Water And Carbon Cycles Flashcards
(138 cards)
1
Q
Definition of a model
A
Theoretical frameworks that let us predict things (based onlarge patterns) which helps us determine why and how things happen
2
Q
What do models help us understand?
A
Large, and complex things in order to understand now they operate and allow us to see the “big picture”
3
Q
Advantages of using a model
A
Allows lots of complex information to be condensed,
Can identify/present patterns and trends
4
Q
Disadvantages of using a model
A
Oversimplication could lead to misinterpretation,
They’re just a theory
5
Q
Definition of a system
A
An assemblage of interrelated parts that work together by the way of some driving force
6
Q
Definitions of elements (in a system)
A
Things that make up the system
7
Q
Definition of inputs (in a system)
A
A point where some thing is added to the system
8
Q
Definition of flow/transfer (in a system)
A
A link between one store or component and another, al one which something moves
9
Q
Definition of store/component (in a system)
A
A part of the system where something is held for a period of time
10
Q
Definition of attributes (in a system)
A
The characteristics of the elements (eg. Hot and cold)
11
Q
Definitions of outputs (in a system)
A
A point where something is removed from the system
12
Q
Definition of a system boundary
A
The edge of the system; the interface (or line) between one system and another
13
Q
Definitions of relationships (in a system)
A
Descriptions of how the various elements work together to carry out some sort of process
14
Q
Inputs of the drainage basin system
A
Precipitation
15
Q
Outputs of the drainage basin system
A
Transpiration,
Evaporation,
River run off
16
Q
Flow in the drainage basin system
A
Stem flow,
Surface run off,
Infiltration,
Through flow,
Percolation,
Groundwater flow,
Channel flow
17
Q
Stores in the drainage basin system
A
Interception,
Surface storage,
Soil water storage,
Groundwater storage,
Channel storage,
Vegetation storage
18
Q
Definition of an open system
A
When there are transfers of matter from outside the system, transferred in and out
19
Q
Definition of a closed system
A
When only energy is transferred into the system
20
Q
Definition of dynamic equilibrium
A
When the in puts and outputs are equal, the matter will pass through the system and the amounts of matter in the stores will remain the same
21
Q
Definition of positive feedback
A
Where the effects of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent or secondary “knock on” effects (inputs > outputs)
22
Q
Definition of negative feedback
A
When the effects of an action are nullified by its subsequent “knock on” effects
23
Q
4 Earth spheres
A
Atmosphere,
Hydrosphere,
Biosphere,
Lithosphere
24
Q
Characteristics of the atmosphere
A
Contains all the gases that surround the Earth,
Protect all life from harmful UV rays,
Split into its own spheres
25
Characteristics of the hydrosphere
Contains all of the water found in and around our planet,
The frozen part of the hydrosphere is the cryosphere,
Water moves through the hydrosphere in a cycle
26
Characteristics of the biosphere
Contains all of the life in and around our planet,
Life exists on the ground, in the air, and in the water,
All life exists between 500m below sea level and 6 km above sea level
27
Characteristics of the lithosphere
Contains all of the solid rock; most rigid of the Earths layers,
Outermost layer of the mantle, and the crust,
Oceanic lithosphere is slightly denser,
Continental lithosphere is much thicker
28
How does latent heat of water cause a cooling effect?
During evaporation, the surroundings are cooled down because energy is taken in from the surroundings
29
How does the latent heat of water create a heating effect?
