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A level GEO > Hydrological Cycle > Flashcards

Hydrological Cycle Flashcards

1
Q

Fluxes definition

A

The rate of flow between stores

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2
Q

Precipitation definition

A

The movement of water in any form from the atmosphere to the ground

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3
Q

What is a closed system?

A

No inputs or outputs

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4
Q

Evaporation

A

The change in state of water from a liquid to a gas

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5
Q

Residence time

A

The average time a water molecule will spend in a reservoir or store

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6
Q

Fossil water

A

Ancient deep groundwater from former pluvial periods

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7
Q

Transpiration

A

The diffusion of water from vegetation into the atmosphere, involving change from a gas to a liquid

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8
Q

Groundwater flow

A

The slow transfer of percolated water underground through pervious or porous rocks

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9
Q

What is a drainage basin?

A

A catchment. An open system with external inputs and outputs which cause the amount of water in the basin to vary over time

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10
Q

What’s an example of a large drainage basin?

A

The river Nile basin

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11
Q

What is a confluence?

A

Where 2 rivers meet

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12
Q

How does the amount of water affect the drainage basin?

A

With more water there is less variability in its pattern

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13
Q

How does the type of precipitation affect drainage basin?

A

Snow can store large fluxes of water released after rapid melting

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14
Q

How does seasonality affect drainage basin?

A

In some climates, strong seasonal patterns of rainfall/snowfall will have a major impact on physical processes

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15
Q

How does the intensity of precipitation affect drainage basin?

A

If rainfall is intense it can’t infiltrate as soil capacity exceeds

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16
Q

How does distribution affect drainage basin?

A

In the river Nile, tributaries start in different climatic zones

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17
Q

Convectional rainfall

A

When the ground warms up, evaporation takes place and the air above is heated and rises. Rainfall is often intense with electrical storms and thunder

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18
Q

Cyclonic rainfall

A

A period of sustained, moderately intensive rain. Associated with passage of depressions.

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19
Q

Orographic rainfall

A

Warm moist air is forced to rise over upland areas causing the moisture to condense and make rain

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20
Q

Interception loss

A

Water retained by plant surfaces and water evaporated or absorbed by vegetation and transpired

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21
Q

Throughfall

A

When the rainfall persists or is relatively intense and the water drops from the leaves

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22
Q

Stem flow

A

Water flooding through plants/branches/twigs

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23
Q

Infiltration

A

The movement of water from the ground surface into the soil

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24
Q

What are the drainage basin system outputs?

A

-Evapotranspiration
-Potential evapotranspiration
-Evaporation
-Transpiration

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25
Q

What is potential evapotranspiration? What is evapotranspiration?

A

Potential- the water loss that would occur if there was an unlimited supply of water in the soil.

Evapotranspiration- the combined effect of evaporation and transpiration

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26
Q

What influences evaporation?

A

Increases in warm windy and dry conditions.
Affected by temperature, hrs of sunshine, wind speed/size, water depth/quality, vegetation cover, surface colour

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27
Q

What do rates of transpiration depend on?

A

Loss of water from plant stomata to atmosphere. Affected by season, vegetation cover, moisture availability, growing season

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28
Q

Human factors affect drainage system

A

Farming and irrigation
Building dams/river defences
Cloud seeding
Global warming
Urbanisation
Pollution from industry
Overpopulation
Deforestation

29
Q

How does urbanisation affect drainage basin?

A

More runoff due to concrete/tarmac

30
Q

How does deforestation affect drainage basin?

A

Less trees = more runoff
Less interception
Resulting in flooding

31
Q

What are water budgets?

A

The water budget is the annual balance between inputs( precipitation) and outputs (evapotranspiration and channel flow)

32
Q

River regime

A

The annual variation in discharge/ flow of a river at a particular point or gauging station. Usually measured in cumecs

33
Q

What factors affect a river regime?

A

Climate: high rainfall increases flow
Geology: Permeable rocks allow infiltration reducing flow
Soil type: permeability
Vegetation: Dense vegetation promotes infiltration reducing runoff
Human: Dams/ reservoirs etc
Relief: Steeper= more runoff
Size of catchment area: large catchment = more rain

34
Q

Flashy vs subdued river

A

Flashy:
Shorter lag time
Steeper rising limb
High peak

Subdued:
Longer lag time
Shallower rising limb

35
Q

Define drought

A

An extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical multi-year average

36
Q

Define drought

A

An extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical multi-year average

37
Q

Define meteorological drought

A

Shortfalls in precipitation due to short term variability or longer trends which increase the duration of the dry period. This is combined with high temperatures increasing evaporation

38
Q

Agricultural drought

A

Can be accelerated by farming practices like overgrazing. Deficiency in soil moisture caused by less rainfall. This produced poor yields

39
Q

Hydrological drought

A

Reduced stream flow and groundwater levels due to less precipitation. Threats to wildlife and wetlands

40
Q

Famine drought

A

Failure of agriculture=food shortages

41
Q

What is the Palmer drought severity index?

A

Way of measuring drought.
Applies to long term drought, uses current data, monitors duration and intensity on a large scale and drought induced atmospheric circulation

42
Q

What are the physical causes of drought?

