Water Cycle Content Flashcards

Question

What is effective rainfall?

Answer 1

-amount of precipitation remaining after evaporation -means that places can have very similar rainfall amounts can have different water budgets and experience different water issues

Answer 2

The annual variation in discharge of a river at a particular location (long term)

Answer 3

channel capacity of a river area and relied of the drainage basin volume, pattern and intensity of precipitation climate geology of the soil anthropogenic activities (e.g dams)

Answer 4

Represent the short term variation in discharge, days rather than years Features include: -rising limb= increase of river discharge -peak flow= maximum discharge -lag time= time delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge -falling limb= discharge decrease -base flow= discharge returns to normal level

Answer 5

Flashy: - short lag time - high peak - steep rising limb Subdued: - long lag time -low peak -gently sloping rising limb

Answer 6

Climate= intense storm exceeds infiltration capacity/ rapid snow melt/ low evaporation rates due to low temp Lithology= impermeable rocks (granite)- rapid surface runoff Soil=low infiltration rate Relief=high and steep- more runoff Basin size= small basin Vegetation= low density- less interception Pre-existing conditions= basin already wet from previous rainfall

Answer 7

Climate= steady rainfall < infiltration capacity Lithology= permeable rocks (limestone)- allow for infiltration so reduce runoff Soil=high infiltration rate Relief=low and gentle slopes= less runoff Basin size= large basin Vegetation=high density- high interception= high evapotranspiration Pre-existing conditions= basin dry + low water table

Answer 8

Vegetation on roofs- increase interception and temporarily store water permeable pavements- creating gaps between pavements to increase infiltration Rainwater harvesting- collecting rainwater to use as domestic greywater Creating wetlands= act as natural sponges and increase temporary water storage

Answer 9

-Deforestation= soil becomes exposed and roots are lost= more soil erosion= increased surface runoff -Impermeable surfaces= tarmac + concrete= impermeable= less infiltration= more surface runoff occurs -Bridges= can act as dams= restrict channel flow= increasing pressure rivers under= worsen floods -Drainage and sewage systems= reduce lag time= increased risk of flash flooding

Answer 10

an extended period of deficit rainfall relative to the long-term statistical average for a region i.e when input is less than output 4 types of drought meteorological to hydrological to agricultural to socioeconomic -

Answer 11

rainfall deficit over an extended period of time i.e when long term precipitation is much lower than normal Features include: -low rainfall -high temp -strong winds

Answer 12

stream flow deficit i.e deficiencies in surface and subsurface water supplies e.g rivers, groundwater an reservoirs Features: -reduced infiltration -low soil moisture -little percolation and groundwater recharge -reduced water stores

Answer 13

when there is insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of crops soil moisture deficit Features: -low evapotranspiration -reduced biomass -fall in groundwater level

Answer 14

food deficit Features: loss of vegetation increased risk pf wildfires soil erosion desertification

Answer 15

Physical/natural causes: -ENSO (El Nino)= can produce cold Atlantic current which reduces evaporation and thus precipitation especially in Western Sahel Anthropogenic Causes: -Climate change = led to warmer sea surface temperatures in south Atlantic and Indian oceans causing the monsoon (ITCZ) to fail -Air pollution= from Europe and North America has caused global dimming, affecting atmospheric circulation and the intensity of monsoon rainfall -Population growth= increased food and fuel demand leading to over cultivation/grazing and desertification

Answer 16

-over abstraction -reservoir construction -water transfer schemes -deforestation -overgrazing -climate change

Answer 17

El Nino-Southern Oscillation -short term climate change cycle which occurs in the equatorial Pacific Ocean -change in water body patterns within the Southern hemisphere leading to unusual weather conditions -ENSO cycles are relatively predictable but their duration and intensity is not -relationship between ENSO and anthropogenic climate change is also poorly understood however scientists do expect it to contribute towards increasing water insecurity in the future

Answer 18

a see-saw of atmospheric pressure between the Pacific and Indo-Australia area -The Southern Oscillation Index (S0I)= been developed to monitor it, a sharp drop indicates the arrival of El Nino

Answer 19

trade winds blow from east to west along equator air pushes warm water westwards thermocline, upwelling warm, moist air rises, cools and condenses, forming rain clouds

Answer 20

occurs every 3-7years usually lasts for 18months trade wind pattern is disrupted-may weaken or reverse so air circulation loop is reversed weak upwelling of deep cold water cool water normally found along Peru coast replaced by warm water area of warmer water near Australia replaced by cooler water trigger dry conditions throughout the world- annual monsoon rains in South Asia often weaken

Answer 21

sometimes follow an El Nino event very strong trade winds strong upwelling of deep coldwater build up of cooler than usual subsurface water can lead to severe drought conditions particularly Western Coast of South America very strong air circulation and very warm water moving east-west

Answer 22

-act as temporary water stores -help mitigate from river floods due to sudden storm discharge -trapping, recycling nutrients and pollutants -habitat for a diverse food web -provide clean water supply + food (fish)

Answer 23

▪ Reduced Precipitation: vegetation dies= protective layer it provided for the soil will also be removed= soil increasingly exposed to wind and rain= increased rate of soil erosion= worsening soil conditions. This may cause a positive feedback loop of worsening soil condition and vegetation death, leading to desertification. ▪ Global Warming: rise temperatures will increase the rate of evaporation of water moisture= less water available for convectional rainfall= stunted plant growth= vegetation dies (leading to desertification as described above).

