the hydrosphere

Question 1

why is water so important?

Answer 1

-enzymes= suitable for enzyme activity- control all reactions in living organisms. denature at high temps, and at low temps they work slow
-solvent/transport= solvent in blood+sap, allows oxygen,co2,sugars etc. to be transported around plants & animals
-temp control=evaporation of water from skin cools body down
-aquatic habitats=rivers and oceans
-expansion on freezing=ice floats and keeps water underneath warm
-high shc=water warm + cool slowly
-absorb UV radiation=protection to organisms

Question 2

what are abstractive uses?

Answer 2

-domestic (flushing toilet, food prep, drinking)
-industrial (power stations, chemical plants)
-agriculture (irrigation, livestock)

Question 3

what are non-abstractive uses?

Answer 3

-energy (hydroelectric power, cooling system in fossil fuel)
-transport (canals=first mass transport system. sea=still important for cargo)
-recreation (sailing,canoeing, kayaking, boating,fishing)
-conservation (important wetland habitat)

Question 4

what is the hydrological cycle?

Answer 4

-hydrosphere=total volume of water on planet
-includes water on surface,underground, and in air
-planets hydrosphere can be liquid, vapour, or ice
-natural hydrological cycle in state of dynamic equilibrium

Question 5

what are inputs?

Answer 5

-precipitation=condensation of atmospheric water vapour that falls under gravitational pull from clouds

Question 6

what are throughflows?

Answer 6

-interception= during / after precipitation, water that does not reach / is slowed from reaching soil by vegetation
-infiltration= water on ground surface enters by soil
-percolation=water on soil enters rock layer
-groundwater runoff= below water table, movement of water through rocks to a source of water

Question 7

what are outputs?

Answer 7

-evaporation= when liquid water gains enough energy to turn into a gas
-transpiration= movement of water through plants and its evaporation from aerial parts

Question 8

what are residence times?

Answer 8

-measure of average time a molecule of water spends in an area of the hydrological cycle

Question 9

what are aquifers?

Answer 9

• underground layer of water-bearing, permeable rock, rock fractures, or consolidated materials
  -groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water well

Question 10

what is metering?

Answer 10

• consumers pay for the volume of water they use
• encourages people to be more conservative with amount of water they use

Question 11

what is low volume water use?

Answer 11

• low water use appliances
• xeriscaping- planting desert plants that don’t require lots of water
• drop irrigating for crops

Question 12

what is grey water?

Answer 12

• water that has previously been used and is no longer potable
• can be reused for purposes such as baths, gardening, showers

Question 13

what is pollution control?

Answer 13

• water is too contaminated and cannot be used as other water sources may get polluted
• effluent treatment processes can treat water

Question 14

what factors should you consider with reservoirs?

Answer 14

• topography- lay of the land
• geology- impermeable rock needed
• pollution risk
• infrastructure costs
• existing land use and conflict

Question 15

what is rainwater collection and rivers?

Answer 15

• satisfy growing population
• important as it provides public supplies
• natural contamination not usually a problem

Question 16

what is aquifer and river regulation?

Answer 16

• aquifer= water abstracted during dry season. infiltration capacity of surface rocks exceeded. surplus flows into sea.
• river= human activities increase river flow such as deforestation, rivers used to regulate river flow in times of low rainfall

Question 17

what are modern interventions?

Answer 17

• Inter-basin transfers are systems made to transfer water from areas with a water surplus to areas with a water
  shortage
• Unexploited aquifers can increase water supplies in areas such as North Africa

Question 18

what is the treatment process screening?

Answer 18

-removal of floating objects such as branches and plastic items
-metal grills trap floating objects

Question 19

what is the treatment process sedimentation?

Answer 19

-removal of suspended solids
-water static

Question 20

what is the treatment process distillation?

Answer 20

-collection of pure water
-steam produced by boiling is collected and condensed

Question 21

what is the treatment process flocculations?

Answer 21

-removal of suspended fine clay particles
-neutralises charges

Question 22

what is the treatment process fluoridation?

Answer 22

-improvement of dental health
-addition of fluorides

Question 23

what is the treatment process activated carbon filters

Answer 23

-removal of organic chemicals
-contaminants are absorbed onto carbon granules

Question 24

what is the treatment process ozonation?

Answer 24

-sterilisation
-gas bubbled into the water

Question 25

what is the treatment process reverse osmosis?

Answer 25

-removal of salt
-water is forced through partially permeable membrane

Question 26

outline ways in which a reservoir is likely to change the river downstream

Answer 26

-reduced sedimentation load
-sedimentation dropped in reservoir
-temperature fluctuations

Question 27

outline how aquifer water levels may be maintained without reducing abstraction rates

Answer 27

recharge