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Physical Geography > Water And Carbon Cycles > Flashcards

Water And Carbon Cycles Flashcards

(61 cards)

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1
Q

What is an input in a system

A

Where matter or energy is added to the system

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2
Q

What is an output in a system

A

Where matter or energy leaves the system

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3
Q

What is the input in the water cycle

A

Precipitation (in the form of rain, snow and hail)

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4
Q

What is evapotranspiration

A

The process by which water moves from the earths surface to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration

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5
Q

What is evaporation

A

When water is heated by the sun, causing it to become a gas and rise into the atmosphere

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6
Q

What is transpiration

A

When plants respire through there leaves, releasing water they absorb through there roots, which then evaporates.

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7
Q

What is streamflow

A

The movement of water flowing through rivers and streams.

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8
Q

What are the four outputs in the water cycle

A

1)evapotranspiration
2)evaporation
3)transpiration
4)streamflow

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9
Q

What is interception in the water cycle

A

Water intercepted by plants, branches and leaves before reaching the ground.

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10
Q

What are the 3 stores in the water cycle

A

1)soil water
2)groundwater
3)interception

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11
Q

What is infliltration

A

The process of water moving from above ground into the soil

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12
Q

What is percolation

A

Water moving from the ground into porous rock or rock fractures

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13
Q

What is through flow

A

Water moving through the soil into streams or rivers

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14
Q

What are the four flows in the water cycle

A

1)infiltration
2)percolation
3)through flow
4)surface runoff

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15
Q

What is the boundary to a drainage basin called

A

The watershed

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16
Q

What is the water balance

A

The equilibrium between the amount of water that enters and leaves a drainage basin

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17
Q

What is the formula used to express water balance

A

Precipitation = total runoff + evapotranspiration +/- (change in)Storage

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18
Q

What 5 ways is the water cycle impacted on a local scale

A

1)deforestation
2)storm events
3)seasonal changes
4)agriculture
5)urbanisation

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19
Q

What does the soil water budget show

A

The annual balance between inputs and outputs in the water cycle

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20
Q

What four areas can water be stored in on a global scale

A

1)hydrosphere
2)lithosphere
3)cryosphere
4)atmosphere

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21
Q

How is water stored in the hydrosphere

A

Any liquid water

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22
Q

How is water stored in the lithosphere

A

Water is stored in the crust and upper mantle

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23
Q

How is water stored in the cryosphere

A

Any water that is frozen

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24
Q

How is water stored in the atmosphere

A

As water vapour

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25
What is a flood hydrograph
A flood hydrograph is used to represent rainfall for the drainage basin of a river and the discharge of the same river on a graph
26
What are the four characteristics of a flashy hydrograph
1)short lag time 2)steep rising and falling limb 3)higher flood risk 4)high peak discharge
27
What are the four characteristics of a subdued hydrograph
1)long lag time 2)gradually rising and falling limb 3)lower flood risk 4)low peak discharge
28
Five factors which would increase surface runoff to create a flashy hydrograph
1)pastoral farming 2)deforestation 3)antecedent rainfall 4)impermeable underlying surface 5) high rainfall intensity
29
What is antecedent rainfall
The amount of precipitation that occurs before a storm event
30
What is arable farming
Growing crops
31
What is pastoral farming
Raising animals
32
What is the carbon cycle on a local scale
The movement of carbon within a specific area, such as a forest, field or lake
33
What are the 8 transfers in the carbon cycle
1)photosynthesis 2)respiration 3)combustion 4)decomposition 5diffusion 6)weathering and erosion 7)burial and compaction 8)carbon sequestration
34
How does photosynthesis transfer CO2 from in the carbon cycle
Convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil, into oxygen and glucose using light energy
35
How does respiration transfer CO2 in the carbon cycle
The process where living organisms release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by breaking down organic molecules like sugars to extract energy
36
How does combustion transfer CO2 in the carbon cycle
Burning fossil fuels, wildfires which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
37
How does decomposition transfer CO2 in the carbon cycle
When living organisms die, they are broken down by decomposers which respire, returning CO2 back into the atmosphere
38
How does diffusion transfer CO2 in the carbon cycle
The oceans can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere causing coral bleaching
39
What are the main six carbon stores in the carbon cycle
1)lithosphere 2)oceans 3)fossil fuel deposits 4)soil organic matter 5)atmosphere 6)terrestrial plants
40
How do wildfires effect the carbon cycle
Transfer carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere as CO2 is released through burning. This can encourage the growth of plants in the long term
41
How does volcanic activity effect the carbon cycle
Carbon stored within the earth is released during volcanic eruptions, mainly as CO2 gas
42
What are the 3 human impacts on the carbon cycle
1)Fossil fuel use 2)deforestation 3)farming practices
43
How does deforestation effect the carbon cycle
Deforestation releases the carbon stored in plants using slash and burn techniques, interrupting the forest carbon cycle
44
How do farming practices affect the carbon cycle
Arable farming releases CO2 as animals respire. Ploughing can release CO2 stored in soil
45
What is the carbon budget
The balance between carbon inputs and outputs to a store at any scale
46
What is a carbon source
A store that emits more carbon than it absorbs
47
What is a carbon sink
A store that absorbs more carbon than it emits
48
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect
The process of trapping radiation from the sun in the earths atmosphere causing abnormally high levels of greenhouse gases to be produced by humans
49
How does the carbon cycle effect tropical rainforests
High rates of photosynthesis and respiration lead to greater humidity, cloud cover, and precipitation. ## Footnote Deforestation reduces these processes, decreasing humidity and precipitation.
50
What is the effect of warmer oceans on the carbon cycle?
Warmer oceans cause more plankton growth, which can lead to cloud formation through chemical production.
51
What is positive feedback in the context of climate change?
Positive feedback occurs when wildfires in hotter, drier climates release CO2, increasing warming, which leads to more wildfires. ## Footnote Ice melting reduces its ability to reflect radiation, amplifying warming.
52
What is negative feedback in the context of climate change?
Negative feedback occurs when increased photosynthesis allows vegetation to grow in new areas, absorbing CO2 and decreasing the warming effect.
53
What is dynamic equilibrium?
Inputs and outputs are in balance.
54
What is positive feedback?
The effects of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent knock on effects.
55
What is negative feedback?
The effects of an action are nullified/counteracted by its subsequent knock on effects.
56
What is relief rainfall?
Warm air rises up over mountains, it then cools and condenses to form clouds and then rain, once the air has passed over the mountain it descends and warms. Creating drier conditions known as a rain shadow.
57
What is convectional rainfall?
Warm pockets of air rise rapidly, it starts to cool and condenses to form clouds, the clouds produce heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.(usually occurs during the summer)
58
What is frontal rainfall?
When a warm front meets a cold front. The heavier cold air sinks and the warm air rises above it, the warm air then cools and condenses to form clouds which bring heavy rainfall.
59
What is sublimation?
A direct change of state from solid to a gas skipping the liquid stage.
60
What is desublimation?
A direct change from a gas to a solid skipping the liquid stage.
61
What is lag time?
Delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge as it takes time for water to flow into river.

Physical Geography (9 decks)

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