Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

aqa a level geography: physical > the water cycle > Flashcards

the water cycle Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

what are the earths major water stores

A

cryosphere: all parts of earth where its cold enough for water to freeze
lithosphere: the crust and upper parts of the mantle
hydrosphere: all water on earth in all states of matter
atmosphere: layer of gas between the earths surface and space held by gravity
biosphere: includes all living things

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is a cascading system

A

when the outputs of one subsystem are the inputs of another causing energy and matter to move from one subsystem to the next

e.g. the earth is a cascading closed system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

how is saline and fresh water in the hydrosphere distributed?

A
  • 1.4 sextillions litres of water
  • 97% the water is saline ocean water
  • less than 3% is freshwater
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

how is the total 3% of fresh water distributed?

A
  • 69% is frozen in the cryosphere
  • 30% is groundwater- stored in lithosphere
  • 0.3% is liquid freshwater
  • 0.04% is stored as water vapor in the atmosphere
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is evaporation

A

the change in state due to a gain in energy (typically solar radiation) where liquid water becomes gas/water vapor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

how does evaporation effect the magnitude of major water stores on a spacial and temporal scale

A
  • evaporation effect will vary according to season and location which effects solar radiation and water supply.
  • high levels of evaporation will reduce the magnitude of hydrosphere store and increase the magnitude of the atmosphere store.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is condensation

A

the change in state due to a loss in energy to surroundings where water vapour becomes liquid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

how does condensation effect the magnitude of major water stores on a spacial and temporal scale

A
  • condensation will vary according to season and location which effects the supply of water vapor and temperature.
  • high levels of condensation will increase the magnitude of the hydrosphere store and decrease the atmosphere store.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

how does clouds formation affect the magnitude of water stores

A
  • warm air condenses to form water vapor that gathers to form clouds which increases the magnitude of the atmospheric store.
  • when the droplets are big enough they fall as precipitation which increases the magnitude of the hydrosphere store and decreases the atmospheric store
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

how do air masses lead to precipitation

A
  • less dense warm air meets cool air and is forced above it. as the warm air rises it cools
  • this is frontal precipitation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

how does typography lead to precipitation

A
  • warm air meets mountain forcing it to rise and cool

- this is orographic precipitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

how does convection lead to precipitation

A
  • moisture from the ground evaporates and rises in a column of warm air due to the suns heat. as it gets higher it cools
  • this is convective precipitation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

name two cryospheric processes and their effects on the magnitude of water stores

A

accumulation: the input of ice or snow
- increases the magnitude of the cryosphere store

ablation the output of water
-decreases the magnitude of the cryosphere store

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what type of system are drainage basins

A

closed, local hydrological systems where rain falls on land and flows into the river.

boundary=watershed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

name the inputs in drainage basin system

A

precipitation in the form of rain, snow, hail, dew and frost

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

name 5 forms of storage in a drainage system

A
  • interception: precipitation lands on vegetation or other structures
  • surface storage: water in puddles, ponds and lakes
  • soil storage: moisture in soil
  • groundwater storage: water stored in the ground,rocks or soil
  • channel storage: water held in a river or stream channel
17
Q

name 4 flows in a drainage basin system

A
  • stem flow: water running down a plant stem
  • infiltration: water soaking into soil
  • overland flow: water flowing over land
  • channel flow: water flowing in the river
18
Q

name 2 outputs in a drainage basin system

A
  • evapo-transpiration: process of evaporation and transpiration together
  • runoff: the water that enters a river channel flows out of the drainage basin
19
Q

what is water balance

A
  • shows a balance between the inputs and outputs of a system
  • in wet seasons there is more precipitation than evapotranspiration leading to a surplus of water.
  • in dry season there is more evapotranspiration than precipitation leading to a water deficit causing groundwater stores to be depleted.
  • this deficit is recharged in the wet season
20
Q

name the 4 parts of a hydrograph

A
  • lag time: the delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge
  • rising limb: the period of time leading up to peak discharge
  • peak discharge: the point on the graph where river discharge is highest
  • falling limb: the period of time following peak discharge
21
Q

5 things that make a flashy hydrograph

A
  • a steep hydrograph with roughly symmetrical rising and falling limbs typically occurs at basins with:
  • rapid runoff
  • low storage capacity
  • short lag time
  • circular basins = high peak discharge as all points are similar so water reaches point at similar time
22
Q

4 factors affecting run-off and hydrograph shapes

A
  • size of drainage basin
    e. g. large basin catches more water= higher peak discharge
  • shape of the drainage basin:
    e. g. circular basins = high peak discharge
  • steepness of the ground
    e. g.water flows more quickly downhill: short lag time=less infiltration=more run off

-rock and soil type: less infiltration=more run off=higher peak discharge

23
Q

natural factors causing variation in the water cycle

A

storms and precipitation:
-intense storms= more precipitation=increased magnitude of hydrosphere stores

seasonal changes and vegetation:
-size of inputs, flows and storms varies with season

24
Q

name 4 ways human farming practices cause variation in the water cycle

A
  • ploughing causes increased infiltration and decreases run-off
  • crops cause increased infiltration, interception and evapotranspiration which can increase rainfall
  • livestock trampling ground decreases infiltration and increases run-off
  • irrigation can increase run-off if no more water can infiltrate
25
Q

human factors causing variations in the water cycle

land use change

A
  • deforestation decreases interception and infiltration
  • construction decreases infiltration as there are less permeable surfaces
26
Q

human factors causing variations in the water cycle

water abstraction

A

-water stores can be depleted if water is extracted for irritation or to meet the demands of the population

aqa a level geography: physical (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions