Topic 1 - Key terms

Question 1

Aquifers

Fossil aquifers

Answer 1

reservoirs of freshwater stored deep beneath the ground surface

Formed thousands of years ago where current dry climates were wet

Question 2

Water table

Answer 2

Upper surface level of saturated rock

Question 3

Recharge

Answer 3

additional water flowing into rock

Question 4

Precipitation

Answer 4

Transfer of water from the atmosphere to the ground, it can take the form of rain, snow, hail or dew.

Question 5

Evaporation

Evapotranspiration if combined with plant transpiration

Answer 5

Transfer of liquid water to gaseous water vapour. Majority occurs from the oceans to the atmosphere.

Question 6

Interception

Answer 6

Process of water being intercepted and stored on the leaves of plants/vegetation.

Question 7

Infiltration

Answer 7

Transfer of water from the ground surface into soil.

Question 8

Throughflow

Answer 8

Water flowing through soil to a river channel.

Question 9

Percolation

Answer 9

Water soaking into rocks.

Question 10

Groundwater flow

Answer 10

Transfer of water through rocks very slowly.

Question 11

Glacier

Answer 11

Body of dense ice constantly moving under its own weight, forms when accumulation exceeds ablation

Question 12

Ablation

Answer 12

Natural removal of snow by melting, evaporation or sublimation

Question 13

Field capacity

Answer 13

maximum volume of water soil can hold without any outputs occurring

Question 14

Drainage basin

Answer 14

area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

Question 15

Infiltration capacity

Answer 15

rate of infiltration is a factor that will vary according to soil type and antecedent conditions.

Question 16

River discharge

Answer 16

measurement of runoff at a moment in time

Question 17

Carbon sink

Carbon source

Answer 17

Absorbs more carbon then it releases

Releases more carbon than it absorbs

Question 18

Photosynthesis

Answer 18

Process where plants use energy from the sun to produce carbohydrates in the form of glucose.

Question 19

Combustion

Answer 19

Burning organic matter in the presence of oxygen to generate energy

Question 20

Carbon sequestration

Answer 20

Transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to plants, soils, rock formations and oceans.

Question 21

Carbon pump

Answer 21

mechanism that directs carbon from one zone to another within or between environmental spheres.

Question 22

Thermocline

Answer 22

gradient which separates warm surface layer of water heated by sun from the cooler, denser water in the deep oceans.

Question 23

Physical carbon pump

Answer 23

how carbon is dissolved into oceans and moved by currents.

Question 24

Biological carbon pump

Answer 24

Phytoplankton absorb CO2 from atmosphere and marine creatures absorb carbonate compounds to make shells

Question 25

Carbonate pumpe

Answer 25

how carbon enters the ocean through precipitation, or rivers which contain weathered/eroded carbon rich terrestrial rocks.

Question 26

Climate feedback loops

Answer 26

processes that can either amplify or diminish the effects of climate drivers.