Hydrological cycle Flashcards
Case study- aquifer depletion
The amount of water contained does not show how well it can be exploited
Aquifers in the UK recharge quickly due to high percolation
Aquifers in hot, dry countries recharge slowly unless the water source is in a distant country with high precipitation
Unless the aquifer has a high recharge rate, exploitation is unlikely to be sustainable
Residence time
Residence time=Volume/Average transfer rate
Ocean
Reservoir
Hold 97% of all water
Residence time of 4,000 years
Land ice
Reservoir
2% of all water
Residence time of 20 to 100 years
Ground water
Reservoir
0.7% of all water
Residence time of 100 to 10,000 years
Lakes and rivers
Reservoir
0.01% of all water
Residence time of 2 months to 100 years
Soil moisture
Reservoir
0.005% of all water
Residence time of 1 to 2 months
Atmosphere
Reservoir
0.001% of all water
Residence time of 10 days
Living organisms
Reservoir
0.00004% of all water
Residence time of 1 week
Inputs into the hydrological cycle
Precipitation
Processes in the hydrological cycle
Interception Infiltration Percolation Groundwater flow Runoff
Outputs from the hydrological cycle
Evaporation
Transpiration
Human impacts on precipitation
Global climate change
Urban heat islands
Human impacts on interception
Deforestation
Afforestation
Urbanisation
Increased paved areas and buildings
Human impacts on infiltration
Soil compaction
Urbanisation
Increased paved areas and buildings
