Changes To The Water Cycle

Question 1

What impacts the water cycle on a local scale

Answer 1

Deforestation, Storm events,
Seasonal changes, Agriculture and Urbanisation

Question 2

How does deforestation impact the water cycle

Answer 2

There is less interception by trees so surface runoff
Increases
The soil is no longer held together by roots, so soil water storage decreases
There are fewer plants so transpiration decreases

Question 3

Hoe do storm events impact the water cycle on a local scale

Answer 3

Large amounts of rainfall quickly saturate the ground to its field capacity
No more water can infiltrate the soil, increasing runoff
Storm events are less effective at recharging water stores than prolonged rainfall

Question 4

How do seasonal changes impact the water cycle on a local scale

Answer 4

Spring- more vegetation growth so more interception by vegetation
Summer- likely to be less rain in summer. Ground may be harder and therefore more impermeable encourage runoff
Autumn- less vegetation growth so less interception. Seasonally more rainfall
Winter- frozen ground may be impermeable and encourage runoff. Snow discourages runoff and takes time to melt, slowing down the processes that occur within the water cycle

Question 5

How does agriculture impact the water cycle on a local scale

Answer 5

Pastoral farming- livestock trample the ground reducing infiltration
Arable farming (crops)- ploughing increases infiltration by creating a looser soil, which decreases surface runoff. However digging drainage ditched increases runoff and streamflow
Irrigation can lead to groundwater depletion
Hillside terracing( for rice padi fields) increasing surface water storage and decreases runoff

Question 6

How does urbanisation impact the water cycle on a local scale

Answer 6

Roads and buildings have impermeable surfaces and are likely to have drains - reduce infiltration but increase surface runoff, reducing lag time and increasing flood risk