A

ENSO cycle (El Niño southern oscillation)
Blocking anticyclones
Failure of seasonal and monsoon rains

43
Q

What is the ENSO cycle.

A

Movement of warm water mass in equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Normally trade winds move EAST to WEST.
During ENSO cycle they move WEST TO EAST.
This results in air rising over EASTERN PACIFIc and descending air over western pacific
Occurs every 2-7 years

44
Q

What are blocking anticyclones?

A

-Associated with high pressure systems.
-High pressure=High amount of air in surface
-Thus deflects other incoming weather conditions due to greater pressure
-Lasts 2 weeks

45
Q

Human causes of drought

A

Climate change
Deforestation

46
Q

How does deforestation cause drought?
And give example

A

Less evapotranspiration occurs
So less water given back to atmosphere
So less precipitation

The Amazon produced its own rain. Deforestation for agriculture is stopping this
400Bn trees transport humidity inland

47
Q

Impacts of drought

A

-Reduced biodiversity
-Tree mortality increased
-Threat of wildfires

48
Q

Causes of flooding

A

-Monsoon rainfall
-Tropical cyclones
-Glacial outburst flood
-Snowmelt

49
Q

How do human factors exacerbate flood risk?

A

-Ploughing compacts soil
-Grazing animals trample soil
-Deforestation
-Sewers add water to channel
-Channelisation
-Urbanisation=impermeable areas

50
Q

How has climate change impacted California

A

-Reduced surface runoff
-50% change of 30yr mega droughts

51
Q

Define water stress

A

When the annual supply of water per person falls below 1700m^3

52
Q

Define virtual water

A

The hidden flow of water when food or other commodities are traded

53
Q

Define water insecurity

A

Where present and future supplies cannot be grunted leading to a need for physical or political and economic solutions

54
Q

What are physical causes of water insecurity?

A

-Tropical convection
-Convergence of warm humid air and cooler fronts
-West African monsoon
-ENSO

55
Q

What are human causes of water insecurity?
Example

A

-Arsenic in Ganges, India
-600m no access in India so use Ganges
-The river is 1000x the permittible level for bathing

56
Q

What are the 5 factors of the water poverty index?
What do they mean?

A

-Resources(Quantity of surface and groundwater per person and quality)
-Access(Time and distance involved in obtaining sufficient safe water)
-Capacity(how well community manages its water)
-Use(how economically water is used at home and in industry)
-Environment(ecological sustainability)

57
Q

Reasons for water insecurity in Israel

A

-Israel consumes more water
-Demand greater than supply
-Uses 2200Bn L pp. only has 1700
-Conflict with Palestinians over water sources

58
Q

Egypt vs Ethiopia water conflict

A

-Egypt is downstream
-Ethiopia has a fast growing population and has a HEP dam
-Egypt can now veto
-Egypt relies on Nile

59
Q

Human and physical causes of Kent/Sussex hosepipe ban 2022

A

Human:
-Higher population so more usage
-High usage for recreation/leisure in summer
-Infrastructure issues
Physical:
-Low rainfall in 2022 + heatwaves
-More rain in North

60
Q

Disadvantages of 3 Gorges dam

A

-1.3m ppl displaced
-Landslides due to erosion
-Loss of farm land
- $22.5 Bn
-Flooding downstream
-Build up of toxic material in reservoir

61
Q

Benefits of 3 Gorges dam

A

-Source of renewable energy
-Decreased fossil fuel usage
-Worlds biggest HEP plant
-More water for irrigation
-Facilitated better transportation along Yangtze rivers
-Prevents flooding in key areas

62
Q

Water conservation strategies

A

-Magic stones
-GM crops
-Hydroponics
-Recycling toilet water
-Donestic conversion methods
-Water metre

63
Q

How does the UN influence management of water resources?

A

Water courses convention - Guidelines on protection and use of trans boundary rivers
Equitable water sharing is applied to whole drainage basins
Helsinki rules - Criteria for water sharing should be based upon natural factors like rainfall amounts and social/economic needs

64
Q

Amazon rainforest deforestation

A

-Around 17% lost
-A 20-25% loss would cause a drier ecosystem
-Forest supports 10% of worlds species
-Deforestation disrupts making its own rainfall
-Moistture from Amazon has global influence

MOISTURE RECYXLING

65
Q

River Severn flooding cause study

A

-2007 floods
-Rainfall along river = record levels 129mm
-12 killed
-Waterfront developments in Tewkesbury flooded

66
Q

Tanzanian water problem

A

-Privatisation due to IMF and World Bank conditions for loans
-Water now too expensive and scarce
-Exacerbated by lack of infrastructure
-Biwater contracted to manage but only want profit
-Unsafe sources used

67
Q

Costs and benefits of desalination

A

Costs:
-Expensive
-Dumping leftover water that is 2x salt concentration of normal harms coral reefs
-Fossil fuels used eg Kuwait
Benefits
-New tech= cheaper and less energy intensive
-Carbon nanotube membranes

68
Q

Water transfer schemes costs and benefits

A

Costs
-Expensive as energy intensive
-Co operation between water companies is difficult
-Spread of diseases harms fish stocks
Benefits
-Water to areas in need

A level GEO (5 decks)

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