Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

geog the water cycle > the water cycle > Flashcards

the water cycle Flashcards

1
Q

what main types of energy drive the hydrological cycle?

A

gravitational potential and solar energy

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

what is it known as a closed cycle?

A

there are no inputs from outside the atmosphere, and nothing is lost. The system is ongoing

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

name all the surface winds

A

-the north east trade winds
-the south east trade winds
-south westerlies
-north westerlies
-polar easterlies
polar westerlies

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

what is the annual av. position of the ITCZ and why is the av. temp in the northern hemisphere greater?

A

Av. position is 10 degrees N, and it is warmer because there is a greater cover of land mass

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

what causes the ITCZ to move northwards seasonally

A
  • when the sun is directly over the tropic of cancer, the ITCZ shifts northwards
  • this is monsoon season for northern areas e.g. India
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

in what regions are frontal depressions common?

A
  • areas in the mid latitude zone
  • between the hadley and ferrell cells
  • UK is in a mid latitude zone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

why so depressions lose intensity as they move from west-east?

A

-they lose moisture

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

what is a characteristic of the isobars of a depression?

A

-isobars are packed closely together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

give some examples of non-renewable water stores

A

fossil water
-untapped, freshwater supplies found underground, sometimes have been stored there for thousands of years e.g. Kenyas Lotikpi aquifer
The Cryosphere
-stores about 2/3 of the worlds fresh water ,as global temps increase, more is being released as meltwater and via sublimation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

why is the water balance equation important

A

-it helps hydrologists understand what makes different drainage basins unique, help plan for future events and uncertainties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

describe polar hydrology

A
  • low humidity, characterised by orographic and frontal precipitation
  • freeze/thaw seasonal differences
  • permafrost- impermeable ground surfaces
  • little vegetation- characterised by tundra environments, low shrubs–> reduces heat absorption by vegetation
  • albedo- solar radiation reflected by snow and ice
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

describe tropical hydrology

A
  • characterised by convectional rainfall
  • high humidity
  • dense vegetation- solar radiation absorbed by vegetation
  • water is recycled within system
  • limited surface storage
  • air cooled by evapotransiration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

give an example of an open system within the hydrological cycle

A
  • drainage basins
  • they can lose more water than is put in by: evaporation and evapotranspiration, infiltration into groundwater stores, surface runoff
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

give an example of overabstaction

A
  • London, Thames
  • home to over 13 million
  • one of the driest areas in the UK
  • basin under pressure because of rising demand
  • over abstraction has led to a fall in the water table
  • could lead to rivers running dry during low rainfall
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what are the differences between a simple river regime and a complex river regime?

A

simple regime- e.g. rivers were inputs depend on meltwater- periods of high discharge followed by low discharge
complex regime- were larger rivers cross several different relief and climatic zones- e.g. the ganges

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

give some examples of sustainable drainage systems

A
  • green roofs
  • permeable pavements- gaps between pavement slabs
  • rainwater harvesting- collect rainwater, recycle
  • wetlands- natural water storage e.g. red rocks in west kirby
  • filter drains- channels designed to take runoff away
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

why is rainfall in brazil usually predictable and why has deforestation in brazil increased

A
  • moist air moves from the south Atlantic across the amazon basin, when it meets the Andes, it is forced southwards, maintaining the flow of moisture around the basin
  • deforestation in the region has increased becuase of the promotion of economic development in Brazil
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

give points about the drought in brazil, 2014-2015

A
  • highpressure system, diverted rain bearing winds further northwards than usual
  • high pressure system remained over brazil
  • led to street riots in Sao Paulo- Brazils largest city
  • water rationing for 4 million people- water was cut off for 3 days a week in some areas
  • halting of HEP led to powercuts
  • depletion of Brazils 17 largest reservoirs- some to less than 1% capacity
  • reduction in Arabica coffee beans- led to a global rise in prices by 50%
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

give a case study of the bele monte dam

A
  • proposed dam- one of the largest in the world, consist of 3 dams
  • the Xingu river basin- sustains lives of over 25,000 indigenous people
  • will divert almost all the water from the big bend
  • forced rural-urban migration–> increased competition for jobs. migrant workers that move in for construction are more likely to lose their jobs once the dam is built
  • atleast 10 species are unique to the big bend- extinction of species like the plant eating pirana
  • deforestation linked to construction- loss of habitats e.g. the white cheeked spider monkey
  • pathways for migratory fish disrupted- loss of breeding grounds
  • majority of the energy produced will sustain dirty industries e.g. aluminium mining- more deforestation
  • stagnant water left by the big bend- breeding ground for mosquitos- malaria
  • decomposing material when areas are flooded- greenhouse gases released
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what is the oceanic nino index