During condensation, the surroundings are warmed up because energy is taken in from the surroundings
30
Definition of atmospheric water
Water found in the atmosphere; mainly water vapour and some liquid water (cloud and rain droplets) and ice crystals
31
Definition of cryospheric water
The water locked up on the Earth's surface as ice
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Definition of oceanic water
The water contained in the Earth oceans and seas but not including such inland seas such as the caspian sea
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Definition of terrestrial water
This consists of groundwater, soil, moisture, lakes, wetlands and rivers
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Characteristics of oceanic water
Only 5% explored,
72% of the Earth's surface,
Average depth of 3682 km
35
Characteristics of terrestrial water
Includes, groundwater, biological, and soil water
Levels of biological water largely depends on the ecosystem
36
Characteristics of cryospheric water
Includes, sea ice, sea shelf, ice sheet, ice cap, permafrost, and glaciers
Sea ice does not change sea levels when it melts
37
Characteristics of atmospheric water
12900 km2,
0.04% of worlds fresh water,
Amount of water that the atmosphere can hold doubles with 10°C rise
38
Inputs of a water cycle
Precipitation
39
Outputs of the water cycle
Transpiration, evaporation, river run off
40
Flows in the water cycle
Stem flow, surface run off, infiltration, throughflow, percolation, groundwater flow, channel flow
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Stores in the water cycle
Interception, surface storage, soil water storage, vegetation storage, groundwater storage, channel storage
42
Definition of drainage basin
The area of land surrounding a river, from which the river receives water and subsequently drains this water
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Definition of precipitation
Rain, snow, hail and sleet
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Definition of infiltration
When water enters the soil
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Definition of interception
When water is caught by trees and plants
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Definition of stem flow
Water lands on plants and runs down their stems
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Definition of overland flow
Any where water flows over the land surface
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Definition of throughflow
Movement of water down through the soil
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Definition of transpiration
When water vapour comes out of leaves
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Definition of evapotranspiration
Water rises as vapour from the ground and released from leaves
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Definition of ground water
Water stored underground
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Definition of soil water
Water held between the soil particles
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Definition of groundwater flow
When water flows through the ground/rock
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Definition of percolation
When water enters the permeable rock (from the soil)
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Definition of surface storage
Lakes, ponds and puddles
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Definition of ground water storage
Water stored underground in the bedrock
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Definition of water balance
Difference between inputs and outputs of the drainage basin
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Water balance equation
Precipitation = runoff + evapotranspiration + change of state
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Definition of positive water balance
If precipitation is greater than the runoff and evapotranspiration the amount of water in the system increases
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Definition of negative water balance
If precipitation is less than the runoff and evapotranspiration the amount of water in the system decreases
61
How is the level of runoff of a river measured?
Measuring the river discharge
62
River discharge equation
Discharge (amount of water passing you per second):
Cross section of area of water x speed = cumecs
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Impacts on river discharge level
Volume or speed of water
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What is lag time?
The amount of time the water takes to make its way into the drainage basin, it doesn't just go straight into the river
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Impacts on lag time
Relief of the land, vegetation, permeability of rock
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Characteristics of a flashy hydrograph
Steep limbs, high peak discharge, and short lag time
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Characteristics of a subdued hydrography
Gently inclined limbs, a low peak discharge, and a long lag time
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Physical factors affecting the shape of a storm hydrograph
Drainage basin shape,
Slope angles,
Drainage density,
Prior rainfall,
Rock type,
Vegetation cover,
Amount/intensity of precipitation,
Size of drainage basin
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Human factors affecting the shape of a storm hydrograph
Deforestation,
Afforestation,
Agriculture,
Growth of urban areas,
Soft engineering/ flood management,
Water abstraction
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CASE STUDY : River Eden
Main causes
Extremely heavy rainfall, over 300 mm,
Climate change made the flooding event 40% more likely,
Area of low pressure and warm Caribbean air
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CASE STUDY : River Eden
Characteristics of the drainage basin
80 miles long,
Extremely large catchment size,
72.9% grass land and 65.2%moderately permeable rock,
Mainly natural catchment
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CASE STUDY : River Eden
Impacts
5200 houses flooded,
43000 houses experienced power cuts,
131 bridges needed inspection/repairs,
40 schools closed,
NHS only using essential services
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CASE STUDY : River Eden
Responses
More than 100 flood warnings and 70 flood alerts,
200 military personnel,
50 high volume pumps provided,
£50 million repair and renew scheme
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Characteristics of the carbon cycle
Closed system made of biological carbon (in all life forms), and geological carbon (found in sedimentary rocks)
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Characteristics of carbon
Most chemically versatile element (forms more compounds than any other elements)
needed by all life forms to survive
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Calcium carbonate
CaCO3
Solid compound found in rocks, oceans and skeletons
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Hydrocarbons
Solid liquid or gas found in sedimentary rocks
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Biological molecules
Produced in all living things (carbon based)
Eg, fats, oils and DNA
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Methane
A gas found in the atmosphere, oceans, soils and sedimentary bedrock
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Carbon dioxide
A gas found in the atmosphere, soils and oceans
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6 main carbon stores
Lithosphere,
Pedosphere,
Hydrosphere,
Cryosphere,
Atmosphere,
Biosphere
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Definition of carbon sink
A store that absorbs more than it releases
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Definition of carbon source
A store that releases more than it absorbs
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Definition of anthropogenic CO2
Carbon dioxide generated by human activity
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Definition of carbon transfer
Process that transfers carbon between the stores
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Definition of GtC
A gigatonne, which is used to measure the amount of carbon in stores
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Definition of carbon sequestration
The capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or capturing anthropogenic carbon dioxide from large scale stationary sources before it is released to the atmosphere
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Definition of greenhouse gases
Any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infared radiation
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How much carbon does the lithosphere store? And where?
