Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Physical Geography > Water and Carbon > Flashcards

Water and Carbon Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

What type of diagram represents most types of systems?

A

A flow diagram

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the three types of system?

A

Isolated system
Closed system
Open system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an isolated system?

A

A system in which neither energy nor mass can enter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a closed system?

A

A system in which Energy can enter but matter can’t

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is an open system?

A

A system where both energy and mass can enter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is dynamic equilibrium?

A

A balance in a system which is constantly changing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is feedback?

A

When an element of a system changes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a positive feedback loop?

A

A feedback loop that causes a system to change over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a negative feedback loop?

A

A feedback loop that always puts a system back in balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is an example of a positive feedback loop?

A

Higher global temperature -> less snow and ice coverage on the earth’s surface -> More dark surfaces -> more of the sun’s rays are absorbed (albedo affect) -> higher global temperature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is albedo?

A

The reflectivity of a surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why does ice cool down the earth?

A

Because snow and ice is a very reflective surface, it reflects more of the sun’s rays and as a result less heat is absorbed into the atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the four main stores of water?

A
  • Hydrosphere
  • Lithosphere
  • Atmosphere
  • Cryosphere
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the Hydrosphere?

A

Seas and oceans, it is the biggest store of 1,350,400Tm3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the lithosphere?

A

Water stored underground in rocks, it is the third biggest store

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the atmosphere store?

A

Any water stored in the air, it is the smallest store by far

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the cryosphere store?

A

Water stored in snow and ice, it is the second biggest water store of 26,000Tm3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What % of the world’s water is stored in the hydrosphere?

A

96.5% of global water is in the hydrosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How much of water is freshwater?

A

2.5%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How much freshwater is stored in glaciers and ice caps?

A

68.7% of freshwater is found in glaciers and ice caps

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what % of clean water is surface water?

A

1.2%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

In what 2 ways are water sources not evenly distributed?

A
  • Global precipitation patterns, for example, the Sahara Desert sees little rainfall because of a belt of high pressure
  • A nation may not be able to extract water from a source, likely the lithosphere
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is an aquifer?

A

A major underground store of water - a large subterranean geological reservoir

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Where do aquifers form?

A

Aquifers mainly form in rocks that are porous and permeable, such as rocks like chalk and limestone.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What does it mean for a rock to be porous and permeable?

A

Porous = the rocks contain pores
Permeable = the rocks allow water to pass through them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How do aquifers form?

A
  • water enters the rocks directly by entering exposed rock or very slowly when water drains through overlying soil
  • These soils vary in their capacity to store and transfer water known as the soil budget
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is the soil budget?

A

A soils ability to store and transfer water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What type of soils store little moisture?

A

Porous and sandy souls hold little moisture as water easily transfers through the pore spaces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What soils store lots of water?

A

Clay soils tend to store water with very limited transfer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is the water table?

A

The upper layer of saturated rock which rises and falls in response to groundwater flow, this needs to be kept at the same level (an equilibrium)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What are fossil aquifers?

A

Aquifers formed thousands of years ago in hot climates when the climate was much wetter, no mew water is coming in so many are becoming unsustainably exploited

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is abstraction?

A

The removal of water from an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What is precipitation?

A

Transfer of water from the atmosphere to the ground

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is percolation?

A
  • Water moves from the ground or soil into porous rock or rock fractures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What is condensation?

A

Transfer of water from a gaseous state into a liquid (clouds)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is sublimation?

A

a solid changing state to a gas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is ablation?

A

When a chunk of a glacier is lost

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is interception?

A

Water intercepted and stored on the leaves of plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What is overland flow ?

A

Transfer of water over the land

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What is infiltration?

A

Transfer of water from the ground surface into soil where it may percolate into underlying rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is throughflow?

A

Water flowing through soil towards a river channel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What is groundwater flow?

A

Transfer of water very slowly through rocks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What is accumulation?

A

When an iceberg gains volume

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What is recharge?

