4.a. the two cycles are interlinked and interdependent

Question 1

where do the two cycles link and are interdependent

Answer 1

oceans
atmosphere
cryosphere
vegetation

Question 2

how the cycles are linked and interdependent via oceans

Answer 2

Both large stores

Phytoplankton sequester carbon + live in water

more co2 in atmosphere -> oceans absorb more co2 -> oceans become warmer -> ice caps + sheets melt -> raising sea level -> shift from cryosphere to hydrosphere store

Question 3

how the cycles are linked and interdependent via the atmosphere

Answer 3

Atmosphere stores water -> precipitation -> acid rain dissolves carbon in rocks -> carbon released from lithosphere to atmosphere

Question 4

how the cycles are linked and interdependent via the cryosphere

Answer 4

Permafrost melts
-> releases water + carbon
-> water from cryosphere to hydrosphere
-> carbon from cryosphere to atmosphere

Ice melting -> lower albedo -> absorbs more radiation -> increases global temps -> further ice (+ permafrost) melts -> releases carbon -> positive feedback

Permafrost melts -> more evapotranspiration + run off

Question 5

how the cycles are linked and interdependent via vegetation

Answer 5

Water needed for photosynthesis -> removed carbon from atmosphere

Plants take in water from soil -> transpire to atmosphere

Moisture needed for decomposition -> therefore precipitation needed

Question 6

how human activities cause changes in the availability of water stores, such as the use of these resources

Answer 6

Deforestation -> less vegetation -> less interception -> more runoff -> more storage in rivers

Deforestation -> less transpiration -> lower humidity -> less cloud cover -> less precipitation

Water extraction -> water removed from lithosphere -> may be used via irrigation for farming -> more surface stores e.g. in soils
Growing population + demand on resources -> more pressure on water resources -> more water extraction

Water extraction from rivers -> less storage in rivers

Build dams -> stop the flow of water + change stores further down river

Over extraction -> less fresh water in rocks + rising sea levels -> sea water gets into rock -> fresh water supplies contaminated
only going to rise in the future -> But only problems in coastal areas + areas with over extraction

Urbanisation -> building impermeable surfaces -> less infiltration + percolation -> more run off -> more storage in rivers

Question 7

the impact of long-term climate change on the water cycle

Answer 7

Climate change -> warmer temps -> more evapotranspiration -> higher humidity

-> more cloud cover -> trap more radiation -> further climate change -> positive feedback + cloud cover reflects -> nullifies climate change -> negative feedback

-> more cloud cover -> more precipitation -> more runoff -> more water storage in rivers + flooding

-> more condensation -> more hazardous events e.g. storms

Ice melting -> cryosphere store to hydrosphere -> sea level rise -> coastal retreat + floodings