Summary WS

Question 1

What is a hydrograph?

Answer 1

Graphs showing river discharge over time, particularly during and after rainfall events.

Question 2

Components of a hydrograph

Answer 2

• Rising limb (increase in discharge)
• Peak discharge
• Falling limb (decrease in discharge).

Question 3

Uses of a hydrograph

Answer 3

Assessing flood risk, understanding river behavior.

Question 4

Climate factors affecting the water cycle

Answer 4

Temperature, precipitation patterns, humidity influence evaporation and precipitation rates.

Question 5

Major stores

Answer 5

Cryosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere

Question 6

Water cycle & affect of ice age

Answer 6

• Milankovitch cycle
• Glaciation (every 100,000 years)

Question 7

What is a water budget?

Answer 7

A model which balances the inputs, outputs, and storage of water in a system. Shows surplus and deficits of water stores and the variation between evapotranspiration and precipitation

Question 8

Human activities affecting water cycle

Answer 8

Deforestation, urbanization, irrigation alter infiltration, runoff, and evapotranspiration rates.

Question 9

Land use change examples

Answer 9

Agriculture, urban development impact surface runoff and infiltration rates.

Question 10

What is a river regime?

Answer 10

Seasonal variation in discharge and velocity of a river.

Question 11

Influencing factors of a river regime

Answer 11

Precipitation patterns, temperature, drainage basin characteristics.

Question 12

Impacts on river regime

Answer 12

Floods, droughts, erosion, sediment transport.

Question 13

Water balance equation

Answer 13

Inputs = Outputs ± Changes in Storage.

Question 14

Factors affecting water balance

Answer 14

Precipitation patterns, temperature, land use changes, human activities (irrigation, deforestation).

Question 15

River regime influencing factors

Answer 15

Precipitation patterns, temperature, drainage basin characteristics.

Question 16

Impacts if river regime

Answer 16

Floods, droughts, erosion, sediment transport.

Question 17

Inputs of a drainage basin

Answer 17

• Precipitation
• Groundwater flow
• Surface runoff

Question 18

Outputs if a drainage basin

Answer 18

River discharge, evaporation, percolation, outflow to other drainage basins

Question 19

Processes of a drainage basin

Answer 19

Precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, evaporation, transpiration, groundwater flow.

Question 20

Water cycle stores

Answer 20

Oceans, ice caps, groundwater, rivers/lakes, soil moisture, atmospheric moisture.

Question 21

Water cycle resident times

Answer 21

Vary greatly from weeks to thousands of years, influencing the water cycle dynamics.

Question 22

Oceanic water dominance

Answer 22

Covers 72% of Earth’s surface, containing dissolved salts making it alkaline.

Question 23

Oceanic water attributes

Answer 23

Salinity, pH of 8.14, becoming more acidic due to increased atmospheric carbon.

Question 24

Cryospheric water dominance

Answer 24

1.9%

Question 25

Terrestrial Water

Answer 25

1.1%

Question 26

Significance of terrestrial water

Answer 26

Crucial for various ecological, hydrological, and biological processes.

Question 27

Terrestrial water categories

Answer 27

Surface water, groundwater, soil water, biological water.

Question 28

Atmospheric water dominance

Answer 28

0.001%

Question 29

Atmospheric water résidence time

Answer 29

10 days

Question 30

Terrestrial water résidence time

Answer 30

10,000 years

Question 31

Roles of atmospheric water

Answer 31

Absorbs, reflects, and scatters solar radiation; influences temperature and humidity.

Question 32

Cryospheric water locations

Answer 32

Sea ice, ice caps, ice sheets, alpine glaciers, permafrost.

Question 33

Cryospheric water attributes

Answer 33

Various forms of frozen water with different implications for sea level rise when melted.

Question 34

Hill slope water cycle natural factors

Answer 34

Intense precipitation and seasonal variations impact water cycle dynamics.

Question 35

Hillslipe water cycle influences

Answer 35

Deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural practices alter water movement.

Question 36

Impacts of human & natural changes

Answer 36

Alterations in inputs, transfers, or stores—via deforestation or drought—affect water movement within the basin.

Question 37

Cloud formation is controlled by

Answer 37

Amount of condensation nuclei present, temperature, high temperatures & global atmospheric circulation

Question 38

Relief as a factor

Answer 38

Water reaches the river channels more quickly in a steep sided upland river basin compared to a gentle sloping river basin. So, surface runoff is increased.

Question 39

Vegetation type/density

Answer 39

More vegetation = More interception, vegetation storage, stem flow, throughfall, transpiration and evaporation. With less surface runoff. Deciduous trees have more leaves in the summer but coniferous always have vegetation.

Question 40

Geology

Answer 40

Permeable rocks like limestone allow water to infiltrate into the soil and percolates into rocks which reduces surface runoff as throughfall, and groundwater flow are relatively slow.
Impermeable rocks like granite have higher drainage densities meaning that precipitation will reach a river very quickly causing a rapid increase in discharge.