Topic 5 EQ1 Flashcards
What is a closed system?
When there is a transfer of energy but not matter between the system and it’s surroundings. There are no external inputs/output, any inputs come from within the system.
What are flows(fluxes)?
Measurement of the rate of flow between stores
What are processes?
The physical mechanisms such as evaporation that drive the flows of water between the stores.
What are stores?
Reservoirs where water is held eg oceans
What is blue water?
Water that is stored in rivers, streams, lakes and groundwater.
What is green water?
Water stored in vegetation
What is the global hydrological cycle an example of?
A closed system driven by solar energy and gravitational potential energy.
What is the estimated fixed amount of water in the Earth?
1385 million km cubed
What is the cryosphere?
Areas of the Earth where water is frozen into snow or ice.
What are the main global water stores?
Oceans
Icecaps
Groundwater
Rivers and lakes
Soil moisture
Atmospheric moisture
What percentage of total water and fresh water does the ocean have?
Of total : 96.9%
Of fresh: 0%
Residence time of ocean
3600 years
Residence time of ice caps
15,000 years depending on size
Residence times of ground water
Up to 10,000 years for deep ground water but 100- 200 years for shallow groundwater.
Residence times for rivers and lakes
2 weeks to 10 years; 50 years for very large scale
Residence time for soil moisture
2-50 weeks
Residence time for atmospheric moisture
10 days
What is precipitation?
The movement of water in any form from the atmosphere to the ground.
What is evaporation?
The change in state of water from liquid to a gas.
What are residence times?
The average time a water molecule will spend in a reservoir or store
What is fossil water?
Ancient, deep groundwater from former pluvial (wetter) periods.
What is transpiration?
The diffusion of water from vegetation into the atmosphere, involving a change from a gas to a liquid.
What is groundwater flow?
The slow transfer of percolated water underground through permeable or porous rocks.
What is the link between residence times and levels of water pollution?
Stores with slower turnover tend to be more easily polluted as the water is in situ for a longer length of time.