Water Cycles

Question 1

Outline the 4 global freshwater storages and how much they store (in %)

Answer 1

Lakes = 20.9%
Ground Ice & Permafrost = 69%
Living things = 0.26%
Rivers = 0.44%

Question 2

Outline the 4 major physical systems of the Water Cycle`

Answer 2

1.Lithosphere (land)
2.Hydrosphere (water)
3. Cryosphere (frozen water - snow & ice)
4. Atmosphere (air)

Question 3

Outline the water type % for the global water cycle

Answer 3

Saline water = 97.4%
Fresh water = 2.5%

Question 4

Outline the coverage, and storage of Oceanic water.

Answer 4

72% surface coverage
97% water storage
5% explored

Question 5

Outline how Carbon has changed the pH in Oceanic water and why

Answer 5

250 years ago - 8.25
Now: Saline, alkaline water of pH 8.14
Increase of atmospheric C

Question 6

Outline how Sea Ice forms and why it doesn’t raise sea levels when it melts

Answer 6

Oceans r cooled to below freezing temperatures
From oceanic water so doesn’t raise

Question 7

Outline how Ice Shelves form and their impact on the ocean

Answer 7

Ice sheets/glaciers drift into oceans (mostly in Antarctica & Greenland)
Raise sea lvl only when they drift out to sea not melting

Question 8

Outline what Ice Sheets are and how they form

Answer 8

Glacial ice > 50,000 km^2
Layers of snow pile up 1000s of yrs -> grow thicker old layers compress

Question 9

Outline the storage of freshwater in Ice Sheets and why they constantly move

Answer 9

Greenland & Antarctica store >99%
Slowly flowing under their own weight

Question 10

Define Ice Caps and where they form

Answer 10

Thick ice layers <50,000km^2
Form in the highest Mountainous areas and r dome shaped

Question 11

Define Alpines and how they form

Answer 11

Thick ice masses in deep valleys/upland hollows
Fed by ice caps

Question 12

Outline the importance of the 15,000 Alpine Glaciers in the Himalayas

Answer 12

Reservoir supporting rivers (Indus/Ganges)
Supports mils in South Asia

Question 13

Outline how Permafrost and Subsea permafrost forms

Answer 13

Permafrost:
Ground at/below 0 C
Formed during cold glacial periods

Subsea:
Close to 0 C Arctic continental shelf

Question 14

Outline the impact of melting Permafrost

Answer 14

Releases CO2&CH4 - climate change

Question 15

Outline the impact of rivers on the water cycle

Answer 15

Store & transfer H2O
Transfer from ground, soil & atmosphere

Question 16

Outline how Lakes form

Answer 16

Ground hollow >2ha
Fresh - N hemisphere Caspian Sphere

Question 17

Outline how Wetlands form

Answer 17

Marsh, fen, peatland, water. Static water dominated by veg
Found in Polar area

Question 18

Outline how groundwater forms and their storage

Answer 18

H2O collects in pore spaces of rock
>30% freshwater

Question 19

Outline Aquifers and how they form

Answer 19

Underground reservoirs
Form in porous, permeable rock (chalk)

Question 20

Outline the H2O table

Answer 20

Upper lvl of saturated rock

Question 21

Outline how the H2O table rises & falls

Answer 21

Response to groundwater flow, H2O abstraction or recharge

Question 22

Outline the difference of Porous/Sandy soils & Clay soils

Answer 22

Porous = hi storage low transfer
Clay = low storage hi transfer

Question 23

Outline how Water Vapour causes + feedback

Answer 23

Absorbs/reflects/scatters solar radiation
Small increase in H2O = Increase of atmosphere temp

Question 24

Define groundwater flow

Answer 24

Slow H2O move thru underlying rock

Question 25

Define Thrufall

Answer 25

H2O falls thru veg canopy to floor

Question 26

Define Stemflow

Answer 26

Intercepted H2O flows down to ground on stems

Question 27

Define Percolation

Answer 27

H2O moves down in rock under soil

Question 28

Define Interception storage

Answer 28

H20 falls on veg/man-made surface Stored temporarily/evaporated (lowers floods)

Question 29

Define Drainage basin

Answer 29

Land drained by river & tributaries (surface, soil & near surface)

Question 30

Define Infiltration

Answer 30

H2O moves down surface -> soil

Question 31

Define Thruflow

Answer 31

H2O movement downslope thru subsoil (effective with underlying permeable rock)

Question 32

Define runoff

Answer 32

All H2O that enters a river channel & out of basin

Question 33

Define Overland Flow

Answer 33

Infiltration capacity surpassed -> water flow across land

Question 34

Define Saturated

Answer 34

H2O store @ max capacity

Question 35

Define H2O Balance

Answer 35

Balance of inputs & outputs in a drainage basin

Question 36

Define Transpiration

Answer 36

Loss of H2O from veg thru pores on surfaces

Question 37

Define Evapotranspiration

Answer 37

Total output of H2O in drainage basin into atmosphere

Question 38

Outline the features of a Flood Hydrograph

Answer 38

Lag time Rising Limb Peak Discharge Falling Limb Base Flow

Question 39

Define Discharge & the equation

Answer 39

Vol of H2O flows river per second Discharge (m^3/s)=cross section area (m^2) X velocity (m/s)

Question 40

Define Lag Time

Answer 40

Delay between peak rainfall & peak discharge (rain to reach river)

Question 41

Define Rising Limb

Answer 41

Part of graph up to peak discharge

Question 42

Define Falling Limb

Answer 42

Graph after peak discharge (less water flowing into river)

Question 43

Define Base Flow

Answer 43

Start & finish lvl of river

Question 44

Define Peak Discharge

Answer 44

Highest flow in channel

Question 45

Define the features of a 'Flash' Hydrograph

Answer 45

Short lag time & high peak

Question 46

Define the opposite of a 'Flash' hydrograph

Answer 46

Long lag time & low peak

Question 47

Outline the features that cause a 'Flash' hydrograph (7 factors)

Answer 47

Small basin size High drainage density Impermeable Urbanisation Steep slopes Saturated Heavy Rain

Question 48

Outline the features that cause the opposite of a 'Flash' Hydrograph to form

Answer 48

Large basin Low density Permeable Forests Gentle Slopes Dry soil absorbs Light rain

Question 49

Outline Drainage Basin traits that affect hydrographs

Answer 49

1. Big drainage basin = more rain & hi peak discharge Small = opposite impact 2. Steep-sided = short lag time 3. Circular = short lag time even distance from watershed so more H2O

Question 50

Outline how rock types affect Hydrographs

Answer 50

Impermeable rock -> low infiltration & hi surface runoff = short lag & hi dis

Question 51

Outline how Soil Type affects Hydrographs

Answer 51

Clay soil = low infiltration ->short lag, hi dis

Question 52

Outline how Veg affects hydrographs

Answer 52

Hi veg density -> more infiltration = long lag, low discharge

Question 53

Outline how Precipitation affects Hydrographs (2 ways)

Answer 53

Intense storms & hi rain = HI PEAK Type of precipitation (winter storm = long lag time-must melt in heat)

Question 54

Outline how Temperature affects Hydrographs (2 ways)

Answer 54

Hot, dry weather= short lag & HI peak High temp -> hi evapotranspiration = low peak

Question 55

Outline how Human Factors affect Hydrographs

Answer 55

Urbanisation -> hi surface runoff = short lag & hi peak Drainage Systems -> H2O into river no evap/infiltr = short lag & Hi peak

Question 56

Outline how Deforestation affects Hydrographs

Answer 56

Low interception/evaporation/infiltration = hi peak & flood risk