores / components
- flows / transfers
- outputs
3
Q
systems concepts
A
- all held within a boundary
- generalisations of reality
- function by materials being processed along the way
- material flows from one component to the other
4
Q
elements
A
- key parts of a system
5
Q
attributes
A
- key characteristics of the elements
6
Q
relationships
A
- how the different elements work together to form a process
7
Q
boundary
A
- the edge of a particular system
- may overlap with other systems
- transition can be abrupt or gradual
8
Q
types of systems
A
- open
- closed
- isolated
9
Q
open system
A
- both mass and energy are allowed to transfer across the system boundary
- may be a flow of energy and matter in and out of the system
10
Q
closed system
A
- there may be a flow of energy in and out, but no matter flow takes place across the system boundary
- has a fixed mass
11
Q
inputs
A
- energy or material moving into the system from the outside
12
Q
outputs
A
- energy or material moving from the system to the outside
13
Q
energy
A
- power or driving force
14
Q
store / components
A
- the individual parts or elements of a system
15
Q
flow / transfers
A
- the links or relationships between the components and how they work together to carry out some type of process
16
Q
drainage basin inputs
A
- precipitation
17
Q
drainage basin outputs
A
- evaporation
- transpiration
- river discharge
18
Q
drainage basin stores
A
- interception
- surface storage
- soil moisture
- groundwater
19
Q
drainage basin flows
A
- surface runoff
- infiltration
- percolation
- groundwater flow
- throughflow
- stem flow
20
Q
positive feedback
A
- where the effects of an action are increased or multiplied by its subsequent or secondary ‘knock on’ effects
21
Q
negative feedback
A
- where the effects of an action are reduced or stopped by its subsequent ‘knock on’ effects
22
Q
dynamic equilibrium
A
- the inputs and outputs are equal
- matter will pass through the system and the amount of matter in the stores will remain the same
23
Q
precipitation
A
- rain, sleet, snow or hail that falls or condenses on the ground
24
Q
interception
A
- the process of interrupting the movement of water in the chain of transportation events
25
surface storage
* the total volume of water held per unit area
* lakes, ponds and puddles
26
infiltration
* when water moves into the ground from the surface and begins to soak into the soil or rock layers underneath
27
soil water
* the amount of water that can be stored in the soil particles and is available for growing crops
28
percolation
* the movement of water through the soil itself
29
groundwater
* water stored in all the pores, cracks, and space between rock particles deep underground
30
transpiration
* water rises as vapour from the plants roots to leaves and is released into the atmosphere
31
evaporation
* process that changes liquid water into water vapour
32
surface runoff
* precipitation that falls on land and flows downhill towards streams
33
throughflow
* water flows downhill within the soil
34
groundwater flow
* the slow movement of water underground
35
river channel
* landform consisting of the outline of path of relatively shalllow and narrow body of fluid
36
evapotranspiration
* water vapour comes out of leaves
37
stem flow
* water lands on plants and runs down their stems
38
lithosphere
* contains all of the solid rock found on and in our planet
* extends to a depth of 100km (60 miles) from the crust to the upper mantle
39
hydrosphere
* contains all of the water found on and in our planet
* 71% of earth's surface
* 1.4 billion cubic km (326 million cubic miles)
40
cryosphere
* contains all of the solid precipitation found in and on our planet
* 13% of earth's surface area
* 68 million km2
41
biosphere
* contains all of the life found on and in our planet
* around 20 kilometers (12 miles) from top to bottom
42
atmosphere
* contains all of the gases that surround our planet
* stretches from the surface of the planet up to as far as 10,000 kilometers (6,214 miles)
43
impacts on the water cycle
* deforestation
* storm events
* seasonal changes
