Physical (Soil moisture budget and systems) Flashcards
What is an isolated system
No input or output of energy or matter
What is a closed system
Input, transfer and output of energy but not of matter or mass
What is an open system
Inputs and outputs of both energy and matter
What happens if both inputs and outputs are balanced
The system is in a state of dynamic equilibrium
What are feedback loops
Deviations in inputs and outputs move systems away from their balanced state
What are negative feedback loops
Changes are met with responses that redress the imbalance and lead the system back towards the original state
What are positive feedback loops
One change triggers another change and the system appears unable to find redress
What is soil moisture surplus (in a soil moisture budget graph)
Soil water is full which gives a surplus of soul moisture for plants and runoff into streams
What is soul moisture use (in a soil moisture budget graph)
Plants rely on stored water which is gradually used up
What is soil moisture deficiency (in a soil moisture budget graph)
Plants must have adaptations to survive for long periods or land must be irrigated
What is soil moisture recharge (in a soil moisture budget graph)
The soil water starts to be recharged
What happens when field capacity has been reached (in a soil moisture budget graph)
The soil water is now full
What is soil moisture budget
The balance between the water inputs and water outputs
Drainage basin
Catchment area where a river obtains its water
What are the 5 stages of a soil moisture graph (in order)
Surplus, use, deficiency, recharge, field capacity
