Hydrosphere Flashcards
What is the hydrosphere ?
The earths outer layer of water. It unites all water forms.
Solid, liquid, gas
What is the catchment area ?
Area where rainfall flows into rivers and lakes.
What is a ocean current ?
Movement of sea water in a certain direction
How are surface currents created ?
Winds
What and how are deep currents created ?
They are caused by temperature and density. The heavy water (higher density) sinks. The light water (low density) rises. This causes movement on the ocean floor.
Does cold water rise or sink ? Why?
Sinks, because it is dense.
Does salty water rise or sink ? Why ?
Sinks, because it is dense.
What is thermohaline ? (Conveyor belt ) What does it do ?
Deep currents that create ocean circulation. It mixes water around the world and it regulates the earth temperature.
What are the steps in thermohaline process ? (Conveyor belt )
Step 1: Sun at equator heats water which make it evaporate.
Step 2: Density increases, water sinks causing ocean circulation.
Step 3: At pole, ice caps melt, dilutes water, water less dense, water rises.
What are human disturbances on watershed ?
The creation of hydroelectric power plants which disturbs the ecosystems because the contaminates of the basin can be spread anywhere.
Why is the ocean so important ? What does it do to the earth.
Oceans are important because they absorb heat so they help regulate the temperature of the earth.
How does salt concentration get diluted ?
The ice caps that melt have fresh water, the fresh water dilutes the salt concentration.
Where does the hydrosphere obtain its salt from ?
From the weathering of the dissolved minerals.
The lithosphere
What influences water temperature ? (3)
- The season because of the angle of sunlight
- The latitude, (closer to equator is hotter(
- The depth, (deeper the water, more clouds, less sunlight)
What is the cryosphere ?
A layer made up of frozen water (ice)