A

When additional water flows into rock (in an aquifer)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

How will an ice age affect the size of the cryosphere?

A

During an ice age, the cryosphere store will increase in size because there will be less ablation due to lower temperatures, moreover the lower temperatures will also increase accumulation as greater amounts of water will be snow and ice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

How will ice age affect the hydrosphere store?

A

In an ice age the hydrosphere store decreases because more water is locked in snow and ice, there is less meltwater in the oceans that can evaporate into the atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What happens to sea levels in an ice age?

A

In an ice age, sea levels fall as there is more water in the cryosphere store locked in snow and ice.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

How do clouds form (brief version)?

A

Clouds can only form when water vapour condenses on condensation nuclei, usually aerosols

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

What are the inputs of the water cycle at a hillslope drainage basin?

A

Precipitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What are the stores of the water cycle at a hillslope drainage basin?

A

Interception
Surface storage
Soil storage
Vegetation storage
Channel storage
Groundwater

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

What are the transfers/flows of the water cycle at a hillslope drainage basin?

A

stem flow/leaf drip
Infiltration
Percolation
Overland flow
Throughflow
Groundwater flow
Stream flow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

What are the outputs of the water cycle at a hillslope drainage basin?

A

Transpiration
Evaporation
River discharge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

What are the three types of rainfall?

A

Relief/Orographic
Frontal
Convectional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

What is relief/orographic rainfall?

A

Occurs when warm air is forced over high land -> the air rises and condenses -> forms clouds and precipitation occurs -> the drier air descends once again and evaporates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

What is Convectional rainfall?

A

The sun heats the ground and warm air rises -> as it rises it cools and condenses -> this creates clouds and precipitation. This means tropical rainforests can create their own mini ecosystem of rain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

What is Frontal rainfall?

A

a mass of warm air meets cold air -> the warm air is forced over and above the cold -> the warm air condenses, and rainfall occurs after clouds form.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

What are the two theories on why precipitation occurs?

A

Collision and coalescence
Bergeron-findesein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

How does collision and coalescence create rainfall?

A

Within a Columbo nimbus (tall) cloud ,hot air rises while cold air sinks, TMT water droplets collide in the air, forming bigger and bigger droplets, these collide and coalesce until they become so large and heavy they eventually drop out from the clouds, forming precipitation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

What is the bergeron-findesein process?

A

It is believed in the mid latitudes that water vapour will condense on ice crystals, making them larger, pushing the system out of equilibrium (positive feedback example). these large ice crystals then precipitate as rainfall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

What are the three cells of the tri cellular model?

A

Hadley -> Ferrel -> Polar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

What is high pressure and why does it form where it does?

A

High pressure occurs when air sinks, as a result, it happens inbetween the Hadley and Ferrel cells at 30 degrees N and S. High pressure tends to lead to settled and (warmer) drier weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

What is low pressure and why does it form where it does?

A

Low pressure occurs when air rises, as a result, it occurs between the two hadley cells around the equator as well as inbetween the ferrel and polar cells at 60 degrees N and S. Low pressure tends to create unsettled wet and windy conditions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

What is the ITCZ?

A

The intertropical convergence zone is the zone of most intense solar radiation. It moves south in northern winter because it moves to the hottest hemisphere, where more solar radiation is concentrated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

What is the water balance equation?

A

P = Q + E + change in S
precipitation = Runoff or discharge + Evapotranspiration + change in storage.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

What usually happens to the water balance in the winter months?

A

Precipitation is in excess of evapotranspiration, therefore there is soil moisture recharge and a water surplus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

What usually happens to the water balance in the summer months?

A

Evapotranspiration occurs at a greater rate than precipitation, whilst there is soil moisture utilisation, meaning there is a large water deficit.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

What is a river regime?

A

A river regime is the annual variation in the discharge of a river, the amount of water that travels through a river and how this changes throughout the year. mainly in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and drainage basin.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

What is discharge?

