System and Mass Balance (1)

Question 1

Attributes

Answer 1

The characteristics of the elements (eg hot/cold)

Question 2

Relationships

Answer 2

A link between one store or component and another; along which something moves

Question 3

Store / component

Answer 3

A part of the system where something is held for a period of time

Question 4

Input

Answer 4

A point where something is added to the system

Question 5

Elements

Answer 5

Things that make up the system

Question 6

System boundary

Answer 6

The edge of the system; the interface (line) between one system and another

Question 7

Output

Answer 7

A point where something is removed from the system

Question 8

Flow/transfer

Answer 8

Descriptions of how the various elements work together to carry out a process

Question 9

What’s an open system?

Answer 9

A system in which both mass and energy are allowed to transfer across system boundary. There may be a flow of matter as well as energy into or out of the system

Question 10

What’s a closed system?

Answer 10

A system in which mass and energy are NOT allowed to transfer across system boundary. There are no external inputs or outputs. So, the system’s mass balance does not change over time.

Question 11

Cryosphere

Answer 11

areas of the earth where water is frozen into snow or ice (includes ice sheets/ ice caps/ alpine glaciers / sea ice / permafrost)

Question 12

Define ‘Dynamic Equilibrium’

Answer 12

Tendency towards a natural state of balance within a constantly changing system

Question 13

Define ‘feedback’

Answer 13

when one element changes without a corresponding change - stores change and the equilibrium is upset

Question 14

Define ‘positive feedback’

Answer 14

effects of an action are AMPLIFIED by the initial change

Question 15

what’s permafrost

Answer 15

Permafrost is ground that continuously remains below 0° for 2+ years. Land or sea

Question 16

Define ‘negative feedback’

Answer 16

Where the effects of an action are NULLIFIED by the initial change

Question 17

Global scale of mass balance

Answer 17

At a global scale, mass balance means that the total amount of water is always conserved (although changes can occur in where it’s stored/ where it accumulates)

Question 18

Local scale of mass balance

Answer 18

At a local (drainage basin) scale, system inputs = outputs, plus or minus any changes in store (or accumulation)

Question 19

What is ‘blue water’

Answer 19

the visible part of the hydrological cycle (eg rivers, lakes). Water can also be stored in vegetation after interception or beneath the surface in the soil

Question 20

What is ‘green water’

Answer 20

Water stored in the soil and in vegetation is known as ‘green water’; the invisible part of the hydrological cycle

Question 21

Define ‘accumulation’

Answer 21

The build-up of snow and ice which takes place in the cryosphere

Question 22

Define ‘ablation’

Answer 22

Ablation is the change from solid ice to liquid/water vapour when temperature rises above 0°.

This wastage of surface snow or ice is achieved by melting and evaporation

Question 23

Define ‘ablation’

Answer 23

Ablation is the change from solid ice to liquid/water vapour when temperature rises above 0°.

This wastage of surface snow or ice is achieved by melting and evaporation

Question 24

What is sublimation

Answer 24

Sublimation is the change from ice to vapour

Question 25

What is the steady-state equilibrium?

Answer 25

The balance between ablation and accumulatation, which is usually maintained from year to year.

(This means that the system maintains balance when viewed over the longer term, despite any imbalances between inputs and outputs that exist for particular months or times of the year. Eg Arctic sea pack ice is reduced by 50% during summer, before reforming each winter)

Question 26

What is the steady-state equilibrium?

Answer 26

The balance between ablation and accumulatation, which is usually maintained from year to year.

(This means that the system maintains balance when viewed over the longer term, despite any imbalances between inputs and outputs that exist for particular months or times of the year. Eg Arctic sea pack ice is reduced by 50% during summer, before reforming each winter)

Question 27

Define ‘anthropogenic’

Answer 27

Human-induced

Question 28

define ‘pedosphere’

Answer 28

soil layer that contains organic carbon as soil bacteria and remains of plants, and non-organic carbon from infiltration by acidic rain

Question 29

Define ‘net balance’

Answer 29

difference between the total accumulation and total ablation during 1 year