The Water Cycle Flashcards

1
Q

What is the global hydrological cycle?

A

A closed system where water moves between stores (oceans, ice, lakes, atmosphere) through processes like evaporation, precipitation, and runoff.

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2
Q

What are the 4 major global water stores?

A

• Oceans (96.5%)
• Cryosphere (Glaciers/Ice caps - 68.8% of freshwater)
• Groundwater (30% of freshwater)
• Surface Water (1.2% of freshwater)

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3
Q

What are the 7 key processes in the water cycle?

A

Precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, percolation, runoff, and condensation.

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4
Q

Why is a drainage basin an open system?

A

It consists of inputs, storage, transfers and outputs in which water can leave the system and new water can enter through precipitation

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5
Q

What are the 3 main types of precipitation affecting drainage basins?

A

• Orographic: Air rises over mountains, cools, and rains.
• Frontal: Warm and cold air masses meet, causing rain.
• Convectional: Heat causes rising moist air, leading to rain.

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6
Q

What are the 3 outputs in a drainage basin?

A

Evaporation, transpiration, and channel flow.

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7
Q

What are the 6 key flows in a drainage basin?

A

Infiltration, interception, surface runoff, throughflow, percolation, groundwater flow.

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8
Q

What is the water balance equation?

A

P = Q + E ± S, where
• P = Precipitation
• Q = Discharge
• E = Evapotranspiration
• S = Changes in storage

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9
Q

What 5 factors affect the water budget?

A

Climate, seasonal variations, deforestation, irrigation & dam construction

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10
Q

What 4 human factors increase flood risk?

A

• Deforestation: Less interception, more surface runoff.
• Urbanisation: Impermeable surfaces increase runoff.
• Agriculture: Soil erosion reduces river capacity.
• Poor River Management: Hard engineering can worsen flooding.

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11
Q

What 4 physical factors increase flood risk?

A

• Heavy rainfall & storms
• Snowmelt
• Monsoon seasons
• ENSO cycles (La Niña brings heavy rain)

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12
Q

What is a storm hydrograph?

A

A graph showing changes in river discharge after a storm event.

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13
Q

What 4 factors create a flashy hydrograph and why?

A

What creates it:
Short lag time, high peak discharge, steep rising and falling limbs

Why?
steep slopes, impermeable rock, deforestation, and urbanisation.

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14
Q

What 2 factors create a subdued hydrograph and why?

A

Factors:
Long lag time, low peak discharge

Why?
gentle slopes, permeable soil, dense vegetation.

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15
Q

What defines water stress vs water scarcity?

A

• Water Stress: < 1,700m³ water per person per year.
• Water Scarcity: < 1,000m³ water per person per year.

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16
Q

What 2 physical factors cause water insecurity?

A

• Climate variability: Uneven rainfall distribution (e.g., Sahel vs. Amazon).
• Saltwater intrusion: Rising sea levels contaminate freshwater (e.g., Tuvalu).

17
Q

What 3 human factors cause water insecurity?

A

• Agricultural pollution (fertiliser runoff).
• Over-abstraction of aquifers (e.g., Coca-Cola in India).
• Industrial pollution (mining waste, untreated sewage).

18
Q

What are the 4 types of drought?

A
  1. Meteorological: Less rainfall than normal.
  2. Agricultural: Soil moisture deficit affecting crops.
  3. Hydrological: Reduced river & reservoir levels.
  4. Socio-economic: Demand exceeds supply for industry & society.
19
Q

How does El Niño cause drought?

A

Weak trade winds move warm water to South America, causing heavy rain there but dry conditions in Australia & SE Asia.

20
Q

How does La Niña affect rainfall?

A

Increased rainfall in Australia & SE Asia but drier conditions in South America.

21
Q

What is a water budget?

A

The balance between the water evaporated from the ocean & precipitated on the land

22
Q

What is water insecurity?

A

When a population doesn’t have access to enough safe water to meet their demands

23
Q

What is water insecurity?

A

When a population doesn’t have access to enough safe water to meet their demands