A

The volume of a river at a certain point

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
69
Q

What is the lag time?

A

Difference between peak precipitation and peak discharge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
70
Q

What is bankfull discharge?

A

The point at which the river has the maximum volume of water in a river prior to its banks overflowing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
71
Q

How does infiltration affect lag time and why?

A

Greater infiltraion = longer lag time
less infiltration = shorter lag time
this is because if there is less infiltration there is more runoff, meaning water reaches river quicker meaning the lag time is shorter
Throughflow and groundwater flow through soil and rock transfers water much slower than runoff.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
72
Q

What are all the parts on a flood hydrograph?

A

● Discharge: The volume of water passing through a cross-sectional point of the river at
any one point in time, measured in Cubic Metres Per Second (Cumecs). Made up of the
baseflow and stormflow.
● Rising Limb: The line on the graph that represents the discharge increasing.
● Falling Limb: The line on the graph that represents the discharge decreasing.
● Lag Time: The time between peak rainfall and peak discharge.
● Baseflow: The level of groundwater flow.
● Stormflow: Comprised of overland flow and throughflow.
● Bankfull Discharge: The maximum capacity of the river. If discharge exceeds this then the
river will burst its banks and be in flood.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
73
Q

What are a few areas more likely to flood?

A
  • moorland (less trees and interception)
  • Urbanised areas (less interception due to impermeable surfaces)
  • Steep slopes have no time for interception
  • heacy rain
    saturated land
  • woods in winter have less interception and transpiration
  • snowfall has melting ice
  • high density stream drainage system
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
74
Q

What areas are less likely to flood?

A
  • Woodland more trees and interception
  • Rural areas more trees and interception
  • gentle slopes, more time to permeate
  • less rainfall
  • dry areas unless a hard crust has formed on soil
  • wood in summer have more leaves and transpiration storage
  • low density stream drainage system
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
75
Q

What are the natural factors creating change in the water cycle?

A
  • Seasonal variations
  • Droughts
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
76
Q

What are the human factors affecting the water cycle?

A
  • Land use changes
  • Farming practices
  • Water abstraction
  • Irrigation
  • Land Drainage
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
77
Q

How does seasonal variations affect the water cycle?

A

In the summer months
- rainfall lower but maybe more storms
- vegetation is grown and interception and transpiration is increased
- Higher temperatures increases evaporation
- more water can be stored in warm air
- Dry soils increase infiltration, but baked hard soils can increase runoff and overland flow
- River channels have lower flow

In the winter months:
- Greater quantities of precipitation with potential for snow
- vegetation dies reducing interception and transpiration
- lower temperatures reduce evaporation
- river channels have much higher levels of flow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
78
Q

How do droughts create changes in the water cycle?

A
  • Droughts cause a reduction in water stores
  • Vegetation dies or is destroyed by fire, affecting interception, infiltration and transpiration
  • Heat and dry air increases evaporation but as the ground dries, but as ground dires up and trees transpire less levels of evaporation may decrease and less water is available for evaporation
  • Soils dry out reducing soli water store and reducing throughflow
79
Q

How does land use create changes in the water cycle?

A

Urbanisation: creates impermeable surfaces like concrete and Tarmac , TMT water cannot infiltrate the ground, increasing surface runoff making flooding more likely, reducing groundwater and soil water stores (where water travels much slower) drainage systems can also means water gets to rivers faster than it otherwise would have
Deforestation: The removal of trees means there is less transpiration through roots, and less water is absorbed through photosynthesis, as a result less water reaches the soil store.

80
Q

How do farming practices create changes in the water cycle?

A

Irrigation or land drainage can affect the water cycle. arable crops have less interception potential than other plants, reducing infiltration into the soil and increasing runoff. additionally pastoral farming can compact the land, further reducing infiltration

81
Q

How does water abstraction create changes in the water cycle?

A

If water is abstracted from rivers and aquifers the distribution of water among its stores will change significantly

82
Q

How can irrigation techniques affect the water cycle?

