Term 1-the water cycle Flashcards
what is atmospheric water
found in the atmosphere
mainly water vapour with some liquid water and ice crystals.
what is cryospheric water
water locked up on earth’s surface as ice
what is discharge
the amount of water in a river flowing past a particular point
what is a greenhouse gas
any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that allows short wave UV radiation from the sun to pass through the atmosphere but then prevents outgoing terrestrial infrared radiation from escaping to space
what is the hydrosphere
discontinuous layer of water at or near the earth’s surface.
it includes all liquid and frozen surface waters,groundwater held in soil and rock and atmospheric water vapour.
what is oceanic water
water contained in earths oceans and seas but not inland seas
what is a system
made up of interrelated stores or components that work together towards a process
what is an isolated system
no interactions with anything outside of the system boundary.
no input or output of energy or matter
what is a closed system
transfers of energy both into and beyond the system boundary but not transfer of matter
what is an open system
where matter and energy can be transferred from the system across the boundary into the surrounding environment
what is positive feedback
where the effects of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent knock-on or secondary effects
what is negative feedback
where the effects of an action are nullified by its subsequent knock-on effects
what is terrestrial water
consists of groundwater,soil moisture,lakes,wetlands and rivers
what is the cryosphere
where water is in solid form on earth’s surface
locations:
sea ice
ice caps
ice sheets
alpine glaciers
permafrost
what are ice shelves
platforms of ice that form where ice sheets and glaciers move out into the oceans
