Water

Question 1

closed system

Answer 1

the amount of water is kept the same and just circulated continuously

Question 2

inputs

Answer 2

the movement of matter or energy into a system for example precipitation from the atmosphere into the ground or the sea

Question 3

outputs

Answer 3

the movement of matter or energy out of a system so for example evaporation from the land or sea into the atmosphere

Question 4

stores

Answer 4

where water is stored
water is stored for long periods of time in oceans (3600 years) and as groundwater (up to 10000 years)

Question 5

flows

Answer 5

the amount of matter or energy transferred from one place to another

Question 6

what does solar energy cause?

Answer 6

heat energy from the sun causes changed in the state of water and drives some of the processes such as evaporation

Question 7

gravitational potential energy

Answer 7

the mass of the earth exerts a pull ok water causing water to fall as precipitation and refuses to flow downhill back to the ocean (the main store)

Question 8

diagram of the hydrological cycle

Answer 8

Question 9

what are some examples of water stores and what are their residence times?

Answer 9

Question 10

why are some stores considered to be non-renewable?

Answer 10

because they are not replaced in a short period of time
for example:
– Fossil water was stored underground in rocks are very long time ago when the climb of an area was much wetter

Question 11

describe the annual global fluxes diagram

Answer 11

Question 12

what is the global water budget?

Answer 12

the annual balance between the fluxes sand size of water stores is known as the global water budget

Question 13

why is water generally considered to be a renewable resource?

Answer 13

Because there is a constant circulation and replenishment of stores without any losses from the planet

Question 14

how can the availability of water change throughout a year?

Answer 14

if there is a dry season or the climate in summer is hotter than normal then transpiration and evaporation rates may be higher

Question 15

what is transpiration

Answer 15

the evaporation or loss of water from a plant mainly through its stomata

Question 16

why do people need water

Answer 16

it is essential to lose and also used for farming, industry and cooling machinery

Question 17

what is orographic rainfall

Answer 17

– Relief rainfall
– cause when humid air is forced to rise over mountains
– when the air calls higher altitude, moisture condenses forming clouds and droplets of water which then fall due to gravity
– most rain falls on the slopes facing the direction direction and top of the mountains with dry air on the other side (Lee) so less rainfalls (rain shadow)

Question 18

what is frontal rainfall

Answer 18

– Course when humid air is forced to rise at a warm front or cold front line
– usually as part of a depression (low pressure system)
– again, the air calls, condensation takes place, clouds of water droplets form which has followed by rain

Question 19

what is conventional rainfall?

Answer 19

– Cause when the ground and lower atmosphere are heated by the Sun causing rising air.
– humidity in the air condenses when it cools at high altitudes, forms towering culo nimbus clouds, often followed by intense heavy rainfall (thunderstorms)

Question 20

what is interception?

Answer 20

when a layer of vegetation covers the ground and do intercepts rainfall before it can reach the ground

Question 21

what is infiltration?

Answer 21

the movement of water downwards through spaces in the soil; this continues until capacity is reached and the soil becomes saturated

Question 22

what is throughflow?

Answer 22

the movement of water downslope through the soil towards base level (river, lake or sea)

Question 23

what is surface run off?

Answer 23

rain falling onto the ground may flow over the surface when it is so intense that there is no time for it to infiltrate

Question 24

what is saturated overland flow?

Answer 24

if all soil spaces are full of water, then any further rain infiltrate and so will run off the surfacr

Question 25

what is percolation?

Answer 25

the movement of water downwards through porous or permeable rocks?

Question 26

what is groundwater flow?

Answer 26

the downwards and sideways movement of water in rock layers under the influence of gravity and rock structure

Question 27

what are the 3 outputs?

Answer 27

evaporation
transpiration
channel flow

Question 28

what is channel flow

Answer 28

run-off moves to the lowest points in a landscape where it collects to form a linear body of water flowing over the ground. The larger the amount of water, the larger the discharge.

Question 29

what are the influences of physical factors on the hydrological cycle?

Answer 29

Question 30

what human factors can disrupt the hydrological cycle?

Answer 30

deforestation
land use change
reservoir creation
abstracting water

Question 31

how does deforestation effect the hydrological cycle?

Answer 31

removal of tree cover reduces interception and evapotranspiration, increasing surface run-off, soil erosion, and flooding during intense rainfall.

Question 32

how does land use change effect the hydrological cycle?

Answer 32

natural vegetation absorbs more water than urbanised permeable surfaces which increased run-off and flow creating higher discharges and more flooding

Question 33

how does reservoir creation change the effects of the hydrological cycle?

Answer 33

damming a river prevents channel flow, reducing discharge, downstream, and creating an evaporation source.

Question 34

how does abstracting water change the effects of the hydrological cycle?

Answer 34

people use water for several purposes and sometimes this is taken from the surface all the ground faster than it is replaced

Question 35

what is a water budget?

Answer 35

A water budget is the balance between inputs and outputs, which are influenced by climate. This balance determines the amount of moisture in soils.

Question 36

what is the water budget equation?

Answer 36

precipitation = channel discharge + evaporation +/- storage
P = Q + E +/- S

Question 37

what does the water budget equation do?

Answer 37

– Allows a calculation of water supply during a year and identification of time periods when there may not be enough to meet natural and human needs
– When precipitation is greater than channel discharge and vapo transpiration there is a positive water balance when precipitation is less than channel discharge and evapotranspiration, there is a negative one.

Question 38

what is soil moisture and why is it important?

Answer 38

– soil moisture is the amount of water in the soil and it is important for successful plant growth.
– in an ecosystem it is important to have enough soil moisture so that plants support other trophic levels (feeding groups.
– it is most important that soil moisture is high during growth season (spring and summer)

Question 39

how does land use affect patterns within river catchment areas?

Answer 39

– Land use affects the movement of water after precipitation, such as interception and absorption by forests or the impermeable surfaces of urbanisation.
– land use zoning can reduce risk by controlling building on flood planes.
Planners are also involved in decision-making about flood prevention and protection

Question 40

what are the factors effecting river regimes?

Answer 40

Question 41

what are the factors effecting storm hydrographs?

Answer 41