the hydrosphere Flashcards
why is water so important?
-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
what are abstractive uses?
-domestic (flushing toilet, food prep, drinking)
-industrial (power stations, chemical plants)
-agriculture (irrigation, livestock)
what are non-abstractive uses?
-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)
what is the hydrological cycle?
-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
what are inputs?
-precipitation=condensation of atmospheric water vapour that falls under gravitational pull from clouds
what are throughflows?
-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
what are outputs?
-evaporation= when liquid water gains enough energy to turn into a gas
-transpiration= movement of water through plants and its evaporation from aerial parts
what are residence times?
-measure of average time a molecule of water spends in an area of the hydrological cycle
what are aquifers?
- underground layer of water-bearing, permeable rock, rock fractures, or consolidated materials
-groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water well
what is metering?
- consumers pay for the volume of water they use
- encourages people to be more conservative with amount of water they use
what is low volume water use?
- low water use appliances
- xeriscaping- planting desert plants that don’t require lots of water
- drop irrigating for crops
what is grey water?
- water that has previously been used and is no longer potable
- can be reused for purposes such as baths, gardening, showers
what is pollution control?
- water is too contaminated and cannot be used as other water sources may get polluted
- effluent treatment processes can treat water
what factors should you consider with reservoirs?
- topography- lay of the land
- geology- impermeable rock needed
- pollution risk
- infrastructure costs
- existing land use and conflict
what is rainwater collection and rivers?
- satisfy growing population
- important as it provides public supplies
- natural contamination not usually a problem
what is aquifer and river regulation?
- 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
what are modern interventions?
- 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
what is the treatment process screening?
-removal of floating objects such as branches and plastic items
-metal grills trap floating objects
what is the treatment process sedimentation?
-removal of suspended solids
-water static
what is the treatment process distillation?
-collection of pure water
-steam produced by boiling is collected and condensed
what is the treatment process flocculations?
-removal of suspended fine clay particles
-neutralises charges
what is the treatment process fluoridation?
-improvement of dental health
-addition of fluorides
what is the treatment process activated carbon filters
-removal of organic chemicals
-contaminants are absorbed onto carbon granules
what is the treatment process ozonation?
-sterilisation
-gas bubbled into the water
what is the treatment process reverse osmosis?
-removal of salt
-water is forced through partially permeable membrane
outline ways in which a reservoir is likely to change the river downstream
-reduced sedimentation load
-sedimentation dropped in reservoir
-temperature fluctuations
outline how aquifer water levels may be maintained without reducing abstraction rates
recharge
