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Geography A Level > Cycles > Flashcards

Cycles Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Input (In a system)

A

Material or energy moving into the system from outside.

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2
Q

Define Output (In a system)

A

Material or energy moving from the system to the outside.

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3
Q

Define Energy (In a system)

A

This is the power or driving force.

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4
Q

Define Stores/Components (In a system)

A

The individual elements or parts of a system.

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5
Q

Define Flows/Transfers (In a system)

A

The links or relationships between the components.

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6
Q

Define Positive Feedback (In a system)

A

A cyclical sequence of events that amplifies or increases change, promoting environmental instability.

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7
Q

Define Negative Feedback (In a system)

A

A cyclical sequence of events that damps down or neutralises the effects of a system, promoting stability and a state of dynamic equilibrium.

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8
Q

Define Dynamic Equilibrium (In a system)

A

This represents a state of balance within a constantly changing system.

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9
Q

What is the difference between lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere?

A
  • The lithosphere is the outermost solid layer of the earth, contains the crust and the upper mantle (Land).
  • The hydrosphere is all the water on/surrounding the Earth, such as the ocean, rivers and water in the atmosphere (Liquid Water).
  • The cryosphere is the frozen parts of Earth’s surface including ice caps, glaciers and snow cover (Frozen Water)
  • The atmosphere is the air that surrounds the Earth (Air)
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10
Q

How much of the world’s global water is freshwater?

A

Only 2.5%

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11
Q

Which two stores of water remains the longest and the shortest?

A

Longest store = Groundwater (10,000 years)

Shortest store = Soil water (1-2 months)

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12
Q

Define Precipitation (A process in the water cycle)

A

Transfer of water from the atmosphere to the ground. It can take the form of rain, snow, hail and dew.

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13
Q

Define Evaporation (A process in the water cycle)

A

Transfer of water from liquid state to gaseous state (Water Vapour). The vast majority occurs from the oceans to the atmosphere.

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14
Q

Define Condensation (A process in the water cycle)

A

Transfer of water from a gaseous state to a liquid state, for example, the formation of clouds.

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15
Q

Define Sublimation (A process in the water cycle)

A

Transfer from a solid state (Ice) to a gaseous state (Water Vapour) and vice versa.

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16
Q

Define Interception (A process in the water cycle)

A

Water intercepted and stored on leaves of plants.

17
Q

Define Overland Flow (A process in the water cycle)

A

Transfer of water over the land surface.

18
Q

Define Infiltration (A process in the water cycle)

A

Transfer of water from the ground surface into soil where it may then percolate into underlying rocks.

19
Q

Define Throughflow (A process in the water cycle)

A

Water flowing through soil towards a river channel.

20
Q

Define Groundwater Flow (A process in the water cycle)

A

Transfer of water very slowly through different rocks.

21
Q

Define Percolation (A process in the water cycle)

A

Water soaking into rocks.

22
Q

What are the stores within the water cycle?

A
  • Rivers
  • Lakes
  • Soil and Groundwater
  • Glaciers/Ice
  • Trees and Vegetation
  • Clouds/atmospheric
23
Q

What factors can change the magnitudes of stores in the water cycle?

A
  • Deforestation- Prevents interception and infiltration rates, but increases overland flow. (This reduces the vegetation stores and soil stores, but increases river and lakes stores)
  • Urbanisation -If slopes are developed, impermeable surfaces will reduce infiltration, however water will travel much quicker through drains and pipes. (This reduces the soil stores, but increases river and lake stores.
  • Farming - Ditches drain the land and encourages water to flow quickly to rivers. Irrigation increases the amount of water on the ground as well. (This reduces the vegetation stores , however increases river and lake stores as well as the soil/groundwater stores.
  • Storm - Intense rainfall increases the amount of rainfall reaching the ground and increases the magnitude of stores. (This is increasing all stores in this system at the expense of another system)
  • Seasonal Change - Winter snowfall and frozen ground interrupts the water transfers and affects the magnitude of stores. (This reduces all the stores besides the glaciers and ice store)
24
Q

What are the flows within the water cycle?

A
  • Evapotranspiration (Evaporation and Transpiration)
  • Precipitation
  • Overland flow
  • Infiltration
  • Percolation
  • Groundwaterflow
  • Throughflow
  • Overland Flow
  • Streamflow
25
Q

What is the main inputs in the water cycle?

A

Precipitation

26
Q

What are the main outputs in the water cycle?

A

Evapotranspiration and Streamflow

27
Q

What is a drainage basin?

A

A drainage basin is the area of land that is drained by a river and its tributaries. The edge of a river basin is also marked by a boundary called watershed.

28
Q

Is the drainage basin system an open or closed system?

A

It is an open system, with inputs (precipitation) and outputs (runoff and evapotranspiration).

29
Q

What is the water balance expressed as?

A 
P = O + E + Change in S
Where:
P = Precipitation
O = Total runoff
E = Evapotranspiration 
S = The change in the storage (in soil and rocks)
30
Q

Why is understanding the water balance a good idea?

A

Because this helps hydrologists plan for future water supply and flood control by understanding the unique hydrological characteristics of an individual basin.

31
Q

How do you calculate discharge? (m^3s^-1)

A

Cross sectional area (m^2) x velocity (ms^-1)

32
Q

What is a flood hydrograph?

A

This is a graph showing the discharge of the river over time following a particular stormy event.

33
Q

What are the characteristics needed for a short lag time and high peak hydrograph? (Using basin size, drainage density, rock type, land use, relief, soil water and rainfall intensity)

A 
Basin size: Small
Drainage Density: High density
Rock Type: Impermeable
Land Use: Urbanised area
Relief: Steep slopes
Soil Water: Saturated soil
Rainfall Intensity: Heavy rainfall > Infiltration rates
34
Q

What are the characteristics needed for a long lag time and low peak hydrograph? (Using basin size, drainage density, rock type, land use, relief, soil water and rainfall intensity)

A 
Basin size: Large
Drainage Density: Low density
Rock Type: Permeable
Land Use: Forests/green areas
Relief: Flat land/gentle slopes
Soil Water: Dry soil
Rainfall Intensity: Light rainfall < Infiltration rates
35
Q

What are the human factors that can affect the water cycle?

A
  • Irrigation from Farming.
  • Land-Use change (Urbanisation/Deforestation).
  • Water Abstraction (Industry, domestic purposes)
36
Q

What are the natural factors that can affect the water cycle?

A
  • Seasonal Weather
  • Drought
  • Severe Storms

Geography A Level (6 decks)

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