✅C&W 3.1.1.2 - The Water Cycle Flashcards

Question

Where is most of the freshwater on Earth stored?

Answer 1

In the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets

Answer 2

Source: start of river, supply River channel: space between bed& banks (main river) Confluence: where tributary meet river channel Tributary: smaller side river

Answer 3

The area of land drained by a river and all it's tributaries. AKA catchment area They are all next to each other in one cascading system of open systems

Answer 4

Precipitation | Energy from the sun

Answer 5

``` Lakes Soil/Ground water Interception/vegetation River flow Surface flows ```

Answer 6

Ground water flow Percolation Transpiration Precipitation

Answer 7

River discharge Evapo-transpiration from vegetation, water Water vapour

Answer 8

Along the surface where there are relatively few obstacles in the way of the water

Answer 9

Somewhat slow, but varies more as clay soils retain water, slowing it down, but aerated soils and woodland channels allow it to move faster

Answer 10

Groundwater flow, as it can be held for millennia

Answer 11

3% is fresh water 20% of this is groundwater, 79% is ice caps

Answer 12

The amount of water stored in the soil

Answer 13

The water stored in plants as they take it up from the soil

Answer 14

Water lost from plants through stomata, released back to the atmosphere

Answer 15

The point where the soil becomes saturated

Answer 16

Depends on pore sizes: 40-60% in clay soil 25% in sand Fewer pores- less space to store water

Answer 17

The balance between inputs and outputs within the drainage basin

Answer 18

As discharge levels rise and fall, often showing an annual pattern

Answer 19

Precipitation (P) = discharge (Q) + evapotranspiration (E) +/- changes in storage (S) Most varies by season. In summer -20mm, in Winter +90mm

Answer 20

The portion of precipitation intercepted by the canopy that reaches the ground by flowing down stems, stalks or trees.

Answer 21

Precipitation | Potential evaporation

Answer 22

The amount of evapotranspiration that could occur if there was sufficient water available in the system

Answer 23

River discharge = cross sectional area x velocity

Answer 24

When precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration

Answer 25

Basins with a more circular shape have flashier hydrographs because each point is roughly equidistant from the channel

Answer 26

Drainage basins with steep sides have flashier hydrographs because water flows more quickly down steep slopes

Answer 27

Basins with a lot of surface stream tributaries have flashier hydrographs because all the water arrives at the same time

Answer 28

If the basin in already saturated, overland flow increases, so water moves quickly and peak discharge is higher, so flashier hydrographs

Answer 29

If a rock is impermeable, overland flow will be higher, so lag time is reduced and the hydrograph is flashy

Answer 30

More vegetation leads to a subdued hydrograph because they intercepts and holds rainfall, slowing its path to the river channel

Answer 31

Heavy storms with a lot of water entering at once produce flashy hydrographs. Slower lag time is precipitation is slow

Answer 32

Larger basins catch more precipitation and so have higher peak discharge. Smaller basins have shorter lag time, as water doesn’t travel as far

Answer 33

Reduces interception and lack of roots reduces infiltration rates, leading to rapid overland flow and flashy hydrographs

Answer 34

Opposite effect of deforestation, also decreases soil erosion, so less sedimentation of the channel, therefore increasing its capacity and reducing flooding

Answer 35

Ploughing allows infiltration, subdued hydrographs. Terraces stop water movement downhill, subdued hydrographs. Grass crops increase infiltration, subdued hydrograph

Answer 36

Flashy hydrographs: impermeable surfaces, floodplains, water moved directly into river, loss of green spaces and vegetation

Answer 37

Some schemes attempt t reduce flashiness of hydrographs. Afforestation increases interception and infiltration, subdues discharge

Answer 38

Reduces the base flow and so more water must reach the channel before it reaches bankfull capacity and floods

Answer 39

The normal day to day discharge of the river

Answer 40

New vegetation generally has fewer leaves and shallower roots, so uses less water So less water evaporates from the land surface to be returned to the atmosphere More water runs off the land and stream flow is increased Amount of rainfall may decrease or river discharge will increase

Answer 41

Heavy machinery can work the land without compaction, leading to more overland flow The insertion of drains increases rate f through low in the soil Can increase likelihood of flooding as discharge becomes more flashy and peak discharge increases Soils can be eroded and soil water decreases

Answer 42

Sinking water tables can make rivers less reliable, as their flows are maintained in the dry season by springs, that dry up when the water table falls Ground water levels fall and saline intrusion can occur, contaminating water supplies Precipitation and rainfall don’t replace water used

Answer 43

A climate cycle of warm and cold temperatures measured using sea surface temperatures of the tropical Pacific. Alternates between El Nino and La Nina every 2-7 years El Nino: Warmer in pacific (wet S American, dry SE Asian) La Nina: Cooler in pacific (dry S American, wet SE Asian)

Answer 44

Strong extensive interaction between the ocean and atmosphere

Answer 45

Can cause droughts and global declines in evapotranspiration despite rising temperatures. Reduced precipitation leads to lower soil/ground water levels

Answer 46

Increased rainfall and storm surges over the land can lead to greater river discharge and saturated ground

Answer 47

Causes reduction in water stores in rivers and lakes Vegetation dies back or is destroyed by fires, affecting transpiration, interception and infiltration Groundwater flow becomes more important as a long term transfer, soils dry out

Answer 48

Descending cooler dry air, rising moist hot air Between Hadely and Ferrel cells, unstable weather occurs and moved by the jet-streams. Causes changleable weather in UK ITCZ between cells of rising air, low pressure zones where heavy rainfall and storms can occur

Answer 49

70- 90% of deforested land is used for agriculture Less evapotranspiration, so less air humidity, so less rain in LT Higher temperatures over time as more water in Earth and less in trees, warming planet- makes irregular rainfall World lost 3% of forests from 1990-2005 2nd biggest human cause of CC Forests are a cheap option for water treatment, in NYC trees were planted over 1 million acres to avoid $8bn water filtration plant

Answer 50

In Malawi, a 14% decrease in forests led to 9% less precipitation- fewer crops

Answer 51

Texas could get 25% less rainfall due to Amazon's deforestation

Answer 52

Draining aquifers, faster than they can replenish 70% of fresh water withdrawals are for agriculture

Answer 53

when air volume increases, getting air closer to saturation. Can happen when air rises and expands in upper atmosphere. Causes rainfall.

Answer 54

Air rises, so greater volume, closer to saturation, rains

Answer 55

masses of air meet, less dense is pushed up, causes rain

Answer 56

warm surfaces cause air to expand and rise, then rain