W&C: Key Words Flashcards
Key words in the introduction to systems
Cycle
An example of a continuous system.
System
A set of interrelated components working together towards some kind of process.
Helps to explain relationships.
Model
A way of simplifying or representing complex systems.
Elements
The parts or substances that make up a system.
Attributes
Characteristics of the elements that may be perceived and measured.
Relationships
Associations that occur between elements and attributes.
Boundary
The edge of a system.
Inputs
Elements entering a system.
Stores/components
Elements being stored in a system.
Flows/transfers
Elements moving around the system.
Outputs
Elements leaving the system.
Dynamic equilibrium
There is a balance between both inputs and outputs.
Open system
Where there are both inputs and outputs.
Energy and matter can be transferred across boundaries.
Closed system.
Where there are no inputs or outputs in a system.
Matter is confined to the system, but energy may enter and exit.
Positive feedback
The effects of an action are amplified by other knock on effects.
Negative feedback
The effects of a action are nullified by its knock on effects.
Isolated system
There are no interactions beyond its boundaries.
Cascading system
Made of a chain of open systems where the output from one system forms the input of another.
Atmosphere
The layer of gas between the Earth’s surface and space, held in place by gravity.
Lithosphere
The outermost part of the Earth.
It includes the crust and the upper parts of the mantle.
Hydrosphere.
Includes all the water on Earth.
- May be in liquid form, in solid form or in gaseous form.*
- It may be saline or fresh.*
Biosphere
Where living things are found.
All the living parts of the Earth.
Cryosphere
The parts of system where it is cold enough for water to freeze.
Magnitude
The assessment of the size or strength of something.
Precipitation
Water falling.
Can be in any form, such as rain, hail, sleet or snow.
Evaporation
The process by which liquid water changes into a gas.
This requires energy which is provided by the sun and aided by the wind.
Condensation
The process by which water vapour changes to liquid water.
Troposphere.
The lowest part of the atmosphere.
Where weather events occur.
ICTZ
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.
Dew point
The temperature at which water vapour turns into a liquid creating a cloud.
High pressure
When the air is descending and warming.
Low pressure
When warm air is rising, creating clouds and precipitation.
Orographic
The movement of water vapour over a mountain.
Prevailing wind
The most common wind direction.
Rain shadow
The side of the mountain that is dry due to the windward side receiving precipitation.
Ablation
When ice melts into water.
Accumulation
When liquid water freezes into ice.
Sublimation
When a solid turns immediately into a gas, without melting.
Deposition
When water vapour immediately freezes without turning into a liquid first.
Calving
When part of an ice sheet breaks off, creating an iceberg.
Ice sheets
A continental size mass of ice, covering at least 50,000 km², that is dome-shaped with flows of ice outward from the centre.
Ice caps
Thick layer of ice on land that are smaller than 50,000 km².
Glacier
A large mass of ice on land, moving downhill due to the influence of gravity.
Permafrost
Ground that remains at or below 0°C for at least two years.
Sea ice
The part of the Arctic and Antactic that freezes in the winter.
Latent heat
The amount of heat that is given out or taken in from the surroundings.
Water stress
The demand for water exceeds the amount of water available during a certain period, or when poor quality of water restricts its availability for human use.
When the annual supply of water per person is less than 1,700 m³.
Economic scarcity
Human and financial factors limit water use to less than 25% of river flows.
Water scarcity
When the annual supply of water per person is below 1000 m³.
Physical scarcity
More than 75% of river flows are being used.
Throughfall
The portion of the precipitation that reaches the ground directly through gaps in the canopy and drips from leaves, twigs and stems.
This occurs when the canopy surface rainwater storage exceeds its storage capacity.
Stemflow
The portion of precipitation intercepted by the canopy that reaches the ground by flowing down stems, stalks or tree bole.
Infiltration
The downward movement of water from the surface into soil.
Evapotranspiration
The total output of water from the drainage basin directly back into the atmosphere.
Overland flow
The tendency of water to flow horizontally off land surfaces when rainfall has exceeded the infiltration capacity of the soil and all surface stores are full to overflowing.
Throughflow
The movement of water downslope through the subsoil under the influence of gravity.
It is particularly effective when underlying permeable rock prevents further downward movement.
Percolation
The downward movement of water within the rock under the soil surface.
Rates vary depending on the nature of the rock.
Groundwater flow
The slow movement of water through underlying rocks.
Channel flow
The water that is flowing in the river.
Groundwater
The water stored underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock.
It moves slowly through geological formations called aquifers.
Run off
All the water that enters a river channel and eventually flows out of the drainage basin.