Answer 24

Population growth is the root cause of the recent increase in rates of desertification= pressure for food increases, agricultural methods change to supply the demand (e.g. cattle farming is becoming intensified resulting in large areas of forest being cut down to provide enough land for grazing. Intensification of crop farming means the fallow time between crop harvest and new planting will be reduced. These farming practices can cause over-cultivation, trampling of vegetation and loss of soil nutrients which reduces soil fertility. In addition, forests may be felled or slashed-and-burned to make room for new farms or housing, further worsening soil quality and exposing the topsoil to erosion. Over time, desertification will escalate in a positive feedback loop.

Answer 25

-low lying land -urbanised built environments -small basins

Answer 26

-Intense rainfall -monsoon rainfall -snowmelt -changing land use -mismanagement of rivers

Answer 27

-Afforestation= reduce rapid surface runoff -Restricting construction on floodplains= reducing potential economic and social loss and by reducing urbanisation maximise infiltration -Establishing temporary extra flood plains, in the event of extreme weather - some UK councils have designated football pitches or parks next river, to reduce the flood risk for towns living close to the flood banks.

Answer 28

-if land and sea surface temp continues to rise so period between ENSO cycles could decrease -increasing average temps will increase evaporation rates= could lead to potential droughts and increasing water scarcity -rise in temperatures=leas to more convectional rainfall and enhanced tropical cyclone/depression intensity=more intense and periodic flooding -water table drops= aquifers deplete=less water available in groundwater stores

Answer 29

The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water For: -sustaining livelihoods, human wellbeing, socio-economic development -ensuring protection against water borne pollution and diseases -preserving ecosystems Water insecurity= occurs when theses conditions are not met

Answer 30

-Population growth= generally more people =more water needed -Growing middle class as countries develop=increasing lifestyle and domestic demand -Economic growth=industrial demand may also increase

Answer 31

-aquifers and deep water wells are being dug =especially for water intensive agriculture -water tables (groundwater storage) are dropping as a result. -water is being extracted at a faster rate than the soil is able to recharge.

Answer 32

deterioration in both the quantity of available water and quality- occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period

Answer 33

Water scarcity= Two types: -Physical water scarcity= insufficient water to meet the demand; more than 75% of river flows are used for agriculture, industry and domestic use -Economic water scarcity= water resources are available but there is insufficient capital to access the water in order to meet demand; less than 25% of river flows are used a result

Answer 34

Water poverty index Used to measure localised water stress 5 components: -Water resources – the availability and quality of water -Access to water – the distance from safe water for drinking, domestic and industry use -Handling capacity – management, infrastructure and income -Use of water – for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes -Environmental indicators – ability to sustain nature and ecosystems -each component is scored out of 20 highest scoring=Finland (78 total) lowest scoring=Haiti (35 total)

Answer 35

In many parts of the world there is a growing mismatch between water supply and demand -UN suggests that water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century -estimated that by 2015 1.8 billion people will be living in countries/regions with absolute water scarcity -two thirds could be living under water stress Physical factors: -precipitation= varies across different climates: mid latitude areas generally receive most rainfall -topography= areas of high relief get more orographic precipitation= increased surface runoff= increased channel flow -geology= permeable rocks can be infiltrated so water can e easily stored underground -saltwater encroachment at the coast (can indirectly be caused due to anthropogenic climate change as sea levels rise) Human factors: -over-abstraction -water contamination from agriculture -industrial pollution

Answer 36

movement of saltwater into an underground source of freshwater

Answer 37

Economic developement= needed to produce food, energy and manufactured Human wellbeing=access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a human right Ecosystems= depend on water resources but also work to regulate and restore them. Ecosystem degradation occurs when water quantity and quality falls

Answer 38

-Development= access to clean drinking water requires expensive infrastructure so developing nations like Kenya often rely on bottled water from street vendors which costs are up to 100times more expensive -Privatisation= in many nations in the 1980s water supply was handed over to private companies e.g. Northumbria water which should encourage competition and make water cheaper yet is not always the case -Efforts to reduce consumption= developed nations such as Denmark have increased costs to consumer in order to reduce consumption- Denmark has the highest water costs in the world

Answer 39

-deindustrialisation= developed undergo deindustrialisation so reduction in water demand from manufacturing -volumetric metering= now used in 2/3 of OECD nations which encourages more responsible domestic use -energy efficiency= has increased in industry and homes e.g dual flush toilets/water efficient appliances -flood imports/water conservation= efforts to reduce water use for irrigation

Answer 40

aim to balance economic, social and environmental needs by working with local people to develop soft engineering projects that work with natural processes to restore water supplies -often involving water conservation Tries to meet the need of all stakeholders: -Economic= affordability for both consumers and government -Social= equal access for all, especially those who are water poor -Environmental= sustaining renewable water resources into the future while at the same time meeting demand and not degrading ecosystems.

Answer 41

-Metering/pricing -Grey water recycling -Smart irrigation -GM crops -Groundwater recharge

Answer 42

Intermediate technology uses cheap and locally available resources to meet peoples needs: -Rainwater harvesting jars -Solar powered water pumps -Bio-latrines

Answer 43

a process which promotes the co-ordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in a sustainable way IRWM is usually adopted at a river basin scale using water-sharing treaties The Berlin rules (2004) apply to all countries and provide the international legal framework for sharing transboundary water resources.

Answer 44

Advantages: -Can provide a large volume of water -Can generate HEP -Reduces demand for groundwater Disadvantages: -floods land -expensive -increases evaporation -areas downstream suffer from lack of water

Answer 45

Advantages: -Can provide a large volume of clean water -Reduces demand for groundwater Disadvantages: -Energy intensive -Releases lots of CO2 -Expensive -Produces salt waste -Expensive to build and maintain

Answer 46

Advantages: -Can provide water for areas that lack water and arid areas -Water can become a valuable resource for countries otherwise poor and undeveloped Disadvantages: -Can dry up source areas -Expensive -Lots of water evaporated -People relocated to construct