Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

A Level Geog > key idea 1 definitions > Flashcards

key idea 1 definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

The loss of moisture from the ground directly from the water bodies and soil and the diffusion of water vapour to the atmosphere from the leaf pores (stomata) of plants.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Evaporation

A

Heat from the sun causes water to be converted from a liquid from a water surface to a gas (water vapour) in the atmosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Precipitation

A

The transfer of water in any form (rain, hail or snow) from the atmosphere to the land or sea surface.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Infiltration

A

The transfer of water downwards from the ground surface to the unsaturated soil.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Percolation

A

The transfer of water downward from the unsaturated soil to the saturated groundwater store (aquifer).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Overland flow

A

The movement of water over the ground surface towards a river or stream.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Throughflow

A

The movement of water through unsaturated soil (between the ground surface and aquifer) towards a river or stream.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Groundwater flow

A

The movement of water through the saturated rocks of the aquifer towards rivers, lakes and the sea.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Interception

A

The rainwater stored temporarily on the leaves, stems and branches of vegetation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Ablation

A

The loss of ice or snow, especially from a glacier, through melting, evaporation or sublimation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Sublimation

A

The phase change of water from solid (ice) to gas (water vapour).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Condensation

A

The phase change from gas (water vapour) to liquid (water) often occurring in the atmosphere forming clouds.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Stemflow

A

The flow of intercepted water along branches or stems to the ground.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Interception Loss

A

The intercepted water evaporates off the plant surface.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Throughfall

A

The flow of briefly intercepted water dripping to the ground.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Infiltration Capacity

A

The ground surface’s maximum rate of water absorption.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Combustion

A

Organic material reacts in the presence of oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide, CO2 e.g. forest fires.

Fuel + O2 àCO2 + Water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Respiration

A

The process whereby oxygen and glucose are converted to energy, carbon dioxide and water.

6O2 + C6H12O6 à6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process whereby, in the presence of sunlight, carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen.

6CO2 + 6H20 àC6H12O6 + 6O2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Combustion of Fossil Fuels

A

Natural gas, coal or oil burning in the presence of oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide and water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Decomposition

A

Decomposers, such as earthworms, fungi or bacteria, break down dead organic matter is broken down, extracting energy, returning nutrients to the soil and releasing carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

22
Q

Chelation

A

Organic matter and rainwater react together forming an acid which can weather rocks.

23
Q

Carbonation

A

Where carbon dioxide dissolves in water forming a weak acid, carbonic acid, which subsequently reacts with sedimentary rock, e.g. limestone, releasing the carbon dioxide into oceans, rivers and the atmosphere.

CO2 + H2O àH2CO3

H2CO3 + CaCO3 àCa(HCO3)2

24
Q

Diffusion

A

The movement of carbon dioxide from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration across the air-sea boundary.

25
Q

Sequestration

A

The take up and storage of carbon.

26
Q

Biological Pump

A

Carbon exchanged between the ocean and atmosphere through the actions of marine organisms.

27
Q

Physical Pump

A

Carbon exchanged between the ocean and atmosphere through the mixing of dissolved carbon through the surface and deep ocean waters via thermohaline circulation.

28
Q

Carbonaceous Rocks

A

A type of sedimentary rock which is formed through the deposition and compression of partially decomposed organic material e.g. fossil fuels.

29
Q

Sedimentary Rocks

A

A type of rock formed by the accumulation and compression of sediment or organic particles on the ocean floor.

30
Q

Convection

A

The motion of a gas or liquid which when warmed rises until eventually it cools and sinks in a continuous cycle.

31
Q

Advection

A

Warm air moving horizontally across a cooler surface

32
Q

Hydrosphere

A

All the waters on the earth’s surface, such as lakes and seas.

33
Q

Cryosphere

A

The frozen part of the Earth’s surface, including the polar ice caps, continental ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost.

34
Q

Lithosphere

A

The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle, divided into tectonics plates.

35
Q

Atmosphere

A

The envelope of gases surrounding the planet.

36
Q

Biosphere

A

The space at the Earth’s surface and within the atmosphere occupied by living organisms.

37
Q

Goldilocks Zone

A

The distance from the Sun which allows the presence of liquid water.

38
Q

Open System

A

Where matter and energy can both cross the boundary of the system.

39
Q

Closed System

A

Where matter cannot cross the boundary of a system, whereas energy can.

40
Q

Dynamic Equilibrium

A

The inputs are equal to the outputs, where there is no net change.

41
Q

Positive Feedback

A

The amplification of an initial change in a system.

42
Q

Negative Feedback

A

The reversal of an initial change in a system which self-regulates and establishes equilibrium.

43
Q

Water Balance

A

The relationship between precipitation, stream flow, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and groundwater storage in a drainage basin over a year

44
Q

Absolute Humidity

A

The mass of water vapour in a given volume of air

45
Q

Relative Humidity

A

The mass of water vapour in a volume of air as a ratio of its water vapour capacity (the mass needed to saturate it)

46
Q

NPP

A

Net Primary Productivity

47
Q

GPP

A

Gross Primary Productivity

48
Q

ANPP

A

Above Ground Productivity

49
Q

BNPP

A

Below Ground Productivity

50
Q

ELR

A

Environmental Lapse Rate

51
Q

DALR

A

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

52
Q

SALR

A

Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate

A Level Geog (48 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions