Water And Carbon Cycles Flashcards
(111 cards)
1
Q
What is precipitation?
A
Any form of moisture that falls to the earth
Includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
2
Q
Define interception in the water cycle.
A
Temporary storage of water on the surface of plants and buildings before it reaches the ground
Important for reducing runoff and enhancing infiltration.
3
Q
What is infiltration?
A
The process by which precipitation or water soaks into subsurface soils and moves into rocks through cracks and pore spaces.
4
Q
Describe percolation.
A
The downward movement of water through soil layers due to gravity and capillary forces. It replenishes aquifers.
5
Q
What does groundwater flow refer to?
A
Water movement through underlying permeable rock strata below the water table.
6
Q
What is throughflow?
A
The movement of water through the soil.
7
Q
Define transpiration.
A
The transfer of water vapour from vegetation to the atmosphere through the pores in leaves, the stomata.
8
Q
What is evaporation?
A
The process of water transforming from liquid to gas.
9
Q
What is soil moisture?
A
Refers to water content present in the pores of soil. Essential for plant development.
10
Q
What is surface runoff?
A
Excess water that doesn’t infiltrate into the ground flows over the surface, forming streams and rivers.
11
Q
Define groundwater.
A
All water that is below the surface of the ground in the saturated zone.
12
Q
What does surface storage refer to?
A
The total volume of water held on the earth’s surface in lakes, ponds and puddles.
13
Q
What is insolation?
A
Sunlight.
14
Q
What is a system in the context of water and carbon cycles?
A
An assemblage of interrelated components that work together by way of some driving force.
15
Q
Why are systems important in geography?
A
Models simplify complex systems in geography - they are a simplification of reality.
16
Q
What are the components of a system?
A
Input, Output, Flow/transfer, Stores.
17
Q
What is an isolated system?
A
A system with no inputs or outputs - very rare in nature.
18
Q
Define a closed system.
A
A system with only input or output except energy - no movement of matter into/out of the system.
19
Q
What characterizes an open system?
A
A system with inputs and outputs of energy and matter - most environmental systems.
20
Q
What is dynamic equilibrium?
A
When opposing forces or inputs and outputs are in balance.
21
Q
Define a positive feedback loop.
A
A change in the system or model amplifies the effect of the initial change.
22
Q
What is a negative feedback loop?
A
A change in the system or model that nullifies the initial change.
23
Q
What is the water cycle?
A
The movement of water globally through flows between stores in a closed system.
24
Q
What are the major stores of water?
A
- Oceanic
- Terrestrial/lithosphere
- Cyrospheric
- Atmospheric
25
Where is most of the Earth's water stored?
Mostly stored in oceans (96.5%) and other saline water.
26
What percentage of Earth's water is freshwater?
2.5% of all water on earth is freshwater.
27
Why are aquifers found in arid regions?
They used to be humid with lush vegetation thousands of years ago.
28
What is oceanic water store?
By far the biggest store of water - 97% of water is stored here in the oceans.
29
Define cryospheric water store.
All the frozen water in the earth’s system.
30
What is an ice sheet?
Land ice with mass >50000km2 - eg. Greenland ice sheet.
31
What is permafrost?
Subsoil that remains frozen for at least 2 years.
32
Describe the atmospheric water store.
Can be solid (hail), liquid (cloud) or gas (water vapour).
33
What is the role of soil water?
Fundamental to many processes - eg. water + heat exchange between land and atmosphere.
34
What are the three types of rainfall?
* Convectional rainfall
* Orographic rainfall
* Frontal rainfall
35
What is the Global Heat Budget?
The movement of heat from an area of surplus to an area of deficit.
36
What is the Inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ)?
The point on earth where NE and SE trade winds merge.
37
What happens during climate change regarding the cryospheric store?
The cryospheric store increased significantly during the last ice age.
38
What is equilibrium line in glacial terms?
The point at which accumulation and ablation are equal.
39
What happens when droplets in a cloud coalesce?
Precipitation occurs when the droplet’s fall velocity is greater than the cloud's updraft velocity.
40
How does deforestation impact water stores?
Less interception leads to more water hitting the ground, increasing flood risk.
