4.1 Introduction to water systems

Question 1

state the energy source that drives the water cycle?

Answer 1

sun (solar radiation)

Question 2

How is earths water stroge is distributed?

Answer 2

approximately 2.6% is fresh water, 97% is saline

Question 3

how is fresh water storage distributed?

Answer 3

30.1% is gound water, 68.7% is in icecaps and glaciers

Question 4

how is surface fresh water storage distobuted?

Answer 4

11% in Swamps 87% is in lakes

Question 5

roughly, how long is the turnover time for water in the storage of ‘ocean’?

Answer 5

37000 years, non renweable

Question 6

roughly, how long is the turnover time for water in the storage of ‘groundwater?

Answer 6

300 years, middle ground

Question 7

roughly, how long is the turnover time for water in the storage of ‘atmosphere’?

Answer 7

9 days, renewable

Question 8

roughly, how long is the turnover time for water in the storage of ‘icecaps’?

Answer 8

16000 years non rewnewable

Question 9

roughly, how long is the turnover time for water in the storage of ‘rivers’?

Answer 9

12-20 days, renewable.

Question 10

what are the storges of the hydrological cycle?

Answer 10

organisms
ocean
groundwater
lakes
soils
rivers
atmsphere
ice and glaciers caps

Question 11

what are the flows in the hydroligical cycle?

Answer 11

evapotranspiration
sublimation
evaporation
advection
precipitation
melting
freezing
flooding
surface runoff
infiltration
percolation
steam flow

Question 12

in a systems diagram, what does a circle represent?

Answer 12

flow-outputs

Question 13

in a systems diagram, what does a rectangle represent?

Answer 13

a storgae

Question 14

in a systems diagram, what does a rectangle wth two shaped heads of the side represent?

Answer 14

flow-impout

Question 15

how does the human activity of ‘withdrawal’ impact the water cycle?

Answer 15

as more water is withdrawn for domestic use, irrigation in agriculture, and industry less surface water is available for evaporation.

Question 16

how does the human activity of ‘discharge’ impact the water cycle?

Answer 16

adding pollutants to water e.g chemicals from agriculture, ferilizer and swage reduces the quality of water.

Question 17

how does the human activity of ‘changing the speed of flow’ impact the water cycle?

Answer 17

rivers can be channelled underground in urban area, streighting long sections of rivers in concrete chanels with dams.

Question 18

how does the human activity of ‘divertigng riversl’ impact the water cycle?

Answer 18

many diverted away from important areas to avoid flood damage, some are diverted towards dam for strorage.

Question 19

explain how urbanisation can lead to flashfloods?

Answer 19

the surfaces of cities are impermeable (buildings and roads). When rain fall it can not penitrate into the soil and so runs off th surface and can result in flashfloods, as the run up builds up

Where open spaces exist, it is usally to heavily compacted due to high recreational make to be perminble.

Question 20

outline what is meant by the oceanic conveyor belt?

Answer 20

a pattern of oceanic currents that is caused by deep water currents (thermohaline currents)

Makes up 90% of ocean currents.

Question 21

In terms of temperature and density, explain how global currents move?

Answer 21

warm water can hold less salt than cold water, so is less dense and rises. Cold water holds more salt, is more dense and sinks.

When warm water rises, cold water comes up from the depth to replace it (upwelling). When cold water rises it has to be replaced by warm water (downwellings).

Question 22

explain how ocean currents affect climate?

Answer 22

water has a higher specific heat capacity than land.

Water masses heat up and cool down more slowly than land masses.

Land closer to seas and oceans have a milder climate.

Current can also bring warmer temperatures, e.g the Gulf stream moderates the climate of NorthWest Europe.

Question 23

explain how climates affect ocean currents?

Answer 23

If global warming results in increased rainfall in the North Atlantic and the melting of the sea ice this will disrupt the sinking of cold, salty water and disrupt the thermohaline currents.

Climate phenoms such as El nino sowthern oscillationllation has major impacts on ocean currents.

Global warming is also slowing down the gulf streme.