A
  • monitors warm and cool periods in the pacific ocean
  • uses satellite imaging to monitor sea surface temp
  • attempts to predict El Nino events, reduce impacts by preperation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

-example of El Nino events effecting Australia and Peru

A

Peru, 1982-1983
-one of the most severe El Nino events on record
-precipitation was 300x more than average over a 6 month period
-flooding caused destruction of infrastructure and to farmland
-huge epidemic of malaria
Australia, 1982-1983
-worst ever drought- $2,000 mil lost in agriculture
-bushfires and dust storm were a huge issue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

explain the variability of rainfall in the Sahel

A
  • the sahel in drought sensitive- located in a transitional climatic zone
  • annual rainfall is concentrated during the summer months
  • areas of sahel, some of the poorest in the world
  • deforestation and overgrazing- largely by nomadic population, for fuelwood
  • decreased vegetation cover, soil exposed to wind and rain, soil erosion, increased evaporation, salination, desertification
  • population doubles every 20-30 years
  • air pollution in the also a cause of drought- pollution changes global heat budget and atmospheric circulation
  • natural dry land ecosystems being converted into land for agriculture
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

give a definition of drought

A

-shortfalls of precipitation as a result short terms variability in the long term average, as shown in many semi-arid and arid areas like the sahel.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what is meteorological drought

A

-rainfall deficiency from meterological drought leads to deficiency of soil moisture and soil availability

25
Q

what is hydrological drought

A

-associated with reduced stream flow and groundwater levels, which reduces because of a decrease in inputs and high rates of evaporation

26
Q

what is famine drought

A

-a humanitarian crisis- widespread failure of agriculural systems leads to food shortages and famines with severe social, environmental and economic impacts

27
Q

what is agricultural drought

A

-when water demand e.g. for irrigation exceeds availability

28
Q

why is australia so prone to drought

A
  • climate dominated by sub-tropic high pressure belt of the southern hemisphere
  • causes of droughts vary
  • most are linked with el nino
  • e.g. the big dry, effected over half of austalias farmland
29
Q

give a case study overview of storm desmond

A

-effected cumbria and lancashire in 2015
worst flooding event to hit the UK
-£500 mil damage across cumbria
-flooding worsened by already saturated grounds
-5,200 homes flooded
-roads closed, local railway closed down
-many schools closed
-61,000 experienced powercut due to the flooding of a substation
-erosion of land led to landslides- a landslide on the westcoast
-in cockermouth, water covered the streets
-cockermouth was supposed to have been made safe with flood defences that had been put in after a flood in 2006- dissappointment of citizens. Investment from local gov not particularly effective
-bridges enhanced damage- can cause floodwater to spread laterally. Iceland has bridges that are designed to break e.g. in a jokulhaup event, the effect is reduced
-questions about how much money taxpayers should pay to keep people safe
-£50 million fund for families and businesses ijmpacted by the flood - allowed families to claim up to £5,000 from their local authority, reduce the impacts of the flooding

30
Q

what are rossby waves and how do they effect the position of depressions

A

rossby waves help transfer heat from the tropics toward the poles and cold air toward the tropics in an attempt to return atmosphere to balance. They also help locate the jet stream and mark out the track of surface low pressure systems.
-rossby waves move the position of depressions. If they remain fairly still, there will be a prolonged series of depressions

31
Q

give an example of monsoonal rainfall

A

e.g. in the Philippines , 2016, heavy monsoonal rains led to flooding, landslides and evacuations in villages

32
Q

what do antecendant weather conditions describe?

A
  • describes the relationship between a weather event with previous weather conditions e.g. ground may have already been saturated
  • antecedant weather conditions is a major factor in flooding events
33
Q

what is river straightening

A
  • cuts out the natural meandering pathways of a river, makes flow more efficient
  • often results in flooding downstream
34
Q

what is river dredging?

