The water cycle Flashcards

1
Q

What is the drainage basin?

A

An area of land which is drained by a river and its tributaries.

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2
Q

What is the drainage basin system?

A

The movement of water within the drainage basin.

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3
Q

Is the drainage basin an open or closed system?

A

Open, inputs (precipitation), outputs (runoff, evapotranspiration)

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4
Q

Describe groundwater flow and its role in the drainage basin system

A

Feeds rivers through their banks and beds.

Slow transfer, therefore, keeps the river running during dry periods.

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5
Q

Describe the role of precipitation and how it is transferred in the drainage basin

A

Input to the system.
Infiltrates through vegetation.
When it reaches the ground it’s stored as overland flow (puddles), or is infiltrated into the soil.

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6
Q

What effects the rate of infiltration?

A

Saturated soils have a lower infiltration capacity.

Trees encourage infiltration at the roots.

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7
Q

What is overland flow and where is it common?

A

When water is unable to infiltrate through the soil it runs over the surface.
Common in urban areas due to impermeable surfaces,

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8
Q

Describe how different soils affect throughflow.

A

Sandy soils - absorb and transfer
Clay - slow drainage rate
If bedrock is impermeable there is no more downward movement.

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9
Q

What causes variations in runoff?

A

Soil saturation, rock type, vegetation cover
Intensity of precipitation.
Time of year; effects rates of evapotranspiration and vegetation growth

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10
Q

Give some examples of the stores in the water cycle

A

vegetation, interception, groundwater, surface water, soil

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11
Q

Give some examples of flows in the water cycle

A

overland flow, infiltration, stem flow, channel flow

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12
Q

Where is most of the earths water stored?

A

Oceans, in the hydrosphere

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13
Q

Explain evaporation and condensation

A

Evaporation - liquid to gas

Condensation - gas to liquid

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14
Q

What is the equation for the water balance?

A

Precipitation = total runoff + evaporation +/- storage

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15
Q

Name some characteristics of the water cycle seen in the rainforest

A
  • High levels of precipitation due to high humidity
  • 75% of rainfall intercepted
  • 25% evaporated
  • Of the remaining 75% ;
    50% used by plants/evapotranspiration
    50% infiltrated
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16
Q

Name some impacts of human activity on the water cycle in the rainforest

A
  • Atmosphere less humid, less evapotranspiration
  • Soil is compacted by direct rainfall, increases runoff
  • Soil is exposed to sun, vulnerable to erosion
  • Less interception, less evapotranspiration off leaves
17
Q

Explain how natural variations affect changes in the water cycle

A

Extreme weather conditions (severe storms or periods of dorughts)

18
Q

Name some human activities which affect change in the water cycle

A
  • Land use changes
  • Farming practices
  • Water abstraction
19
Q

Explain how change in land use affects the water cycle

A
  • Urbanisation: replaces vegetation with impermeable surfaces, reducing infiltration and increasing runoff. Soil storage and groundwater stores reduced
  • Deforestation: removal of trees leading to surface runoff and soil erosion (less interception and infiltration)
20
Q

Explain how farming practices affect the water cycle

A

Soils covered with vegetation have higher infiltration rates and can hold more water
Desertification reduces soil storage capacity

21
Q

Explain how water abstraction affects the water cycle

A

Abstraction of water from rivers or aquifers
Aquifers can become depleted and contaminated by inflowing saltwater
Irrigation and land drainage

22
Q

Name some processes which change the magnitude of the water cycle stores

A
  • Precipitation
  • Evaporation
  • Condensation
  • Infiltration
  • Interception
23
Q

Name some processes of change at a local level

A
  • Deforestation
  • Urbanisation
  • Farming
  • Storms
  • Seasonal changes
24
Q

What is water surplus and what does it cause

A

Precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration
River levels rise
More runoff and discharge

25
What is water deficit and what does it cause
Evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation | Groundwater depletion
26
How to cryospheric process change the magnitude of water stores
- Snow falling on glaciers is compacted and enters long term storage, forming glacier layers - Climate change has disturbed the melting and freezing equilibrium, pushes it out of balance
27
Name the main stores of the water cycle:
Lithosphere Hydrosphere Cryosphere Atmosphere
28
Give the percentages for water stores globally:
97. 5% saline water, stored in oceans | 2. 5% freshwater, stored as snow and ice (70%) and groundwater (30%)
29
Describe how clouds are formed:
At the equator - High temperatures cause high rates of evaporation, the warm air rises, cools and condense to form clouds and heavy rainfall In the mid latitudes - Warm air from the Tropics meets cool air from the Arctic, causing air to rise and form into clouds Strong winds drive these weather systems across the mid latitudes
30
What is the flood hydrograph + describe its features?
A graph showing the discharge of a river following a particular storm event Peak discharge, peak rainfall, lag time (time between peak discharge and peak rainfall)
31
What does a steep hydrograph show?
Steep slopes Small basin size Land is mainly urbanised Soils are saturated
32
What does a shallow hydrograph show?
Permeable rocks Forest type land - increases interception Dry soil Gentle slopes