A

In hot environments it can beused to reduce evaporation in hot environments, although these processes themselves use up water

83
Q

How does land drainage affect the water cycle?

A

Low lying land in the somerset levels and the fens used to be submerged but thanks to drainage techniques they have become highly productive farmland, the drainage of these peatlands have lowered the water table and has changed the rates of infiltration and evaporation.

84
Q

What are all the specific stores of carbon in the carbon cycle?

A

Atmosphere
Ocean surface
Phytoplankton
Plants
Food web
Coal, oil and gas
Sedimentary rocks
shelfish and corals
deep ocean sediments
deep ocean currents

85
Q

What are all the specific transfers of carbon in the carbon cycle?

A

volcanic eruption
photosynethesis
diffusion
respiration
combustion of fossil fuels and burning
decomposition
weathering and erosion
sinking
rock cycle

86
Q

What are the four main stores of the carbon cycle in size order?

A
  • Lithosphere
  • Hydrosphere
  • Biosphere
  • Atmosphere
87
Q

What is the size of the Lithosphere store?

A

60,000,000 gigatons - 100,000,000 gt

88
Q

What is the size of the Hydroshpere store?

A

38,000 gt in oceans 700 in other water sources

89
Q

What is the size of the Terrrestrial/biosphere store?

A

560gt in biomass, 2300 gt in soil

90
Q

What is the size of the Atmosphere store?

A

600 gt

91
Q

What is a carbon sink?

A

Store takes in more carbon than it releases

92
Q

What is a carbon source?

A

Store releases more carbon than it takes in

93
Q

Exampels of carbon sinks?

A

Oceans
Forests
Artifical sinks (carbon capture)

94
Q

What is carbon sequestration?

A

The removal of carbon from the atmosphere

95
Q

What is combustion?

A

Combustion - When fossil fuels and organic matter such as trees are burnt, they emit CO ₂ into
the atmosphere, that was previously locked inside of them. This may occur when fossil fuels are
burnt to produce energy, or if wildfires occur.

96
Q

What is photosynthesis?

A

Living organisms convert Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere and Water from
the soil, into Oxygen and Glucose using Light Energy. By removing CO ₂ from the atmosphere,
plants are sequestering carbon (see below) and reducing the potential impacts of climate
change. The process of photosynthesis occurs when chlorophyll in the leaves of the plant react
with CO ₂, to create the carbohydrate glucose. Photosynthesis helps to maintain the balance
between oxygen and CO₂ in the atmosphere. The formula is shown below:
Carbon Dioxide + Water → Light Energy → Oxygen + Glucose

97
Q

What is the equation for photosynthesis?

A

6CO2 + 6H20 + sunlight = c6h12o6 + 6o2

98
Q

What is respiration?

A

Respiration occurs when plants and animals convert oxygen and glucose into
energy which then produces the waste products of water and CO ₂. It is therefore chemically the
opposite of photosynthesis:
Oxygen + Glucose → Carbon Dioxide + Water

99
Q

What is weathering?

A

Carbonic acids react with limestone (CaCo3), dissolved carbon flows to the sea, moving from lithosphere to hydrosphere

100
Q

What is decomposition?

A

Decomposers relase CH4 (methane) as life decomposes, moving carbon from the biosphere to the lithosphere

101
Q

What is burial and compaction?

A

When shelled marine organisms (who convert carbon in the ocean into calcium carbonateshells) die, their shell fragments fall to the
ocean floor and become compacted over time to form limestone (Hydrosphere to lithosphere) . Organic matter from vegetation and decaying marine organisms is compacted over time, whether on land or in the
sea, to form fossil fuel deposits of hydrocarbons like coal or oil.

102
Q

What is the carbon pump?

A

The process in which cooler water can absorb more co2 that has been dissolved in the ocean whilst warmer water can contain and absorb less co2, creating an equilibrium. If temperature are cooler and more co2 is absorbed in the water, it’s acidity is increased allowing phytoplankton to photosynthesize.

