21 - Arctic Case Study: the water cycle

Question 1

Is Evaporation faster or slower in the tundra?

Answer 1

• There is sparse vegetation cover as most vegetation is frozen as permafrost which means that there is less evaporation also there are lower temperatures in the tundra which also leads to less evaporation.

Question 2

Is Transpiration faster or slower in the tundra?

Answer 2

Transpiration is slower because of sparse vegetation cover and a limited growing season offset the potential impacts of a windy environment.

Question 3

Is Infiltration faster or slower in the tundra?

Answer 3

• Infiltration is slower because the ground is hard because it is permafrost so it is hard for water and precipitate to infiltrate through

Question 4

Is Percolation faster or slower in the tundra?

Answer 4

Percolation is slower because The ground is hard because it is permafrost so it is hard for water and precipitate to percolate through

Question 5

Is Surface runoff faster or slower in the tundra?

Answer 5

• Surface runoff is slower because the tundra landscapes are not steep and they have gentle hills which means that precipitate stay stationary and gathers in mounds instead of running off the surface

Question 6

Is the store of water in the Atmosphere larger or smaller?

Answer 6

• It is smaller in the atmosphere this is because there is limited transpiration because of the sparseness of vegetation cover and the short growing season
• Also there is a low rate of evaporation because of low temperatures, all of this leads to a decrease in the amount of water going into the atmosphere

Question 7

Is the store of water in the Biosphere larger or smaller?

Answer 7

• Smaller because there is sparse vegetation

Question 8

Is the store of water in the Groundwater store larger or smaller?

Answer 8

• It is smaller because of limited infiltration and percolation due to permafrost which acts as an impermeable barrier which means not much water is stored as groundwater.

Question 9

Is the store of water in the Cyrosphere larger or smaller?

Answer 9

• Average temperatures are well below freezing for most of the year so water is stored as ground ice in the permafrost layer.
• Some of the water is released due to the melting of the permafrost in the summer

Question 10

Is the store of water in the Surface-water store larger or smaller?

Answer 10

• Most water is frozen as permafrost throughout the year and some of that permafrost only melts in the summer which is when surface water store is the highest.

Question 11

How does permeability affect flows of water in the Tundra Water cycle?

Answer 11

In the winter where there is a lot permafrost there will be very little flows of water through infiltration and percolation, this is because the permafrost acts as an impermeable layer forcing water to remain on the surface.

• Additionally there is the dominance of igneous rock (particular the intrusive ones that form beneath the surface). Also, the Impermeability of the permafrost means that there is less evapotranspiration because the majority of the plants are frozen.
• However in the summer when the permafrost melts due to higher temperatures there is increased evapotranspiration because of increased vegetation cover.
• There would be more infiltration as the soil becomes more exposed.

Question 12

How does permeability affect stores of water in the Tundra Water cycle?

Answer 12

• The store of water in the atmosphere will be low due to impermeability as because the ground is so impermeable not much water can evaporate
• There is little water stored as groundwater. Limited infiltration and percolation due to permafrost which acts as an impermeable barrier which means not much water is stored as groundwater.
• However, this could vary throughout the year as temperatures increase and permafrost starts to melt.
• Although there is very little of it, the moisture that is left would be stored in the surface water store as water cannot percolate or infiltrate any deeper.

Question 13

How does relief affect flows of water in the Tundra Water cycle?

Answer 13

• The flat relief of the tundra landscape contributes to water logging in the summer melt months and limits surface runoff.

Question 14

How does relief affect stores of water in the Tundra Water cycle?

Answer 14

• Flat relief of tundra landscape increases surface water store because the water builds up in mounds leading to thermokarst landscapes with thermokarst lakes