human factors, influencing the water and carbon cycles

Question 1

what is dynamic equilibrium

Answer 1

it means that the natural system, will respond to changing inputs over time.

Question 2

what impact does urbanisation have on the carbon cycle

Answer 2

• trees being cut down, thus there is a decrease in the amount of photosynthesis occurring
• more carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere, this is also due to emissions from cars and factories.

Question 3

what impact does urbanisation have on the water cycle

Answer 3

• use of tarmac, can increase the amount of surface run off due to the impermeable ground.
• lack of trees, can also lead to soil becoming unstable
• there is also a shorter lag time due to surface run off

Question 4

what impact does farming have on the carbon cycle

Answer 4

• the use of machinery will release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
• in addition to this, there will be less decomposition occurring, due to the soil being churned up, thus meaning that less carbon dioxide is return to the atmosphere, which in turn means less is available for photosynthesis

Question 5

what impact does farming have on the water cycle

Answer 5

• the soil is easy washed a way due to being stripped of it’s nutrients, due to being use to much.
• lower rate of evapotranspiration can occur, due to less trees, as well as less water being able to percolate in the soil.

Question 6

what impact does forestry have on the carbon cycle

Answer 6

• reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that can be absorbed from the atmosphere, via photosynthesis, as well as this it means that when the trees are cut down more carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere

Question 7

what impact does forestry have on the water cycle

Answer 7

• less trees, meaning that there will be less interception of the water, meaning that it will reach the soil more easily, causing the nutrients to be washed away.
• there will also be less evapotranspiration, thus meaning that less water is returning to the atmosphere, so there will be less precipitation, which means that a positive feedback loop will be created.

Question 8

why is the amount of water that we use daily so high

Answer 8

• due to food being imported from areas, where huge amounts of water are required in order to grow the crops (irrigate them)
• most of the products. that we use/ consume, use water, whether that be in production, transport, or irrigation of the
  land.
• we only use around 100 litres of water directly a day

Question 9

what causes the water table to rise and fall in aquifers and artesian basins.

Answer 9

-in the summer months, an increase in plant growth, leads to a natural reduction in the water levels.
- the water table will rise and fall dependent on the levels of rainfall
- the amount of water, that is being used for irrigation, etc.

Question 10

why has the water level risen, in the aquifers underneath London

Answer 10

• due to industrial decline as there is no longer a requirement for water to be used in industry.

Question 11

what has London done to combat the rise of the aquifers (since 1992)

Answer 11

Thames water, have granted abstraction licences, in order to slow down the rise of the water level.

Question 12

why is global energy consumption going up

Answer 12

• due to an increase in population, thus meaning that there is a greater demand for electricity.

Question 13

what is the pattern, with regards to fossil fuels

Answer 13

the combustion of the fossil fuels, leads to a release of stored carbon, thus increasing the amount of carbon, that is released into the atmosphere.