103
Q

What is the cause of a vegetation succession?

A

over hundreds of years as soils are able to store more carbon, the plants become more diverse, benefitting from the increased carbon supply, the number of different habitats that are established as wildlife is abundant is known as vegetation succession.

104
Q

What is a sere and seral stage?

A

a succession that relates to a specific environment, and each stage in the succession can be called a seral stage.

105
Q

What happens when the final stage of a succession is reached?

A

When the final stage of a sere is reached, the system reaches a dynamic equilibrium known as a climactic climax.

106
Q

Give an example of a sere and its succession?

A

The Psammosere is a coastal sequence:
Marram grass -> Bushes and shrubs -> trees

107
Q

What are Milankovitch cycles and their affect on the carbon cycle?

A

the position of the earth related to the sun. When the earth is further from to the sun when the eccentricity of the earths orbit is more oblique and oval, less energy is received so temperatures increase and vice versa

108
Q

Give an positive feedback loop relating to the melting of permafrost/ice?

A

Global warming increases surface temperature
Permafrost warms up
Frozen organic matter thaws and decays
carbon is released into the atmosphere as co2 and methane is released
emissions from melting of permafrost accelerate global warming which accelerates permafrost melt.

109
Q

What are the 4 natural causes of changes to the carbon cycle?

A
  • the impact of cold conditions on carbon stores and transfers
  • the impact of warm conditions on carbon stores and transfers
  • wildfires
  • volcanic eruptions
110
Q

How does cold conditions impact the carbon cycle?

A

Increased co2 storage in permafrost
less water rivers in rivers and oceans as there is more locked away in snow and ice
less sediment transfers so less buildup of sediment
ocean can store more co2
reduced photosynthesis
decomposers less effective in the cold so less effective carbon transfer to soils
change of forest distribution in area and location

111
Q

How do warm conditions impact the carbon cycle?

A

oceans store less co2
melting of permafrost releases co2 and creates a positive feedback loop
decomposers are more effective increasing carbon transfer to soil

112
Q

How do wildfires impact the carbon cycle?

A

Combustion moves carbon from biosphere to atmosphere
fires burn trees which releases large amounts of co2
Can turn forests from a carbon sink to a carbon source
Higher temperatures make the ground and tree more dry, increasnig frequency and severity of forest fires and wildfires

113
Q

How does volcanic activity impact the carbon cycle?

A

Lithosphere -> Atmosphere
eruptions release carbon stored in the earth
volcanoes also release lava containing silicates that slowly weather, converting co2 in carbonates into solution, slowly absorbing carbon from the atmosphere
however, infrequent and uncommon, releases between 130 and 380 million tons of carbon.

114
Q

What are the 5 human activities that alter the carbon cycle?

A
  • Combustion of fossil fuels
  • Land use changes
  • Farming practices
  • Deforestation
  • Urbanisation
115
Q

Explain how the combustion of fossil fuels can alter the carbon cycle?

A

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons that rapidly release into the atmosphere following combustion.
Natural gas, oil and coal are extracted frrom rocks and then burnt to make energy, releasing co2 contributing to global warming through the greenhouse gas effect when long wave radiation is absorbed into the atmosphere
Since the industrial revolution, levels of fossil fuel combustion have increased greatly (particularly in developed countries)

116
Q

Explain how land use changes can impact the carbon cycle?

A

Land use changes accounts for 10% of carbon release and includes
artificial fertilisers
farming
cattle cultivation
rice cultivation (releases methane)
deforestation
Land use changes can hjave detrimental impacts on the small scale carbon cycles which create global impacts

117
Q

How does farming practices impact the carbon cycle?

A
  • Cattle ranching has livestock that releases methane
  • Fertilisers produce methane when created as a by product
  • Rice cultivation produces methane
118
Q

How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?

