Water Flashcards
Stores
reservoirs where water is held, such as oceans
Fluxes
rate of flow between the stores
Processes
physical mechanisms that drive the fluxes of water between the stores
Blue water
water in freshwater lakes, rivers, wetlands and aquifers
Green water
Water stored in soil or that stays on top of it or in vegetation.
Precipitation
movement of water from the atmosphere to the ground
residence time of water
Average time a water molecule resides in that part of the cycle
fossil water
Ancient, deep groundwater from former wetter periods
Transpiration
Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant
Groundwater flow
Slow transfer of percolated water underground through porous rocks
Which store of water has the shortest residence time?
Atmospheric - about 10 days. After that, it turns into precipitation and falls to the Earth.
What kind of cycle is the water cycle?
Closed - we drink the same water as dinosaurs
Where is the majority of water?
In oceans - 97.5%
Global Water Budget
annual balance between precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff. (annual balance between inputs and outputs.)
What does the global water budget do?
limits water availability for human use
What is a drainage basin?
The area of land drained by a river
Interception
Precipitation that does not reach the soil as it is intercepted by vegetation and the forest floor.
watershed
an area/ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
Infiltration
the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil
4 main stores of water
oceans, cryosphere, surface runoff, atmosphere
surface runoff/overland flow
water that flows over land until it reaches lakes, rivers, or other areas
How much freshwater is stored in the cryosphere?
69%
Convectional rainfall
formed by rising currents of warm, moist air. common in tropical areas