3.1.1 Water and Carbon Cycles

Question 1

how are models useful to a geographer?

Answer 1

-very visual
-simplify a complex world
-provide a starting point
-helps to predict and describe a possible sequence/consequence
-shows interrelated components

Question 2

what are the inputs of the water cycle?

Answer 2

-precipitation
-autumn leaf fall
-seeds carried by wind & birds

Question 3

what are the outputs of the water cycle?

Answer 3

-plants
-evaporation
-seed dispersal

Question 4

what are the stores/components of the water cycle?

Answer 4

-water
-soil
-water soaking through the soil/rocks

Question 5

what are the flows/transfers of the water cycle?

Answer 5

-photosynthesis
-infiltration
-transpiration

Question 6

what do systems compromise of?

Answer 6

any set of interrelated components to form a working unit

Question 7

what does a relationship mean in comparison to an interrelationship?

Answer 7

relationship means one way whereas an interrelationship means both ways

Question 8

what are the different geological systems?

Answer 8

-hydrological cycle
-carbon cycle
-ecosystems
-oceanic circulation
-atmospheric circulation

Question 9

what’s another name for the hydrological cycle?

Answer 9

water cycle

Question 10

what is an ecosystem?

Answer 10

a system that models relationships and interactions between the various biotic and abiotic components making up a community or organisms and their surrounding physical environment

Question 11

what’s an example of an ecosystem?

Answer 11

Sahara Desert

Question 12

what’s an example of a biome?

Answer 12

all the hot deserts in the world

Question 13

what are the four main biomes?

Answer 13

-hot desert
-cold desert
-temperate forest
-rainforest

Question 14

what does desert mean?

Answer 14

lacks rain (dry)

Question 15

what is a system?

Answer 15

an assemblage of interrelated parts that work together by way of some driving process

Question 16

what are some common characteristics that most systems share?

Answer 16

1. systems have a structure that is defined by its parts and processes
2. systems are generalisations of reality
3. systems tend to function in the same way- this involves the inputs and outputs of material
4. the various parts of a system have functional as well as structural relationships between each other
   5.flow and transfer of some type of energy and/or matter
5. systems often exchange energy and/or matter beyond their defined boundary with the outside environment
6. functional relationships can only occur through various input and output processes
7. the parts that make up a system show some degree of integration

Question 17

within the boundary of a system what three properties can we find?

Answer 17

-elements
-attributes
-relationships

Question 18

what are elements?

Answer 18

the kinds of parts that make up a system

Question 19

what are attributes?

Answer 19

characteristics of the elements that may be perceived and measured

Question 20

what are the relationships in a system?

Answer 20

the associations that occur between elements and attributes

Question 21

what are the types of system?

Answer 21

-closed
-open
-isolated
-morphological
-cascading
-process response
-control
-ecosystem

Question 22

what is a closed system?

Answer 22

system that transfers energy but not matter across its boundary to the surrounding environment

Question 23

what is an open system?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

what is an isolated system?

Answer 24

a system that has no interactions beyond its boundary layer

Question 25

what is a morphological system?

Answer 25

this is a system where we understand relationships between elements and their attributes in a vague sense based only on measured features and correlations

Question 26

what is a cascading system?

Answer 26

when a change in one area of a system causes a change in another and another and another and another

Question 27

what is a process-response system?

Answer 27

a system that integrates the characteristics of both morphological and cascading systems

Question 28

what is a control system?

Answer 28

a system that can be intelligently manipulated by the action of humans

Question 29

what systems are the carbon and water cycle?

Answer 29

they are both cascading systems but not control systems

Question 30

what is positive feedback?

Answer 30

where a change causes a further effect accelerating the original change

Question 31

what is negative feedback?

Answer 31

system acts by lessening the effect of the original change and ultimately reverses it

Question 32

what is a positive feedback loop that increases global warming?

Answer 32

1. temperatures warm
2. sea ice melts and shrinks
3. dark ocean waters absorb more solar radiation
4. temperatures warm further
5. sea ice melts more
6. temperatures warm further still

Question 33

what is a negative feedback loop that decreases global warming?

Answer 33

1. surface temperature increases
2. increased evaporation from oceans
3. increased low cloud in atmosphere
4. increased earths albedo
5. decreased surface temperature (slightly)
6. decreased evaporation from oceans
7. decreased low clouds in atmosphere
8. earths albedo decreases