The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity

Question 1

Inputs

Answer 1

Precipitation

Question 2

Flows

Answer 2

Infiltration- into soil
Percolation- into rock
Through Flow- through soil (fast)
Groundwater Flow- through rock (very slow)
Surface Runoff
Channeled Flow- rivers
Stem Flow- down the stem/bark of plant/tree to ground
Throughfall- drips from leaves (slow)

Question 3

Stores

Answer 3

Interception- water stored on surfaces to stop it from hitting ground
Condensation
Lakes+Sea
Soil Moisture Storage- between soil particles
Surface Storage- e.g. puddles
Vegetation
Channel Storage- rivers
Ground Water- in pore spaces in rocks

Question 4

Outputs

Answer 4

Evaporation
Transpiration
Evapotranspiration

Question 5

Hydrosphere

Answer 5

the combined mass of water below, on, and above the earth’s surface

Question 6

Residence Time

Answer 6

the average time a molecule of water will spend in one of the stores

Question 7

Solar Energy

Answer 7

energy from the sun, heating water and causing evaporation and transpiration

Question 8

Gravitational Potential Energy

Answer 8

ways in which water accelerates under gravity, transporting it to rivers eventually to the sea

Question 9

Fossil Water (non-renewable)

Answer 9

ancient, deep groundwater from pluvial (wetter) periods in the geological past

Question 10

Cryosphere (non-renewable)

Answer 10

areas of the world where water is frozen in snow or ice