41
What is the context of the Greenland ice sheet?
The second largest ice body in the world - contains 8% of total global freshwater.
42
What happens if all the Greenland ice sheet melts?
Global sea level would rise by 7.2m.
43
What are the impacts of earlier melting of the Greenland ice sheet?
Reduced albedo of surface ice leads to increased absorption of solar radiation.
44
What is the significance of albedo in the context of ice melting?
Fresh snow has high albedo, while darker surfaces absorb more solar energy.
45
What are potential future impacts of Greenland ice sheet melting?
Increased environmental refugees, economic impacts, and changes in ocean currents.
46
What is the water balance?
The relationship between inputs, outputs, and storage of water in a system.
47
What is the effect of reduced difference in heat between the poles and equator?
It leads to a reduced force to drive heat energy to poles from equator, affecting weather patterns.
48
How would global precipitation patterns change due to reduced heat difference?
Global precipitation patterns would change, leading to more volatile weather and an oscillating jet stream.
49
What is a consequence of volatile weather patterns?
Drought and famine would become more widespread in areas dependent on seasonal rains.
50
Why is soil important?
Key component of carbon and water cycles, helps regulate climate, and is crucial for plant and animal life.
51
What is the water balance?
The balance between water inputs and outputs, determined using the water balance equation.
52
What is the water balance equation?
P = Q + E ± S, where P = precipitation, Q = runoff, E = evapotranspiration, S = change in storage.
53
What does a positive water balance indicate?
Inputs are greater than outputs, resulting in water being stored in the system.
54
What does a negative water balance indicate?
Outputs are greater than inputs, leading to depletion of existing water stores.
55
Describe the water budget in winter.
Higher inputs than outputs lead to soil water surplus, replenishing stores and supporting plant growth.
56
Describe the water budget in summer.
Higher outputs than inputs lead to a lack of water replenishment, requiring plants to adapt for survival.
57
What physical factors affect runoff?
* Soil saturation * Rock type * Vegetation * Time of year * Type and intensity of precipitation.
58
How does soil type affect runoff?
Impermeable soils like clay lead to higher runoff percentages than permeable soils like sandy soils.
59
What is a storm hydrograph?
A graph showing a river's response to a rainfall event, plotting rainfall and discharge.
60
What is lag time in the context of hydrographs?
The time between peak rainfall and peak discharge.
61
What are the major stores of carbon?
* Sedimentary rock * Oceans * Fossil fuels * Soil/peat * Atmosphere * Land plants.
62
What is the carbon cycle?
The complex processes that carbon undergoes as it transforms between organic and inorganic forms.
63
What is a carbon store?
A location where carbon is locked in, such as non-living things like rocks.
64
What is a carbon sink?
A carbon store that actively takes in carbon, such as biomass like trees.
65
What is the largest carbon store on Earth?
Sedimentary rock, containing approximately 100,000 GtC.
66
What is the role of photosynthesis in the carbon cycle?
Plants absorb CO2 to produce glucose, which is used for energy.
67
What is the process of decomposition in the carbon cycle?
Dead organisms are consumed by decomposers, returning carbon to the atmosphere as CO2.
68
What is carbon sequestration?
The transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to other stores, occurring naturally and through human actions.
69
What is a sere in ecological terms?
A vegetation succession related to a specific environment, with each stage called a seral stage.
70
What is the significance of wildfires in the carbon cycle?
Wildfires cause biomass combustion, which affects carbon storage and release.
71
What is biomass combustion?
The burning of living and dead vegetation.
72
How do humans affect runoff in river basins?
Through deforestation and drainage ditches, leading to less interception and increased overland flow.
73
What is the impact of geology on runoff?
Impermeable bedrock leads to increased overland flow, while permeable rock allows for groundwater flow.
74
What is the significance of the River Wye?
It is the 5th longest river in the UK, with significant ecological and hydrological characteristics.
75
What is the main cause of increased runoff during winter?
Higher precipitation levels and less plant growth leading to more water in the system.
76
What factors affect the shape of a storm hydrograph?
* Shape of drainage basin * Size of drainage basin * Slope angle of surrounding land * Drainage density.
