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A Level Physical Geography > WCC: Key Terms > Flashcards

WCC: Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Burial and compaction

A

the process by which sediments are compacted and cemented turning them into sedimentary rocks.

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2
Q

Carbon budget

A

the net change between inputs from a carbon source and outputs from a carbon sink. If inputs are greater than outputs there is surplus carbon, if vice verse there is a carbon deficit.

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3
Q

Carbon capture and storage

A

the technological capturing of carbon emitted from power stations.

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4
Q

Carbon farming

A

Using farming techniques e.g not ploughing to sequester carbon in the soil.

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5
Q

Carbon sequestration

A

The long-term storage of carbon in plants, soils, rock formations and oceans.

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6
Q

Carbon sink

A

a store of carbon that absorbs more carbon than it releases

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7
Q

Carbon source

A

A store of carbon that’s releases more carbon than it absorbs

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8
Q

Combustion

A

When organic material is burned in the presence of oxygen and is converted into energy, carbon dioxide and water.

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9
Q

Decomposition

A

When organisms die and are consumed by decomposes such as bacteria, fungi, and earthworms

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10
Q

Deforestation

A

When trees are removed either by burning or felling, for building, ranching, mining or growing of commercial crops like oil palm and soya.

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11
Q

Desertification

A

Turning marginal land into a desert by destroying its biological potential.

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12
Q

Gauging station

A

A point at which gauges (e.g a rain gauge) gather data

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13
Q

Halosere

A

Vegetation succession that originated in a saline area (e.g salt marsh)

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14
Q

Hill slope system

A

A hillslope viewed as a system i.e with inputs (rain), outputs (runoff), transfers and stores.

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15
Q

Hydrocarbons

A

A compound of hydrogen and carbon

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16
Q

Irrigation

A

Artificially watering crops i.e not just relying on rain

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17
Q

Lithosere

A

A vegetation succession that originated on a bare rocky surface

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18
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process whereby plants use the light energy from the sun to produce carbohydrates in the form of glucose

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19
Q

Psammosere

A

Vegetation succession that originated in a coastal sand dune area

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20
Q

Respiration

A

A chemical process that happens in all cells, where glucose in converted into energy and carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere

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21
Q

Seral stage

A

A stage within a sere

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22
Q

Sere

A

The whole sequence of succession e.g bare sans to woodland

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23
Q

Vegetation succession

A

The process by which vegetation colonises an area. soil develops, more moisture is retained and carbon storage increases.

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24
Q

Diffusion

A

the net movement of particles from a area of high concentration to low concentration

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25
Q

Soil respiration

A

Soil organisms respire and release carbon dioxide just as other living organisms do

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26
Q

Aquifer

A

Vast underground reservoirs formed by water stored on rocks underneath the ground surface

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27
Q

Atmosphere

A

The gaseous envelope of air that surrounds the earth

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28
Q

Closed system

A

A system that doesn’t exchange any matter with its surroundings

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29
Q

Components

A

An individual element or part of a system

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30
Q

Condensation

A

The change in state of matter from water vapour to liquid water that occurs with cooling

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31
Q

Cryosphere

A

The ice and snow on the earth’s surface e.g glaciers; sea, lake, and river ice; snow; permafrost

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32
Q

Deforestation

A

When trees are removed wither by burning or felling, for building, ranching, mining, or the growing of commercial crops like oil palm and soya

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33
Q

Discharge

A

The volume of water in a river passing a given point at a given time (cumecs or m^3/sec) AREA X VELOCITY

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34
Q

Drainage basin

A

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

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35
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

A state of balance within a constantly changing system

36
Q

Evaporation

A

The process by which liquid water is converted into a gaseous state.

