The Water Cycle: Changed Over Time

Question 1

Natural processes over time

Answer 1

Seasonal changes, storm events, droughts, El Niño and La Niña and Cryospheric processes

Question 2

Seasonal changes

Answer 2

Less precipitaton, more evapotranspiration in summer because of higher temperatures
Reduced flows in the water cycle in winter as water is stored as ice.
Reduced interception in winter, when deciduous trees lose their leaves
Increases evapotranspiration in summer, deciduous trees have their leaves/ higher temps

Question 3

Storm events

Answer 3

Can cause sudden increase in rainfall, leading to flooding and replenishment of some water stores, unlikely to cause long term- damage

Question 4

Droughts

Answer 4

Cause major stores to be depleted and the activity of flows a timing within the water cycle to decrease
May cause long term change as they become more common as a result of climate change

Question 5

El Niño and La Niña

Answer 5

The El Niño effect occurs every 2-7 years and causes warm temperatures in a predictable way
La Niña effect occurs every 2-7 years and causes cooler temperatures in a predictable year
It is likely that climate change will increase the probability of more El Ninos in future

Question 6

Cryospheric processes

Answer 6

In the past glaciers and icecaps have stored significant proportions of freshwater through the process of accumulation
Currently almost all of the worlds glaciers are shrinking, causing sea levels to rise