Water Cycle Flashcards
(32 cards)
Define system
Something that is made of different components that work together in a interconnected way to perform some function
What is a closed system
Only energy can pass in and out
Store
Places where water is held
Flow
Process that moves water from one store to another
Flux
Flow with a known quantity of water
Largest stores of water
1)oceans
2) glaciers
3) ground water
What are residency times
The average amount of time a water molecule will stay in a store.
Longest residency times =Ice caps
Shortest residency times =biospheric water
Drainage basin
Looks at a hydrological system at a smaller scale.Classed as an open system
Watershed
Boundary of a drainage basin
Factors affecting drainage basins
C=climate
S=size
R=relief
V=vegetation
G=Geology
H=humans
Pro graphic rainfall
Caused by the relief of the land forcing the water vapour to rise and cool
Conventional rainfall
Caused by the heating of the earth’s surface leading to more buoyant parcels of humid air rising
Frontal rainfall
Caused by Warner air masses rising above denser, colder air masses
How do humans distrust a drainage basin
Farming
Deforestation
Dams (eg Aswan dam)
Agriculture
Hydroelectric power
Impacts of deforestation on the hydrological system
1) reducer tree cover increase surface run off leading to more flood prone rivers
2)less interception meaning less water goes back up ( results in dry climate)
3)degrades soils -degraded soil can’t hold water
Positive feedback mechanism for deforestation
-Trees are cleared
-less interception and evapotranspiration
-less rain falls
- trees are stressed and begin to die
-increase forest fires because it’s drier
What does a river regime show
Shows river flow over a period of one year
Two types of river regime and the differences between them
Simple -shows high and low flow representing the climate
Complex -bigger scale with multiple climate zone not just high and low flow time of the year
What does a water budget show
Mean monthly precipitation and potential evapotranspiration
What are sustainable drainage systems , give examples
- collection of water management strategies
-green roof tops : vegetation cover planted which provides a waterproof membrane
-detention basins : delay storm run off for a few hours
-permeable pavements : delay run off by using gaps between pavements slabs
Factors influencing shape of a hydrograph
-relief(steep gradient)
-impermeable rock
- vegetation
-urbanisation
-Basin shape (circular or longer )
Two types of a hydrographi
Flashy
Flat
Factors influencing a flashy hydrograph
-high peak discharge/ short lag time
- heavy rainfall (orographic/ conventional )
-Impermeable rock
-impermeable soils
-circular basin shape
-no vegetation
-steep gradient
-pre existing water in the soil
- human activity
Factors influencing a flat hydrograph
-low peak discharge/long lag time
-frontall rainfall
-permeable rock
- permeable soils
-Flat gradient
-Longer basin shape
-vegetation
-no pre existing water in the soil
-less human activity
