EQ1 Flashcards
what is the hydrological cycle
The global hydrological cycle is a closed system driven by solar energy and gravitational potential energy
what makes the hydrological cycle a closed system
It does not have external inputs and outputs so there is a fixed amount of water in the Earth
where is the water stored in the hydrological cycle
This water can exist in stores and move between these stores in a series of transfers
TRUE or FALSE when water is transferred between stores in the hydrological cycle it doesnt change matter ever
false
Some of these transfers involve a change in state, while others just a movement of water from one store to another
what are fluxes
Fluxes are the rates of flow between stores. The greatest fluxes occur over the oceans.
what are fluxes driven by
Fluxes are driven by precipitation, evaporation, cryospheric exchange and run off generation (both surface + ground water)
what are the 4 water stores
- ocean
- terrestrial
- cryosphere water
- atmosphere
what are the 2 types of terrestrial water stores
greenwater and bluewater
examples of greenwater
underground (soil)
vegetation
examples of bluewater
lakes
rivers
underground (aquifers)
what water stores have the longest residence times
groundwater and ice caps
what is residence time
Residence time = the average times a water molecule will spend in a reservoir or store
what is fossil water
ancient, deep groundwater from former wetter times, it’s not renewable or reachable for human use
why do some stores have shorter residence times
Some very accessible stores, such as soil moisture and small lakes and rivers have a much shorter residence time because it’s easily lost to other stores
what water store has the shortest residence time
Atmospheric water has the shortest residence times as it evaporates, condenses and falls to the Earth as precipitation within about 10 days
TRUE OR FALSE there is no link between pollution levels and residence times
FALSE
there is a link
Longer the residence times the more easily they are polluted as the water is in situ for a longer length of time
what is the water budget
It is the balance between precipitation, evaporation and run off
It can be useful at global, regional and local scales
what does the global water budget take into account
The global water budget takes into account all the water that is held in stores and flows of the global hydrological cycle
why are regional/local water budget useful
Water budgets at this scale provide a more useful indication of available water supplies
at a local water budget scale does it show:
A. convergence
B. annual balance between inputs and outputs
C. temperature
B
At a more local scale , water budgets show the annual balance between inputs (ppt) and outputs (EVT) and how this can impact soil water availability.
why are local water budgets so important
Soil moisture budget is a subsystem of the catchment water balance and is vital to agriculturalist
what is a catchment water balance
a record of the water volume that enters and leaves a catchment area over a period of time, as well as the change in water storage during that time
what is the water drainage basin budget formula
P = Q+E±S
P = ppt Q = discharge E = evt S = changes in storage
finish the sentence:
Soil moisture can either be in…
surplus, deficiency or recharge