EQ1- the hydrological system

Question 1

stores

Answer 1

-largest=ocean- 97% of water
-2.5% of stores r freshwater: 69% glaciers/ice, 30% groundwater, 1% surface water

Question 2

hydrology in Polar regions

Answer 2

-85% of solar radiation is reflected
-permafrost creates impermeable surfaces
-lakes + rivers freeze
-rapid runoff in spring
-seasonal release of biogenic gases into atmosphere
-organic + frontal precipitation

Question 3

hydrology in tropical rainforests

Answer 3

-Dense vegetation consuming 75% of precipitation
- There is limited infiltration
- Deforestation leads to less
evapotranspiration and precipitation
- Very high temperatures
- Very humid
-Convectional rainfall

Question 4

drainage basin

Answer 4

-an open subsystem within the closed global hydrological cycle
-an area of ​land drained by a river and its tributaries​, with a boundary (known as the​ watershed​), usually composing of hills and mountains.

Question 5

water cycle- local vs closed

Answer 5

-local = open system (inputs, outputs + throughputs)
-global= closed system (no inputs/outputs only throughputs)

Question 6

frontal/cyclonic rain

Answer 6

-mid latitudes (uk) where warm tropical air meets cold polar air
-when they meet they don’t mix well, warm less dense air lifted up + over cold dense air = front rain

Question 7

Orographic/relief rain

Answer 7

-mountains
-warm moist air meets land of high relief
-act as a barrier + force air to rise above them which creates seeder + breeder clouds
-EG Scotland + Lake District

Question 8

convectional rain

Answer 8

-daily occurrence
-most common in tropical climates- in rainforests it occurs mid-morning before temp rises too high for condensation to occur
-morning heat drives intense evaporation
-bubble of air rises, it cools + creates vapour
-Cumulonimbus clouds- cauliflower looking clouds

Question 9

factors affecting volume rainfall

Answer 9

-seasonality
-variability: sudden/long term changes to climate can happen. 3 types:
-secular: long term
-periodic: annual, seasonal or monthly
context
-stochastic: random factors (eg
localisation of thunderstorm)
-latitudes: location of drainage basin. higher latitude=colder climate, more snow then rain. at lats where air cells converge (ITCZ) climate will be categorised by rise/fall of air

Question 10

interception

Answer 10

-intervention of plants leaves in changing direction/stopping precipitation
-any moisture retained by surface of leaf (interception stores) is greatest at start of storms

Question 11

infiltration

Answer 11

movement of water from surface to soil. the capacity is max rate at which water can be absorbed by soil and is affected by: soil composition, previous precipitation, type/amount of veg, relief of land

Question 12

surface run off

Answer 12

-water flows overland rather then permeating deeper levels of ground.
overland flow occurs faster where gradient of land is greater
its the primary transfer of water to river channels- heavily influences discharge (moderate/fast)

Question 13

percolation

Answer 13

-water moves from ground into pours rock or rock fractures (deeper bedrock + aquifers)
-the rate is dependent on fractures that may be present in rock + its permeability- (slow)

Question 14

groundwater flow

Answer 14

-gradual transfer of water through porous rock, under influence of gravity
-it can sometimes become trapped within deep layers of bedrock, creating aquifers + long water stores for drainage basin (slow)

Question 15

through flow

Answer 15

-moves through soil + into streams/rivers
-speed of flow dependent on soil type
-clays w high field capacity+ small pore spaces= slower
-sandy drain quick bc they have a lower field capacity, larger pore spaces + natural channels from animals eg worms
-some sport fields have sandy soils to reduce chance of waterlogged pitches- but may increase flood risk else where (moderate/fast)

Question 16

evaporation

Answer 16

-direct loss of water moisture from surface if a body of water, soil + interception storage to the atmosphere
-rates rise when weather is warm, windy + dry

Question 17

factors affecting evaporation rates

Answer 17

-volume + surface area of water body- larger sa=faster rate of e
-vegetation cover/built environment surrounding water- anything that reduces direct sunlight to water body will reduce evaporation
-colour of surface beneath water- black tarmac will absorb heat faster than white snow + evaporation will occur faster on tarmac

Question 18

transpiration

Answer 18

-biological process
-water lost to atmosphere through pores of plants (stomata)
-rates are affected by seasonality, type of veg, moisture content of air + time of day

Question 19

stores

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Answer 19

-soil water: store in soil which is utilised by plants- MID TERM
-groundwater: store in pore spaces of rock- LONG TERM
-river channel: SHORT TERM
-interception: intercept by plants on branches/leaves - SHORT TERM
-surface storage: store in puddles, ponds, lakes VARIABLE

Question 20

the water table

Answer 20

• upper level at which pore spaces + fractures in ground become saturated
  -used by researchers to assess drought conditions, health of wetland systems, success of forest restoration programmes etc

Question 21

physical factors influencing the drainage basin

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Answer 21

-climate
-soil composition
-geology
-relief
-vegetation
-size

Question 22

anthropogenic (human) factors influencing the drainage basin

Answer 22

-cloud seeding: substances dispersed into air to provide something for condensation to occur on in (eg china Beijing games 2008)
-deforestation
-afforestation
-dam construction ( Lake Nasser behind Aswan dam in Egypt – 10-16 billion m3​ ​ water loss from Nile)
-change in land use
-groundwater abstraction: (eg china gw irrigates 40% of farmland whilst 70% dw comes from gw)
-irrigation: drop in water table due to high water usage
-urbanisation