Global water stores and changing magnitude

Question 1

Evapotranspiration

Answer 1

The process whereby liquid water changes into a gas (water vapour) when it absorbs
heat energy.

Question 2

Condensation

Answer 2

The process whereby the gaseous water vapour changes back into liquid water within the atmospheric water store.

Question 3

Cloud formation

Answer 3

Clouds form when water molecules aggregate (join up together)

Question 4

Precipitation

Answer 4

Generally, precipitation occurs when the water molecules within a cloud combine and become too heavy.

Question 5

Cryospheric processes

Answer 5

These are the processes involving ice sheets and glaciers.

Question 6

Lithosphere

Answer 6

the solid outer crust and upper mantle

Question 7

Hydrosphere

Answer 7

Any water on the earth’s surface

Question 8

Cryosphere

Answer 8

Frozen areas on the planet

Question 9

Atmosphere

Answer 9

the layer of gases surrounding the planet

Question 10

relief rainfall

Answer 10

this accounts for many uplands receiving higher precipitation than
similarly-located lowlands.

Question 11

frontal rainfall.

Answer 11

This is when a warm, moist air
mass cools as it is forced to slide up over a colder, denser mass of air.

Question 12

convectional rainfall.

Answer 12

In addition, air masses
converge here which results in heavy rainfall.

Question 13

Desert areas

Answer 13

(most lie between 15° and 35° north and south of the equator) have
limited rainfall as they receive sinking, dry air from high pressure systems.

Question 14

Polar Areas

Answer 14

dry because cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air so
precipitation can’t occur so often

Question 15

Large continental interiors

Answer 15

tend to be dry because of their distance from moisture
sources and many clouds lose moisture before they can reach the centre of large
continents.

Question 16

Areas near the equator

Answer 16

receive high rainfall amounts because constant solar
heating produces intense heating, large-scale evaporation.