Physical Geography Flashcards
Give some general examples of inputs.
Precipitation, leaf fall during the autumn and seeds carried by the wind and birds.
Give some general examples of stores.
Water, soil and plants.
Give some general examples of outputs.
Water soaking through soil and rocks, evaporation and seed dispersal.
Give some general examples of flows/transfers.
Photosynthesis, infiltration and transpiration.
Give an example of an input of the drainage basin.
Precipitation.
Give an example of an output in the drainage basin.
Runoff.
Give an example of energy in the drainage basin.
Latent heat associated with changes in the state of water.
Give an example of stores in the drainage basin.
Trees, puddles and soil.
Give an example of flows in the drainage basin.
Infiltration, groundwater flow and evaporation.
Define a positive feedback loop.
A cyclical sequence of events that amplifies change. They exacerbate the outputs of the system driving it in one direction.
Define a negative feedback loop.
A cyclical sequence of events that nullifies the effects of a system promoting stability and a state of dynamic equilibrium.
Give an example of a positive feedback loop in the carbon cycle.
Increased temperatures due to climate changes causing the melt of permafrost. This traps greenhouse are released enhancing the greenhouse effect raising temperatures further.
Give an example of a negative feedback loop in the carbon cycle.
Increased atmospheric CO2 leads to increased temperatures promoting plant growth and rates of photosynthesis. This removes more CO2 from the air counteracting the rise in temperature.
Give an example of a positive feedback loop in the water cycle.
Because of climate change, higher temperatures means atmosphere can hold water vapour. More cloud and precipitation. Water vapour is a GHG - in turn trapping solar radiation.
Give an example of a negative feedback loop in the water cycle.
Increased cloud cover means more reflection of incoming solar radiation by clouds back into the atmosphere. Works to counter change.
Give an example of a positive feedback loop in the drainage basin.
Rising sea levels (thermal expansion and melting freshwater ice) can destabilise ice shelves increasing the rate of calving(when chunks of ice break off at the terminus, or end, of a glacier). This leads to an increase in melting, causing sea levels to rise further.
Give an example of a negative feedback loop in the drainage basin.
Increased surface temperatures lead to an increase in evaporation from the oceans. This leads to more cloud cover. Clouds reflect radiation from the sun, resulting in a slight cooling of surfaces.
What % of the earth’s water is saline water?
97.5%
What % of the earths water is freshwater?
2.5%
What % of the earths water is surface water/other freshwater?
1.2%
What % of the earths water is snow and ice?
68.7%
What % of the earths water is groundwater?
30.1%
What are the major systems in the water cycle?
Lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and the atmosphere.