77
What is the impact of vegetation on runoff?
More vegetation leads to greater interception, reducing runoff percentages.
78
What is the effect of stormy conditions on runoff?
Stormy conditions with intense rainfall can saturate soil quickly, increasing runoff percentages.
79
What is a carbon pump in relation to the ocean?
A process where cold ocean water holds more CO2 and sinks, while warm water rises, facilitating vertical mixing.
80
What are the regional impacts observed in Southeast Asia after 2013?
Wildfires
81
What is biomass combustion?
The burning of living and dead vegetation
82
How do wildfires affect the carbon cycle?
Human induced + naturally occurring fires cause biomass combustion to occur
83
In which ecosystems do wildfires commonly occur?
* Boreal forests (Alaska, Scandinavia)
* Savannah (Africa)
* Tropical forests (Brazil, Indonesia)
* Temperate forests (US, W Europe)
84
What happens to the forest life cycle after a severe fire?
If trees die, new growth begins; if the forest fully replaces itself, there is no net carbon change
85
What percentage of carbon does fire consume and emit to the atmosphere?
10-20%
86
What happens to new trees and dead trees in terms of carbon absorption and emission?
* New trees grow (absorb C)
* Dead trees decompose (emit C)
* Increase organic layer of soil (store C)
87
What effect does increasing size and frequency of wildfires have on carbon balance?
It breaks the dynamic equilibrium, potentially turning forests from carbon sinks into carbon sources
88
How much CO2 do wildfires release to the atmosphere?
>1 billion tonnes
89
What was the area burned by California wildfires in 2020?
1.4 million hectares
90
What year had the most fires recorded in California?
2020
91
How much CO2 may have been generated by California wildfires by September 15, 2020?
>91 million tonnes
92
What are the causes of increasing wildfires?
* Rising temperatures
* Larger burned areas
* Increased emissions from fires
* More CO2 in the atmosphere
* Positive feedback loop
93
What is happening to permafrost due to climate change in Siberia?
Thawing, releasing greenhouse gases and carbon stored in ice
94
What is the consequence of more greenhouse gases released from melting permafrost?
Enhanced greenhouse effect becomes stronger, leading to further increases in air temperature
95
How does volcanic activity impact the carbon cycle?
It emits relatively small amounts of CO2 and can cause cooling through sulfur dioxide emissions
96
What percentage of anthropogenic CO2 emissions is attributed to combustion of hydrocarbons?
90%
97
What is the main issue with agriculture, specifically regarding rice production?
Flooded fields cause anaerobic conditions, leading to methane and other GHG emissions
98
What is deforestation?
The action of clearing a wide area of trees for other land uses
99
What is the impact of deforestation on the carbon cycle?
Forests are carbon sinks; when cleared, stored carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2
100
What are some solutions to combat deforestation?
* Sustainable agriculture practices
* Reforestation/Afforestation
* Legal and policy measures
* Consumer choices
101
What is urbanization?
The process by which human activities transform the natural landscape, referring to land use
102
What is the impact of urbanization on the carbon cycle?
Higher CO2 emissions and fewer carbon stores due to land being cleared for housing
103
What farming practices can reduce carbon emissions?
* More carbon sequestration
* Avoid deep ploughing
* Use low emission technology
* Use alternative crops
104
What is hydrocarbon fuel extraction?
The extraction of hydrocarbons locked deep inside the earth to produce heat and energy
105
What percentage of anthropogenic CO2 emissions is cement responsible for?
5%
106
What are some solutions to reduce CO2 emissions from cement manufacture?
* Use alternative energy sources
* Carbon capture and storage
* Plant trees and build greener spaces
107
What is the Amazon Basin known for?
World’s largest rainforest and one of the most biodiverse areas
108
How much carbon does the Amazon rainforest store?
80-120 billion tonnes
109
What is the role of respiration in the carbon cycle?
Absorbs O2 and releases CO2 to the atmosphere
110
What is the effect of slash and burn agriculture on the carbon cycle?
Short-term release of C to soil is good, but long-term release to atmosphere as GHGs is bad
111
What is the consequence of the Amazon rainforest becoming hotter and drier?
It could transform into a savannah in the future