Water table
This marks the top of the groundwater store.
An example of a continuous system.
Cycle
A set of interrelated components working together towards some kind of process.
Helps to explain relationships.
System
A way of simplifying or representing complex systems.
Model
The parts or substances that make up a system.
Elements
Characteristics of the elements that may be perceived and measured.
Attributes
Associations that occur between elements and attributes.
Relationships
The edge of a system.
Boundary
Elements entering a system.
Inputs
Elements being stored in a system.
Stores/components
Elements moving around the system.
Flows/transfers
Elements leaving the system.
Outputs
There is a balance between both inputs and outputs.
Dynamic equilibrium
Where there are both inputs and outputs.
Energy and matter can be transferred across boundaries.
Open system
Where there are no inputs or outputs in a system.
Matter is confined to the system, but energy may enter and exit.
Closed system.
The effects of an action are amplified by other knock on effects.
Positive feedback
The effects of a action are nullified by its knock on effects.
Negative feedback
There are no interactions beyond its boundaries.
Isolated system
Made of a chain of open systems where the output from one system forms the input of another.
Cascading system
The layer of gas between the Earth’s surface and space, held in place by gravity.
Atmosphere
The outermost part of the Earth.
It includes the crust and the upper parts of the mantle.
Lithosphere
Includes all the water on Earth.
- May be in liquid form, in solid form or in gaseous form.*
- It may be saline or fresh.*
Hydrosphere.
Where living things are found.
All the living parts of the Earth.
Biosphere
The parts of system where it is cold enough for water to freeze.
Cryosphere
The assessment of the size or strength of something.
Magnitude
Water falling.
Can be in any form, such as rain, hail, sleet or snow.
Precipitation
The process by which liquid water changes into a gas.
This requires energy which is provided by the sun and aided by the wind.
Evaporation
The process by which water vapour changes to liquid water.
Condensation
The lowest part of the atmosphere.
Where weather events occur.
Troposphere.
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.
ICTZ
The temperature at which water vapour turns into a liquid creating a cloud.
Dew point
When the air is descending and warming.
High pressure
When warm air is rising, creating clouds and precipitation.
Low pressure
The movement of water vapour over a mountain.
Orographic
The most common wind direction.
Prevailing wind
The side of the mountain that is dry due to the windward side receiving precipitation.
Rain shadow
When ice melts into water.
Ablation
When liquid water freezes into ice.
Accumulation
When a solid turns immediately into a gas, without melting.
Sublimation
When water vapour immediately freezes without turning into a liquid first.
Deposition
When part of an ice sheet breaks off, creating an iceberg.
Calving
A continental size mass of ice, covering at least 50,000 km², that is dome-shaped with flows of ice outward from the centre.
Ice sheets
Thick layer of ice on land that are smaller than 50,000 km².
Ice caps
A large mass of ice on land, moving downhill due to the influence of gravity.
Glacier
Ground that remains at or below 0°C for at least two years.
Permafrost
The part of the Arctic and Antactic that freezes in the winter.
Sea ice
The amount of heat that is given out or taken in from the surroundings.
Latent heat
The demand for water exceeds the amount of water available during a certain period, or when poor quality of water restricts its availability for human use.
When the annual supply of water per person is less than 1,700 m³.
Water stress
Human and financial factors limit water use to less than 25% of river flows.
Economic scarcity
When the annual supply of water per person is below 1000 m³.
Water scarcity
More than 75% of river flows are being used.
Physical scarcity
The portion of the precipitation that reaches the ground directly through gaps in the canopy and drips from leaves, twigs and stems.
This occurs when the canopy surface rainwater storage exceeds its storage capacity.
Throughfall
The portion of precipitation intercepted by the canopy that reaches the ground by flowing down stems, stalks or tree bole.
Stemflow
The downward movement of water from the surface into soil.
Infiltration
The total output of water from the drainage basin directly back into the atmosphere.
Evapotranspiration
The tendency of water to flow horizontally off land surfaces when rainfall has exceeded the infiltration capacity of the soil and all surface stores are full to overflowing.
Overland flow
The movement of water downslope through the subsoil under the influence of gravity.
It is particularly effective when underlying permeable rock prevents further downward movement.
Throughflow
The downward movement of water within the rock under the soil surface.
Rates vary depending on the nature of the rock.
Percolation
The slow movement of water through underlying rocks.
Groundwater flow
The water that is flowing in the river.
Channel flow
The water stored underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock.
It moves slowly through geological formations called aquifers.
Groundwater
All the water that enters a river channel and eventually flows out of the drainage basin.
Run off
This marks the top of the groundwater store.
Water table
