facts Flashcards
what is the definition of a closed system
a system which transfers energy but not matter across its boundary to the surrounding environment
define an open system
a system which transfers energy and matter across its boundary to the surrounding environment
what effect does the size of water stores have on the hydrological cycle
the larger the store the greater the potential of evaporation to occur thus a greater chance of convectional rainfall
what factors effect the fluxes in the water cycle
ground water saturation, evaporation rates (temperature), interception
give 3 human factors which effect the water budget
deforestation
abstraction
contamination
what is fossil water and where is it stored usually
a fixed amount of water which has been contained in an undisturbed place for millennia. Usually stored underground for example in aquifers
what are the three types of rainfall
frontal
orographic
convectional
3 physical factors which effect river discharge
vegetation
topography
dam construction
3 human factors which effect water security
waste contamination
over abstraction
agriculture
how does climate change effect a drainage basin
greater global temperature= raising sea levels, increased rainfall, decreased salinity at the poles
what is meant by residence time
the average amount of time in which water is in a given location
what is the water budget
a balance of inputs and outputs to a water basin
what is a river regime
a river regime outlines the discharge of a basin
why is the water cycle a closed system
because there are no external inputs or outputs
state 2 natural things which might affect the water budget
1-permeability of soil/rock
2-amount of vegetation
state 2 reasons why the type of soil may affect river regimes
1-the absorption of the soil
2-how fertile the soil is and if it can hold the vegetation
state 2 human resources which may affect the water budget
1-urbanisation
2-over extraction
state a characteristic of a water budget in a tropical environment
1-flash flooding
2-high levels of interception
what does a storm hydrograph show
a way of outlining the discharge of a river or water basin, in response to a rainfall event
give 2 reasons why the shape of a storm hydrograph may vary in different areas
1-size of the water basin
2-the lag time
state one group of people who a storm hydrograph may be useful to
a farmer
state 2 natural causes of drought
1-el Niño effect
2-prelonged periods of no rainfall
explain why the el Niño effect can cause drought
the el nino affect is a natural phenomena in which causes a change in the climate
state 2 human factors which may cause drought
1-over extraction
2-dam construction
explain how drought may negatively affect 2 groups of people
1-farmers (reduced crop yield)
2- the public
explain one reason how drought could affect a biome
drought may kill vegetation in a biome
how may drought affect the carbon cycle
cause drying up of biomes which in turn may kill vegetation and emit carbon
state a group of people who may benefit from a drought or a prolonged period of warm periods
some types of biodiversity and an ice cream man/woman
why may a type of rock/soil increase the affects of drought
because the rock/soil is very permeable
what is an agricultural impact of drought
smaller crop yield, animals die
what is a hydrological drought
reduced precipitation and high rates of evaporation
list 3 meteorological causes of flooding
flash flooding, intense periods of rainfall, extreme monsoon rainfall and snow melt
list ways in which humans can impact flooding
urbanization
speeding up drainage
deforestation
dam construction
how many flood disasters were recorded between 1990 and 2010 by the EM-DAT?
3000
how many people have died and how many have been affected as a resultof flooding between 1990 and 2010
200,000 and 3 billion
which countries do 50% of flood damage and 90% of flood deaths occur in
Asia-China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam
name a social impact of flooding
Youths and aged population are venerable
Spread of Water-borne diseases
psychological stress among victims
name a water-borne disease
Typhoid
Cholera
name an economic impact of flooding
crops and livestock damaged
infrastructure loss
loss of jobs in all sectors
name three storms in the UK and their dates
Desmond-5th of december
Eva-24th December 2015
Frank-30th december 2015
name an environmental impact of flooding
habitats flooded
spread of water borne diseases
eutrophication
name changed to the hydrological cycle that may occur
evapotranspiration rates increase
more unpredictable rainfall
perception rates increase
will glaciers grow or shrink as a result of climate change
shrink
what does ENSO cycle stand for
the El Niño Southern-oscillation
how will higher latitudes be affected by climate change
increased air and ocean temperatures
deepening of the active layer and spring melting comes earlier and more intense
how are lower latitudes affected by climate change
increased chances of drought
spreading deserts
shorter growing season
why is sometimes difficult to distinguish the difference between effects of climate change and ENSO
teleconnections
name one other oscillation
North Atlantic oscillation (NAO)
in what year did the balkan’s receive the worst flooding in 100 years?
2010
name three areas in the uk that were heavily affected by the storms of 2007
Worcester
Upton upon Severn
Abingdon
name the fastest retreating glacier in the world?
Jakobshavn Glacier
define water security
the ability to access sufficient quantities of clean water to maintain adequate standards of food and goods production,
proper sanitation and sustainable healthcare
state a physical cause to water insecurity
salt water encroachment
climate variability
state a human cause to water i security
over abstraction
water contamination
what is meant by salt water encroachment
salt water encroachment is the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers, which can lead to contamination of drinking water sources and other consequences
saltwater intrusion occurs naturally to some degree in most coastal aquifers, owing to the hydraulic connection between groundwater and seawater
define water stress
water stress occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use
why is there a growing mismatch between supply and demand or water?
demand is always increasing and supply remains constant and more unpredictable flue to climate change
why are finite water resources under increasing demand?
rising population
rise in the middle class
why is there a global pattern of water stress
increasing population
global warming
what defines a place being under water stress?
below 1,700m3 per person
what is meant by water scarcity
below 1000m3 per person
why does the price of water vary globally
some counties water is scarce and therefore prices are high as supply is low and demand is high and vice versa
what is a cause of global water scarcity
climate change such as altered weather patterns, deforestation, increased pollution and wasteful use of water
why is water important for economic development
water is important for maintaining agriculture/ used in industries/ water used for energy
state 1 environmental problem caused by an inadequate water supply
loss of biodiversity
state 1 economic problem caused by an inadequate water supply
higher economic growth-water contamination can result in a lower active workforce
why do conflicts over water occur between users within a country
areas with a surplus and areas which are scarce argue over water supply
state a risk associated with water insecurity
deaths
how much water is used every day per person
80-100 gallons
which country has the poorest quality of water in the world
Jordan
which country has the highest quality of water
Switzerland
what factors would a large river basin have
large surface area
large amount of discharge
what is a water sharing treaty
rules and regulation to share the river
what are the most influential stakeholders in a large river basin
the largest economic force
why do rivers need to be sustainable
to meet the future needs of the population
how should conflict be reduced over a water source
through water sharing treaties
give an example of large scale management
three gorges dam