37
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

The process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation or transpiration

38
Q

Flood (storm) hydrograph

A

A graph showing river discharge after a storm/period of rainfall

39
Q

Flows

A

The links or relationships between the components

40
Q

Groundwater flow

A

Water flowing through rocks towards the river

41
Q

Hydrosphere

A

The waters of the earth

42
Q

Impermeable

A

water is unable to pass through

43
Q

infiltration

A

the process by which water enters the soil

44
Q

input

A

an input into the system from the outside

45
Q

interception

A

the capture of precipitation by the plant canopy and its subsequent return to the atmosphere through evaporation or sublimation.

46
Q

lithosphere

A

the solid, inorganic portion of the earth (composed of rocks, minerals and elements)

47
Q

negative feedback

A

a cyclical sequence of events that dampens down or neutralises the effects of a system, promoting stability and dynamic equilibrium.

48
Q

open system

A

a system that transfers both matter and energy across its boundary to the surrounding environment.

49
Q

output

A

an output from the system to the outside

50
Q

overland flow

A

the movement of water over the surface of the ground to rivers

51
Q

percolation

A

water draining through rock towards the water table

52
Q

permeable

A

water is able to pass through

53
Q

positive feedback

A

a cyclical sequence of events that amplifies or increases change, driving a system in one direction and promoting environmental instability

54
Q

precipitation

A

any form of water falling from the sky

55
Q

recharge

A

the process where water moves from the surface to the ground or soil

56
Q

river regime

A

the variability in a rivers discharge throughout the course of a year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, and drainage basin characteristics.

57
Q

runoff

A

the topographic flow of water from precipitation to steam channels located at lower elevations. the water leaving a drainage basin

58
Q

soil moisture (water) budget

A

the amount of water going in and out of a system (/the soil)

59
Q

store

A

an individual element or part of a system

60
Q

sublimation

A

when a solid turns into a gas without first becoming a liquid

61
Q

Throughflow

A

water flowing through the soil towards rivers

62
Q

transfers

A

the links or relationships between the components

63
Q

urbanisation

A

an increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas compared to rural areas

64
Q

water abstraction

A

the process of taking water from any source

65
Q

water balance

A

the flow of water in and out of a system

66
Q

water table

A

the depth at which rock becomes completely saturated with water

67
Q

watershed

A

an imaginary line that separates one drainage basin from another

68
Q

weathering

A

physical, chemical or biological breakdown of rocks and minerals into smaller sized particles

69
Q

water cycle

A

The cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and land.

70
Q

carbon cycle

A

Storage and cyclic movement of organic and inorganic forms of carbon between the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

71
Q

transpiration

A

Transpiration is the process of water loss from plants through stomata.

72
Q

surface water

A

Water on the surface of the Earth, such as in lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and springs.

73
Q

soil water

A

The water found occupying the pore spaces between soil particles.

74
Q

ground water

A

Water that occupies the pore spaces found in some types of bedrock.

75
Q

channel storage

A

The volume of water at a given time in the channel or over the flood plain of the streams in a drainage basin or river reach.

76
Q

Stemflow

A

The process that directs precipitation down plant branches and stems. The redirection of water by this process causes the ground area around the plant’s stem to receive additional moisture.

77
Q

infiltration

A

The absorption and downward movement of water into the soil layer.

78
Q

channel flow

A

How and how much water flows through a channel.

79
Q

greenhouse gas

A

A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation.

80
Q

sea ice

A

Formed when water in the oceans is cooled below freezing.

81
Q

Ice sheets

A

A mass of glacial ice extending more than 50,000km^2.

82
Q

Ice caps

A

Thick layers of ice on land that are smaller than 50,000km^2.

83
Q

alpine glaciers

A

Thick masses of ice found in deep valleys or in upland hollows.

84
Q

permafrost

A

Permanently frozen ground that remains at or below 0 degrees C for at least 2 consecutive years.

85
Q

lake

A

A collect of fresh water found in hollows on land surface. Usually greater than two hectares in area.

86
Q

wetlands

A

Areas of marsh, fen or peatland where there is a dominance of vegetation.

87
Q

biological water

A

Water stored in all biomass.

A Level Physical Geography (43 decks)

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