The global hydrological cycle

Question 1

Global hydrological cycle:

• (1) system driven by (2) and (3) potential energy
• Made up of stores, flows, input and outputs
• Relative (4), size of stores and (5) can change over time

Answer 1

1 - closed 
2 - solar 
3 - gravitational 
4 - importance 
5 - fluxes

Question 2

Global hydrological cycle:

• Water on earth is constant and (1)
• Water in the system can change (2) and storage but can’t leave the (3) nor can it be (4)

Answer 2

1 - finite
2 - form
3 - hydrosphere
4 - added

Question 3

Define ‘hydrosphere’

Answer 3

The combined mass of water below, on and above the Earth’s surface

Question 4

Define store, flux and processes

Answer 4

S - where water is held
F - Speed of water movement
P - Ways water moves

Question 5

Name some stores

Answer 5

Atmosphere, Lakes, Ice, Plants and Soil, Ocean and Rocks

Question 6

Define ‘residence time’

Answer 6

Average duration a water molecule will remain in a store

Question 7

Why is a long turnover in a store a bad thing?

Answer 7

More vulnerable to pollution

Question 8

What is the problem with soil acting as a store?

Answer 8

Easily accessible and so can be quickly lost to other stores which is a problem for agriculture and farming

Question 9

What store has the longest residence time?

Answer 9

Atmospheric water

Question 10

Name two global extremes

Answer 10

Polar hydrology and Tropical Rainforest Hydrology

Question 11

Polar hydrology:

• Snow reflects (1)% of solar radiation
• (2) stores are impermeable
• In the summer, processes are; (3)
• Less than (4)mm of annual precipitation

Answer 11

1 - 85
2 - Permafrost
3 - run off and evaporation
4 - 200

Question 12

Describe seasonal thaws in the polar hydrology

Answer 12

Seasonal thaws increases surface saturation and thinning permafrost, if this is continuous then the water melts and cryosphere is lost

Question 13

Tropical Rainforest hydrology:

• Few seasonal (1)
• (2)% evaporation
• (3) rainfall and high humidity
• More than (4)mm annual precipitation
• E.g. of a cold desert is (5)

Answer 13

1 - changes 
2 - 50-75
3 - convectional 
4 - 200
5 - Antarctica

Question 14

Describe biospheric water

Answer 14

Remains in a body for 1 week

Question 15

Ice and snow:

• (1)% freshwater
• (2)% total water
• Lasts (3) years depending on size

Answer 15

1 - 69
2 - 2
3 - 15,000

Question 16

Soil moisture:

• (1)% freshwater
• (2)% total water store
• Lasts (3) weeks

Answer 16

1 - 0.05
2 - 0.01
3 - 2-50

Question 17

Underground water:

• (1)% freshwater
• (2)% total water stored
• Lasts (3) years if it’s shallow or (4) if it’s deep
• Ancient groundwater aka (5) is not renewable or accessible for human use

Answer 17

1 - 31
2 - 1
3 - 100-200
4 - up to 10,000
5 - fossil water

Question 18

Define ‘blue water’

Answer 18

Water that is visible in the hydrological cycle

Question 19

Define ‘green water’

Answer 19

Water that’s invisible in the hydrological cycle e.g. soil and vegetation

Question 20

Oceans:

• (1)% freshwater
• (2)% of total water
• (3) residence time

Answer 20

1 - 0
2 - 97
3 - 3,600

Question 21

Lakes and rivers:

• (1)% freshwater
• (2)% total water
• (3) residence time depending on size

Answer 21

1 - 1
2 - 0.01
3 - 2 weeks to 50 years

Question 22

Atmosphere:

• (1)% freshwater
• (2)% total water
• (3) residence time

Answer 22

1 - 0.04
2 - 0.001
3 - 10 days

Question 23

What is the carrying capacity of the atmosphere dependent on?

Answer 23

Temperature of the clouds and density of water e.g. vapour or ice crystals - precursor to rain

Question 24

The agricultural sector is the largest user of freshwater, describe the global distribution of countries using the most and least freshwater for farming

Answer 24

79-100% - North Africa (Not Nigeria) and South West Asia
63-79% - Australia, China, Mexico, South of Africa and Argentina
47-63% - Nigeria, Brazil, Mongolia
31-47% - USA, Alaska, Columbia and Venezuela
0-31% - Europe, Russia, Greenland, Canada

Question 25

How much of the Earth’s water is accessible for human use?

Answer 25

1%