Key Terms

Question 1

Flow/Transfer

Answer 1

A form of linkage between one store and another that involves movement of mass or energy

Question 2

Input

Answer 2

The addition of matter and/or energy into a system

Question 3

Store

Answer 3

A part of the system where energy/mass is stored or transformed

Question 4

System

Answer 4

A set of interrelated components working together towards some kind of process

Question 5

Cryospheric water

Answer 5

The water locked up on the Earth’s surface as ice

Question 6

Terrestrial water

Answer 6

Consists of groundwater, soil moisture, lakes, wetlands and rivers

Question 7

Cryospheric processes

Answer 7

Processes that affect the total mass of ice at any scale from local patches of frozen ground to global ice amounts

Question 8

Groundwater flow

Answer 8

The slow movement of water through underlying rocks

Question 9

Percolation

Answer 9

The downward movement of water within the rock underneath the soil surface

Question 10

Stemflow

Answer 10

The portion of precipitation intercepted by the canopy that reaches the ground by flowing down stems, stalks or tree bole

Question 11

Through fall

Answer 11

Precipitation that reaches the ground directly through gaps in the vegetation canopy and drips from leaves, twigs and stems

Question 12

Through flow

Answer 12

The movement of water down-slope through he subsoil under the influence of gravity

Question 13

Base flow

Answer 13

The normal day-to-day discharge of the river and is a consequence of slow moving soil through flow and groundwater seeping into the river channel

Question 14

Anthropogenic

Answer 14

CO2 generated by human activity

Question 15

Biosphere

Answer 15

The total sum of all living matter

Question 16

Carbon sequestration

Answer 16

The capture of carbon dioxide

Once captured it is put into long term storage

Question 17

Carbon sink

Answer 17

A store of carbon that absorbs more carbon than it releases

Question 18

Greenhouse gas

Answer 18

Any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, thereby trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere

Question 19

Lithosphere

Answer 19

The crust and the uppermost mantle

Question 20

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 20

The impact on the climate from the additional heat retained due to the increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that humans have released into the atmosphere

Question 21

Geo-sequestration

Answer 21

The technology of capturing greenhouse gas emissions from power stations and pumping them into underground reservoirs

Question 22

Radiative forcing

Answer 22

The difference between the incoming solar energy absorbed by the Earth and energy radiated back into space

Question 23

Soil organic carbon (SOC)

Answer 23

The organic constituents in the soil: tissues from the dead plants and animals, products produced as these decompose and the soil microbial biomass