The Water Cycle

Question 1

Factors driving change in the magnitude of water stores

Answer 1

-Rates of evaporation
-Condensation
-Precipitation/rainfall/drought
-Cryospheric processes

Question 2

Evaporation in the water cycle

Answer 2

-Involves turning a liquid into a gas
-Eg. When energy from the sun hits a body of water.
-These rates can depend on solar energy, humidity and temperature of the air surrounding.

Question 3

Condensation in the water cycle

Answer 3

-The conversion of a vapour or gas in the atmosphere to a liquid
-Air is cooled and converted into droplets which then fall on the ground and either flow into the hydrosphere or infiltrate into the lithosphere.

Question 4

Precipitation/rainfall/drought- how does it affect the magnitude of water stores?

Answer 4

-Precipitation/rainfall/drought can affect the levels of relative stores of water in the short term
-This is the main input into drainage basin systems

Question 5

Cryospheric processes

Answer 5

-Cryospheric processes and fluctuations involve levels of water held within ice and snow
-This is one of the largest stores
-Increasing levels of ice melt have slowly depleted these supplies, usually melting into the hydrosphere.