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Physical Geo > Water cycle: Oct 24 > Flashcards

Water cycle: Oct 24 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the four key components of systems?

A

Inputs, Outputs, stores and flows

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2
Q

What are inputs in a system?

A

when matter or energy is added to the system

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3
Q

what are outputs

A

when matter or energy leaves a system

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4
Q

what are stores in a system

A

where matter or energy builds up in the system

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5
Q

what are flows in a system

A

where matter or energy moves within the system

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6
Q

what is an open system?

A

receives inputs and transfers outputs of energy or matter with other systems

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7
Q

What is a closed system?

A

when energy inputs equal outputs, with no exchange of matter

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8
Q

what is dynamic equilibrium in a system?

A

when inputs and outputs are balanced despite changing conditions

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9
Q

What is positive feedback in a system?

A

when a chain of events amplifies the impacts of the original event

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10
Q

what is negative feedback in a system?

A

chain of events that nullifies the impacts of the original event, leading to dynamic equilibrium

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11
Q

are the carbon and water cycles open or closed on a local scale?

A

open

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12
Q

are the carbon and water cycles open or closed on a global scale?

A

closed

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13
Q

why is a local drainage basin system an open system?

A

water may be lost through evapotranspiration and runoff but gained through precipitation

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13
Q

what is precipitation?

A

any water that falls to the earths surface from the atmosphere: rain, snow, hail

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14
Q

what are the three types of rainfall?

A
  • convectional
  • relief
  • frontal rainfall
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14
Q

what is convectional rainfall

A

rain caused by heating of the earths surface, leading to warm air rising, cooling and condensing at higher altitudes

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15
Q

what is relief rainfall?

A

rain formed when warm air is forced upwards by barriers like mountains, condensing at higher altitudes

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16
Q

Example of positive and negative feedback

A

POSITIVE:
-rising global temperatures cause ice and snow to melt
- ice and snow reflect sunlight, when they melt more solar radiation is absorbed
- leads to further warming
NEGATIVE:
- rising co2 levels increase photosynthesis in plants
- more plant growth increases co2 absorbed, mitigating further warming

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17
Q

what is frontal rainfall?

A

rain that occurs when warm air rises over cooler air at a boundary, condensing and falling as rain

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18
Q

what is evapotranspiration?

A

the combined process of evaporation and transpiration, where water evaporates into the atmosphere from land and plants

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18
Q

what is streamflow?

A

water leaving a drainage basin through rivers, flowing into lakes or oceans

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19
Q

what is infiltration?

A

water moving from the surface into the soil

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20
Q

what is percolation?

A

water moving from the soil into porous rocks

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21
Q

what is throughflow?

Study These Flashcards
A

movement of water through the soil into rivers

22
what is surface runoff?
water flowing above the ground as sheetflow. occurs when precipitation exceeds the soils infiltration capacity
23
what is groundwater flow?
water that moves through rocks, ensuring water in rivers even after dry periods
24
what is stemflow?
the flow of water intercepted by plants and trees running down stems
25
what is soil water?
water stored in the soil and used by plants
26
what is interception?
water intercepted by plants, stored temporarily on leaves before reaching the ground
26
inputs in the water cycle
precipitation
26
outputs in the water cycle
- evapotranspiration - transpiration - streamflow
27
flows in the water cycle
- infiltration - percolation - throughflow - surface runoff - groundwater flow - streamflow - stemflow
28
stores in the water cycle
- soil water - ground water - interception
29
What is the formula for the water balance?
Precipitation = Total Runoff + Evapotranspiration +/- (change in) Storage
30
How does the water balance help explain droughts or floods?
- shows how precipitation, runoff, and evapotranspiration affect water storage, helping to explain changes in water availability that can lead to droughts or floods.
31
How does the water balance change during seasonal variations?
- changes with temperature and precipitation. - more precipitation and less evapotranspiration in cooler months increase water storage - in warmer months, evapotranspiration may reduce storage.
31
How does deforestation impact the water cycle?
- reduces interception by trees - increases surface runoff, decreases soil water storage
32
How do storm events impact water stores?
- quickly saturate the ground - increase surface runoff
33
How does agriculture impact the water cycle?
- Pastoral farming: Livestock trampling reduces infiltration. - Arable farming: Ploughing increases infiltration
34
How does urbanization affect the water cycle?
- Impermeable surfaces like roads reduce infiltration, increase runoff
35
What is the soil water budget?
- shows the balance between water inputs and outputs and their impact on soil water storage and availability throughout the year.
36
What is the largest store in the global water cycle?
- Oceans, which contain 97% of global water.
37
How much of the Earth's water is freshwater
- 2.5% of water is freshwater - 70/ ice
38
What are the four areas where water can be stored?
Hydrosphere – Any liquid water Lithosphere – Water in the crust and upper mantle Cryosphere – Frozen water Atmosphere – Water vapor
39
How long can water be stored in shallow and deep aquifers?
Shallow aquifers can store water for up to 200 years; deeper fossil aquifers may last up to 10,000 years.
40
What is the impact of droughts on the water cycle?
droughts deplete water stores and reduce water cycle flows, potentially causing long-term changes as droughts become more frequent due to climate change.
41
How do cryospheric processes affect the water cycle?
Glaciers and ice caps once stored large amounts of freshwater. Most glaciers are shrinking, causing sea levels to rise, and if all glaciers melted, sea levels would rise by around 60 meters.
42
What is water abstraction, and how does it impact water stores?
- Water abstraction reduces the volume in surface stores like lakes. - Abstraction increases in dry seasons, especially for irrigation. - Human abstraction often exceeds aquifer inputs, causing long-term decline in water stores.
43
What is a flood hydrograph, and what does it represent?
A flood hydrograph shows rainfall in a drainage basin and the discharge of the river. Key components include rising limb, falling limb, baseflow, stormflow, and lag time.
44
What are the features of a flashy hydrograph?
- Short lag time - Steep rising and falling limb - High peak discharge
45
How do human activities contribute to flashy hydrographs?
- Urbanisation: Increases impermeable surfaces, reducing infiltration and increasing runoff. - Pastoral farming: Soil compaction reduces interception and increases runoff. - Deforestation: Reduces interception, increasing surface runoff and flood risk.
45
What natural factors contribute to flashy hydrographs?
- High rainfall intensity - previous rainfall - Impermeable geology
46
What are the four major global stores of water?
Lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and atmosphere.
47
What is the hydrosphere?
All liquid water
48
What is the cryosphere and how much water does it store?
Frozen water (ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice); stores about 1.7% of Earth's water.
49
what is the lithosphere’s role in water storage?
Water in rocks and soils (groundwater and soil moisture); stores about 1.7% of Earth's water.
50
What key processes drive changes in water stores over time
- Evaporation - condensation - cloud formation - precipitation - cryospheric processes.
51
How does evaporation affect water stores?
Transfers water from the surface (especially oceans) to the atmosphere
52
How do condensation and cloud formation impact water movement?
Water vapor cools and condenses into droplets, forming clouds; leads to precipitation, returning water to the surface.

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