L1- Story Of Storing Flashcards
What is in the hydrosphere?
All of the water available on the planet:
- Oceans
- Rivers and lakes
- Rock and soil
- Living things
What states are present in the hydrosphere?
Solid - ice
Liquid - water
Gas - water vapour
What does an aquifer do?
It stores water underground
Define precipitation
Clouds become too heavy/full so water transfers from the atmosphere to the land (rain)
Define evaporation
The process whereby water in a liquid state is transformed into a gas (water vapour) as a result of heat
Define transpiration
The release of water from vegetation through small pores (known as stomata) in the leaves
Define condensation
The process where water in a gas state is changed into a liquid as a result of cooling
Define infiltration
The movement of water into the soil from the surface
Define percolation
The movement of water into the rocks under the soil
What type of system in the hydrological cycle?
A closed system - flows endlessly around the planet
Give an example of a store of water
- ocean
- soil
- ice
Give an example of water being transferred
- infiltration
- percolation
Give an example of water changing state
- condensation
- evaporation
Define surface run-off
Water from rain, snowmelt or other sources that flows over the land surface
Why does surface run-off occur?
The surface doesn’t allow the water to percolate. This is more likely to occur if the ground is saturated with water or the rock is impermeable.
Define evapotranspiration
Water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and transpiration from plants.
What is ground water?
Water held underground in the soil or in the pores/crevices in rocks
What is the water table?
The level below which the ground is saturated with water
What is soil heterogeneity?
Soil consists of many different compounds that are not mixed evenly in the soil and are found in varying amounts:
- humus
- sand particles
- clay particles
- silt particles
- minerals
The way soil varies influences what species of plant grow on it and how well the plant fares
Define river discharge
The volume of water flowing through the river channel. Discharge from the drainage basin depends on the precipitation, evaporation and storage factors.