A

-river dredging increases a rivers capacity by deepening

35
Q

what are relief channels

A
  • built to relieve main river of its volume
  • e.g. river jubilee on Thames, reduced risk of flooding in wealthier area, however increased risk in poorer area downstream
36
Q

flood defences along the river Cocker and Derwwent

A
  • flood walls with self closing barriers- allows water to flow back into the river
  • steel reinforced glass panels- extra defence, maintaining a view of the river
  • environmental agency frequently clear the river of debris
  • CCTV cameras monitor the rivers flow
37
Q

give examples of soft engineering solutions

A
  • river restoration- restoring river pathways to natural meandering channels
  • refusing planning permission e.g. on marginal land
  • afforestation in upland areas, to reduce surface reunoff, increase infiltration
38
Q

give an example of where the impacts of climate change could result in good

A
  • the sahel
  • currently majority of annual rainfall is in the summer
  • increased rainfall due to climate change
  • could lead to conversion of dry landscape to productive farmland
39
Q

give an example of an area where climate change is having negative effects on the hydrological cycle

A

-California
-facing increasing water problems due to variations in rainfall
-consequences involve:
-water rationing
-farmers abandoning their fields
-increased risk of wildfires
current evidence:
-surface runoff and soil moisture levels have declined
-forests have become shrub and grassland
-groundwater levels fell by 30m between 2011 and 2015
-reservoir levels have fallen
-permanent snow levels were at a record low in 2015- meltwater is a crucial water supply

40
Q

what will happen to ENSO processes as the planet warms?

A
  • El Nino and El Nina events have been happening for 15,000 years, however climate change is predicted to have a major impact on the system
  • as the world warms, the frequency, intensity and duration of El Nino and El Nina events will increase
  • pacific regions will have food following droughts and vice versa
41
Q

Explain the causes and effects of rising global demand

A
  • global demand increasing because increasing population- expected an extra 3 billion by 2030
  • global demand is doubling every 20 years
  • expanding cities, urbanisation
  • rising middle class- higher standard of living, greater demand e.g. China’s populations meat consumption increasing, which is an industry that demands large quantities of water
  • as economic growth increases, higher demand for water in all sectors
  • increased need for food supply–> strain on agriculture, water needed for irrigation
42
Q

how is there an uneven distribution of water supplies?

A

-western, richer countries use up to 10 times more water per head than people living in LICs like African countries

43
Q

what is virtual water?

A

-describes water usage that isn’t direct e.g. water used for the manufacturing of products

44
Q

give examples of what should be done in the future

A
  • stricter enforcemnent of regulations e.g. in the UK, water quality is tested before it is released back rivers
  • make urban areas more green e.g. planting more trees in cities
  • e.g. Brazil should promote the protection and enhancement of the natural ecosystems- more beneficial in the long term
45
Q

why might countries experience economic water scarcity?

A

-e.g. clusters of African countries experience water scarcity
reasons might include:
-country is landlocked
-poor transport links
-underdeveloped economy (perhaps because of countries history e.g. once part of the British Empire)- poor infrastructure e.g. might not have the infrastructure to access water supplies
-poor governance e.g. corruptness

46
Q

give an overview of the Cape Town case study

A
  • cape town, 2008
  • worst drought for almost a century
  • dam levels dropped to just 20%
  • ‘Day Zero’- when the water runs out
  • the scare of day zero stimulated people to change their ways of lives, reduce water usage e.g. using grey water to flush the toilet
  • the scare caused there to be a reduction in water usage by about 200 million litres of water per day
  • people in cape town are rationed to 50l of water per person per day
  • police monitor the streets for illegal car washers e.g.using fresh drinking water to wash cars. Many people ignore regulations due to social-economic circumstances
  • effects were worse in richer, main city areas compared to poorer areas. in the poorer areas, people have been dealing with water scarcity for decades
  • Cape Town in concerned about the increasing cost of water
  • city has invested in several desalination plants and is tapping into an aquifer- however, uncertainties about whether this is going to be enough to avoid another crisis
47
Q

what is the Water Poverty Index and what is its goals

A

the WPI was created in 2002, as a means of monitoring progress and prioritising water needs
-created as a response to UN millenium development goals that addresses poverty and water access

48
Q

what 5 components is the WTI composed of?

