Topic 1 - Key terms Flashcards
Aquifers
Fossil aquifers
reservoirs of freshwater stored deep beneath the ground surface
Formed thousands of years ago where current dry climates were wet
Water table
Upper surface level of saturated rock
Recharge
additional water flowing into rock
Precipitation
Transfer of water from the atmosphere to the ground, it can take the form of rain, snow, hail or dew.
Evaporation
Evapotranspiration if combined with plant transpiration
Transfer of liquid water to gaseous water vapour. Majority occurs from the oceans to the atmosphere.
Interception
Process of water being intercepted and stored on the leaves of plants/vegetation.
Infiltration
Transfer of water from the ground surface into soil.
Throughflow
Water flowing through soil to a river channel.
Percolation
Water soaking into rocks.
Groundwater flow
Transfer of water through rocks very slowly.
Glacier
Body of dense ice constantly moving under its own weight, forms when accumulation exceeds ablation
Ablation
Natural removal of snow by melting, evaporation or sublimation
Field capacity
maximum volume of water soil can hold without any outputs occurring
Drainage basin
area of land drained by a river and its tributaries
Infiltration capacity
rate of infiltration is a factor that will vary according to soil type and antecedent conditions.
River discharge
measurement of runoff at a moment in time
Carbon sink
Carbon source
Absorbs more carbon then it releases
Releases more carbon than it absorbs
Photosynthesis
Process where plants use energy from the sun to produce carbohydrates in the form of glucose.
Combustion
Burning organic matter in the presence of oxygen to generate energy
Carbon sequestration
Transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to plants, soils, rock formations and oceans.
Carbon pump
mechanism that directs carbon from one zone to another within or between environmental spheres.
Thermocline
gradient which separates warm surface layer of water heated by sun from the cooler, denser water in the deep oceans.
Physical carbon pump
how carbon is dissolved into oceans and moved by currents.
Biological carbon pump
Phytoplankton absorb CO2 from atmosphere and marine creatures absorb carbonate compounds to make shells
Carbonate pumpe
how carbon enters the ocean through precipitation, or rivers which contain weathered/eroded carbon rich terrestrial rocks.
Climate feedback loops
processes that can either amplify or diminish the effects of climate drivers.