99.9% of all carbon
In sedimentary rocks, organic carbon, hydrocarbons and marine sediments
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How much carbon does the hydrosphere store? And where?
0.0076% of all carbon
In carbonate ions, bicarbonate ions, and dissolved CO2
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How much carbon does the pedosphere store? And where?
0.0031% of all carbon
In soil organisms and plant remains
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How much carbon does the cryosphere store? And where?
0.0018% of all carbon
In frozen mosses and methyl clathrates
93
How much carbon does the atmosphere store? And where?
0.0015% of all carbon
In gaseous carbon
94
How much carbon does the biosphere store? And where?
0.0012% of all carbon
In living plants and animals
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Definition of flux
Flux are measurement of the rate of flow of material between stores
96
What % of anthropogenic carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels?
90%, the remaining 10% is from land use change
97
Why do volcanic eruptions contribute very little to the natural sources of CO2?
Sulfur dioxide forms sulfuric acid in the atmosphere which reflects radiation from the sun, providing a cooling effect
98
What % of CO2 do volcanic eruptions contribute compared to human activity?
Less than 1%
99
Importance of ice cores in carbon dioxide research
Ice cores from the Antarctic show evidence that carbon dioxide levels have fluctuated over time, but the current ppm is an anomalous increase (it is extremely large)
100
How does cement production contribute to global CO2 levels?
Produces 5% of all human global emissions,
Heating calcium and carbon contributes to 50% of the carbon released from producing cement,
For every 1000 kg of cement produced, 900 kg of CO2 is released
101
How does farming contribute to increasing carbon dioxide levels?
39% of all agricultural carbon comes from methane from cows,
10% of all agricultural carbon comes from growing rice,
Ploughing soil allows air to mix and carbon dioxide to be released
102
How does land use change contribute to increasing carbon dioxide levels?
30% of all carbon dioxide emissions are a result of land use change,
Associated largely with deforestation
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How does deforestation contribute to increasing carbon dioxide levels?
Trees release CO2 when chopped down,
13 million hectares are cut down each year,
3% of forest has been removed between 1995 and 2005
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How does urban growth contribute to increasing carbon dioxide levels?
Over 50% of the Earth live in urban areas,
Urban areas grow by 1.3 millionpeople per week
105
Impacts of the changing carbon budget on the land
Formation/ development of soils,
Plant growth,
Melting of the permafrost,
Intensive agriculture,
Wildfires,
Afforestation of abandoned farmland
106
Impact of the changing carbon budget on the ocean
Formation of calcium carbonate,
Phytoplankton,
Acidification,
Ocean warming,
Melting sea ice,
Ocean salinity,
Rising sea levels
107
Slow carbon cycle
Returns carbon to the atmosphere by volcanoes,
This cycle is self-regulating; the volcano leads to acid rain which dissolves rocks containing carbon
108
Fast carbon cycle
Plants and phytoplankton are the main components; through photosynthesis and respiration they return carbon to the atmosphere
The fast carbon cycle is associated with the growing season, global carbon dioxide concentration decreases during the spring
109
Definition of feedback
A return or knock on effect that usually leads to a change in the effectiveness of one or more processes in a cycle
110
Definition of positive feedback
Enhances and leads to a continuation of the outcome
111
Definition of negative feedback
Reduces the outcome leading to stability and equilibrium being restored
112
The role of carbon and water
Vital for stalling all life,
Carbon is stored of glucose and assists cellular respiration,
The carbon content of trees is 50%,
Carbon is passed from plants to animals in the food chain,
Carbon is returned to the atmosphere by decomposition
113
Influence of water and carbon in the atmosphere
It is a store of carbon and water,
Carbon is an important GHG which absorbs solar radiation; providing warmth for all life,
Changes in the size of the stores have large implications on animals and plants
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What are aerosols?
