4.1 introduction to water systems

Question 1

hydrological cycle

Answer 1

• describes the movement of water on the planet
• water continually circulates between the atmosphere land and sea

Question 2

hydrological cycle
stores

Answer 2

• oceans
• surface water
• ice caps
• water vapour, clouds
• soil moisture
• groundwater
• organisms

Question 3

hydrological cycle
flows: transformations

Answer 3

• evaporation
• transpiration
• sublimation
• condensation
• melting
• freezing
• deposition

Question 4

hydrological cycle
flows: transfers

Answer 4

• advection
• precipitation
• surface run off
• absorption
• percolation
• groundwater flow
• stream flow
• flooding

Question 5

water flow into the atmosphere

Answer 5

• solar radiation
• water transforms from liquid to vapor, sun evaporation
• transpiration, plants
• sublimation, ice/snow into water vapor, rises and cools as clouds, transported as advection

Question 6

water flow out of the atmosphere

Answer 6

• precipitation
• deposition, water vapor in clouds into snow
• condensation, water vapor deposited as dew

Question 7

water flow on land

Answer 7

• surface run off
• snowmelt
• vegetation slowing movement of water

Question 8

water flow into groundwater

Answer 8

• water flow from the soil further down if permeable ,percolation
• into aquifers, groundwater storage
• vegetation, increase amount of stored groundwater

Question 9

water flow out of groundwater

Answer 9

• flow directly into sea, streams, rivers
• drought, reduction in groundwater flow influence river levels and ecology

Question 10

water flow into surface waters

Answer 10

• precipitation
• streamflow

Question 11

water flow out of surface waters

Answer 11

• evaporate, uptake by plants and animals

Question 12

global conveyor belt

Answer 12

• driven by differences in water density
• dependent on temperature, colder more dense
• dependent on salinity, more saline more dense

Question 13

hydrological cycle: changes in land use
deforestation

Answer 13

• harvested for timber, cleared for space
• removes trees as water stores, run off flow more quickly, reducing infiltration and percolation
• soil erosion increase
• flooding downstream, sediment loads into water
• less rainfall, transpiration dryer climate

Question 14

hydrological cycle: changes in land use
urbanization

Answer 14

• human created landscapes
• covered with impermeable materials, water can’t percolate into aquifers
• flowing along streets, contaminated with waste, oil and toxic metals
• run off diverted into streams, polluted, flooding risk
• porous road material, permeable
• diverting water into infiltration trenches

Question 15

hydrological cycle: changes in land use
agriculture

Answer 15

• excessive irrigation
• some crops needing more water than others
• water flows through agricultural land, pesticides, aquatic ecosystems, pollution and eutrophication
• pollute drinking water, harm humans
• animal waste flow into water, lower DOC
• rainwater collection
• crops require less water
• better irrigation systems, drip
• increase soil retention
• avoid applying fertilizers near water or before/after rainfall, match amount placed that can be up-taken
• collect animal waste
• reduce use of pesticides