A
  • water resources- physical availability, quality, amount available
  • access to water - distance from safe water source
  • Handling capacity- effective management, infrastructure and income
  • Use of water- for domestic, agricultural and industrial use
  • environmental indicators- ability to sustain nature and ecosystems
49
Q

what improvements have been shown by ethiopia

A

economic development in Ethipoia has led to

  • better transportation links- reduces the effects of being a landlocked country
  • more investment into education- children educated about the importance of the sustainable use of water
  • investments in HEP- damming in the Nile–> could impact availability for Egypt, 85% of its supply comes from the countries further upstream
  • 2000, 16% had access to safe water compared to 40% in 2015
  • Ethipoia has achieved a millenium development goal of halving population without access to safe water
  • improvements largely because of improved government leadership and increased investment in social development
50
Q

why is water important for human wellbeing

A
  • 15% of the world’s pop. still rely on unimproved water sources
  • disease from lack of sanitation- e.g. chloera- increases morbidity rate. People unable to work due to illness, unable to support families e.g. can’t send children to school- decreases likelihood of them escaping poverty
  • infections from washing in polluted water
51
Q

importance of water for economic development

A
  • Agriculture- absorbs around 2 thirds of water extractions globally
  • Industrial usage is growing, especially in emerging economies like India and China
  • Aquaculture- expanded in recent years
52
Q

give the physical aspects of the Murray Darling Basin

A
  • MDB covers 1 million km2 of southeast Australia
  • home to over 2 million
  • contains the Murray and Darling rivers
  • cover 14% of Aus’ land mass
  • provides 75% of Australians water
  • provides 85% of the countries irrigation water
  • provides 40% of the countries farm produce
53
Q

what factors are leading to an increasing and competing demand surrounding the murray darling basin

A
  • variations in ENSO cycles

- annual, seasonal and local variations in rainfall e.g. rainforests in Queensland and sami-arid areas in south Aus

54
Q

who are the key players within the managment of the murray-darling basin?

A
  • Agriculture is the major player. Irrigation boots yield and therefore profit
  • urban and rural residents
  • Industrial industries e.g. Queenslands mining industry
  • aquaculture- freshwater fishing
  • leisure- water sports etc.
  • environmental groups
  • indigenous groups- e.g. traditional rights of aborigional people are being threatened
55
Q

give pros and cons of the 3 gorges dam

A

Pros:
-control flooding, generate HEP, improve water supply by regulating rivers flow, make river navigable
cons:
-632km2 land has been flooded
-1.3mil have been relocated
-reservoirs water quality is low due to industry, agriculture and sewage upstream
-decomposing vegetation in reservoir, methane released when water passes through |HEP turbine

56
Q

give an overview of the South-North water transfer project, and give the pros and cons

A

-the beijing region has 35% of chinas pop, 40% of its arable land, but only 7% of its water
-3 routes will take water from the Yangtze to northern China
-cost is $70 billion
pros and cons:
-will submerge over 300km2 of land
-about 400,000 will have to relocate
-risk of draining too much water from southern china
-will decrease water shortages in Beijing and boost economic development
-will reduce abstaraction of groundwater

57
Q

give an example of an area that is experiencing the negative impacts of cotton growth

A

-cotton growth- one of most environmentally harmful industries
-mass production of cotton as a cash crop in Kazakhstan
Aral sea, between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
-used to be worlds largest inland sea
-been reducing since the 60s

58
Q

give an example of the fashion industry negatively impacting an area

A
  • fashion industry is a huge polluter
  • Indonesia has become a hub for clothes manufacturing
  • e.g. the Citarum river- majorly polluted by hundreds of surrounding factories- effects on people living by the river
59
Q

give an example of a successful area that shows sustainable water usage

A
  • Singapore–> world leader sustainable water usage
  • Lack of inland fresh water sources, depends on Malaysia to import fresh water
  • aims to become 100% water self sufficient
  • the city currently receives more than half of its water supply from the unorthodox sources of rainwater collection (20%), recycled water (30%) and desalination (10%).

geog the water cycle (1 decks)

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