Aerosols are chemical particles which reside in the atmosphere and affect climate change
115
Impact of climate change on the water and carbon cycles
Carbon dioxide causes 20% of the Earth's greenhouse effect,
Water vapour causes 50% of the Earth's greenhouse effect,
CO2 warms the atmosphere and results in more evaporation
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Lag time of carbon in the atmosphere
CO2 already in the atmosphere will result in a 0.6°C temperature rise,
Increasing carbon dioxide levels will be the cause and effect of more warming
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Feedback loop: sea ice melting
Arctic sea ice is shrinking,
Exposed water absorbs more radiation,
Water warms and melts more ice
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Feedback loop: marine phytoplankton
Warmer temperatures,
More phytoplankton,
More clouds formed by phytoplankton producing energy,
Global cooling
119
Feedback loop: permafrost melting
High temperatures melt the permafrost,
Organic matter in the permafrost is released,
Organic matteris decomposed by bacteria,
Methane and carbon dioxide are released as waste products
120
Key ways humans have contributed to climate change
Burning fossil fuels,
Cutting down forests,
Farming lives stock,
Nitrogen containing fertilisers,
Fluorinated gases
121
Definition of climate change mitigation
Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of GHG
122
Examples of climate change mitigation techniques
Using newer technologies,
Using renewable energy sources,
Making older equipment more efficient,
Changing management strategies,
Changing consumer behaviour
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What is CSS?
Carbon capture storage,
Uses technology to capture and store carbon dioxide from coal fire power stations and industry,
Carbon dioxide gas is compressed to be injected as a liquid in a reservoir
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Positive of CSS
Could reduce global emissions by 19%
125
Negatives of CSS
Costly,
Unsure of future implications,
Relies on reservoir space
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What is modifying photosynthesis?
Planting more trees to absorb carbon dioxide and release moisture in order to moderate the climate
127
Positives of plantation forests
7% of the forests on Earth are plantation forests,
More effective at absorbing carbon dioxide
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Negative of plantation forests
Not enough space
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How does modifying grasslands reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Offers the GHG mitigation of 810 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which can be sequestrated in the soil
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How can grasslands be improved to absorb more carbon dioxide?
Avoid overstocking grazing animals,
Adding more fertiliser
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Why is revegetation good for climate change mitigation?
Improved pasture and legumes can increase productivity, resulting in more plant litter and underground biomass
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How can croplands be improved for climate change mitigation?
No ploughing to avoid accelerated decomposition,
Use animal manure instead of fertilisers to return biomass
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How can forests be improved for climate change mitigation?
Preserve current forests,
Increase tree density in degrading forests
134
How can aviation movement management be improved for climate change mitigation?
Avoid circling whilst in the air,
Adopt fuel efficient routes instead of speed efficient,
Tow the aircraft whilst on the ground
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How can aviation flight management be improved for climate change mitigation?
Cruise at lower speeds,
Encourage last minute deals to get 100% occupancy,
Match flight times to planes
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How can aviation design technology be improved for climate change mitigation?
Improve aerodynamics,
Maximise number of seats,
Reduce aircraft weight,
Increase use of biofuels,
Carbon capture in engines
137
What were the outcomes of Kyoto (1997)?
Set a target for developing countries to reduce their GHG,
Established concept of trading carbon
138
What were the outcomes of Paris agreement (2015)?
First legally binding climate deal (with 195 countries involved)
Aim to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C,
Developed countries support initiatives; developing countries aims to reduce emissions
