Water Cycle

Question 1

5 Stores of Water

Answer 1

Cryosphere (2/3)
Atmosphere (0.04%)
Lithosphere (1.7%)
Terrestrial (includes biosphere) (30%)
Oceanic

Question 2

Process of Condensation

Answer 2

Air cools, holds less water vapour
Dew point temperature
Water vapour loses energy to surroundings
Condensation nuclei needed

Question 3

When does condensation occur?

Answer 3

Volume of air increases but no heat is added

Temperature of air reduces below dew point but volume remains constant

Question 4

Process of Evaporation

Answer 4

Water uses energy from surroundings, latent heat, to become a gas

Question 5

What does rate of evaporation depend on?

Answer 5

Amount of solar energy
Air temperature
Humidity of air (rate decreases close to saturation)
Availability of water

Question 6

Cloud Formation

Answer 6

Evaporation
Convection 
Air expands as it rises- lower pressure of atmosphere
Saturation- dew point temperature 
Condensation 
When too heavy, precipitation occurs

Question 7

3 way cloud formation begins

Answer 7

Topography- air forced to rise over hills

Sun’s energy heats ground- latent heat

Warm air meets cold air- warm air rises

Question 8

Input in the Drainage Basin System

Answer 8

Precipitation

Question 9

Flows/ Transfers in Drainage Basin System

Answer 9

Interception 
Stem Flow
Surface Runoff
Infiltration 
Through Flow
Percolation 
Channel Flow
Ground Water Flow

Question 10

Storage in Drainage Basin System

Answer 10

Surface Storage
Soil Water Storage 
Channel Storage
Groundwater Storage
Vegetation Storage

Question 11

Outputs in Drainage Basin System

Answer 11

Transpiration
Evaporation
River Runoff

Question 12

Water Balance Equation

Answer 12

P = Q + E + ΔS

P= Precipitation
Q= Runoff 
E= Potential Evapotranspiration 
ΔS= Change in Groundwater Storage

Question 13

P > Q + E

Answer 13

Positive water balance

ΔS increases

Question 14

P < Q + E

Answer 14

Negative water balance

ΔS decreases

Question 15

Natural factors impacting shape of a storm hydrograph

Answer 15

Size of drainage basin
Topography
Rock and soil type

Question 16

Human factors impacting shape of a storm hydrograph

Answer 16

Agriculture 
Water abstraction 
Urbanisation 
Deforestation 
Water management strategies

Question 17

Natural factors impacting the water cycle as a whole

Answer 17

Storms and precipitation
Seasonality
El Nino
Droughts

Question 18

Human factors impacting the water cycle as a whole

Answer 18

Agriculture
Deforestation
Urbanisation
Water abstraction

Question 19

Through Flow

Answer 19

Downslope movement of water through the soil (roughly parallel to ground)

Question 20

Infiltration

Answer 20

Water soaking into the soils

Question 21

Percolation

Answer 21

Water moving down into the water table

Question 22

Groundwater Flow

Answer 22

Very slow, horizontal movement of water through rock

Question 23

River Regime

Answer 23

Variability in a rivers discharge throughout the course of a year

Question 24

What can influence a rivers regime?

Answer 24

Temperature
Precipitation
Drainage basin characteristics

Question 25

Flashy Hydrograph

Answer 25

Short lag time | High peak discharge

Question 26

Subdued Hydrograph

Answer 26

Long lag time | Lower peak discharge

Question 27

How does the size of a drainage basin impact the hydrograph?

Answer 27

``` Large = increased peak discharge Small = decreased lag time ```

Question 28

How does topography impact the hydrograph?

Answer 28

Steep = lag time reduced

Question 29

How does rock and soil type impact the hydrograph?

Answer 29

Impermeable rock = increased run off = increased peak discharge

Question 30

How does seasonality impact the water cycle?

Answer 30

Winter- ground freezes, impermeable + ice melt = large output Reduced input of precipitation in summer Less vegetation in winter = decreased interception and decreased store More vegetation in summer = increased evapotranspiration and root uptake so peak discharge decreases

Question 31

How does El Niño impact the water cycle?

Answer 31

Causes droughts Decreased precipitation Decreased global evapotranspiration

Question 32

How does agriculture impact the water cycle?

Answer 32

Ploughing increases infiltration | Crops increase interception and evaptranspiration

Question 33

How does deforestation impact the water cycle?

Answer 33

Decreases interception Decreases biospheric water store Sedimentation of river channel- decreases bank full capacity

Question 34

How does urbanisation impact the water cycle?

Answer 34

Increased impermeable surfaces increases runoff | Drainage systems decrease lag time

Question 35

How does water abstraction impact the water cycle?

Answer 35

Less reliable rivers Decreased ground water and surface stores (particularly in dry seasons) Ground water level decreased by 7m in London since 2000, due to population increase