A

Large areas being cut down reduce photosynthesis
If forests are burned down it will increase combustion of fossil fuels
These areas will likely be made into towns or farms that use fertilisers and cultivate cattle
WHen trees die they release carbon dioxide they have absorbed, becoming a carbon source rather than store
Deforestation accounts for 20% of Co2

119
Q

How does Urbanisation affect the carbon cycle?

A

2% of land accounts for 97% of all anthropogenic emissions
Important stores in the form of vegetation are replaced by towns which involves
- deforestation
- transport systems
- industrial development
- creation of cement (2.4% of total emissions)

120
Q

What is the global carbon budget?

A

The amount of carbon gained and lost in the natural and anthropogenic workings of the world - directly traced to the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere

121
Q

What are all the levels the carbon cycle can be considered at (and explain them)?

A

Individually - Heating homes, food consumption, travel, plants in garden etc
Business levels - How much carbon is produced/ used to operate a business
Nationally - nations must compare how much carbon they absorb into relation of their emissions
Globally - The actions of any country can affect the planet as a whole

122
Q

What are the impacts of carbon changes on land?

A

Carbon in the form of organic matter (litterfall) provides important nutrients and structure to the soil which helps plants grow - responsible for the development and formation of soil
organic matter is essential for plant growth and the production of food - grass helps sustain animals
increased co2 can increase the rate of decay
more co2 increases the length of growing seasons
more photosynthesis is occuring in plants assuming temperature is not a limiting factor and too high
Carbon can affect land use changes, less Co2 = less farms at mid latitudes and more forests. there would also be less wildfires and more intensive agriculture

123
Q

What are the impacts of carbon changes on the oceans?

A
  • Carbon can become calcium carbonate which some marine life converts into shells
  • increased carbon means more ice melt and flooding causing sea level to rise
  • Phytoplankton and other organisms consume carbon dioxide as food during photosynthesis which is passed along the food chain
  • increased co2 means more carbon absorbed by the oceans, making the ocean more acidic, which makes it harder for marine life to build shells out of calcium carbonate.
  • Increased ocean acidification creates reproductive issues and stunt growth or even kill larvae
  • Coral ecosystems damaged by Co2, when tempertatures are higher along with acidity, they release the algae they need to survive, bleaching them of their colour (coral bleaching) it is believed 25% of marine life and 500 mil humans are reliant on coral ecosystems
  • increased salinty of the earth is affected, altering the ocean’s density, this (along with increasing temperature changes) can cause some areas of water to sink and others to rise, This moves warm ocean water from tropics to poles, to regulate the earth’s climate. TMT changes in ocean tempertaure and salinity could put global climate regulation under threat
124
Q

What are the impacts of carbon changes on the atmosphere?

A

Increased GHG effect, increasing the pp, of carbon n the atmosphere and warming the planet

125
Q

What are the feedback loops that are understood?

A

Water vapour feedback
Albedo feedback

126
Q

What are the feedback loops not understood?

A

Land carbon (negative) feedback
Cloud feedback (positive) feedback

127
Q

What are the climate feedbacks not included in climate models?

A

Methane Hydrates feedback
Permafrost methane feedback
High latitude peat land feedbacks

128
Q

Explain the Water vapour feedback loop?

A
  • Warmer atmosphere holds more water vapour
  • Water vapour is a greenhouse gas that increases temperature of the atmosphere
  • Warmer atmosphere holds more water vapour
129
Q

Explain the albedo feedback loop?

A
  • Bright surfaces of snow and ice reflect sunlight rays back into space
  • increased temperatures melt snow and ice
  • TMT less heat can be reflected into the amtosphere
  • increases temperature
130
Q

What are aerosols?

A

Tiny liquid or solid particles suspended in the air that clouds can form on.

131
Q

What is not known about aerosols?

A
  • how they form
  • Their effects on clouds
  • The vapours that form from aerosole particles aren’t understood because they are so minute.
132
Q

What has allowed Aerosole formation to be measured for the first time?

A

An experiment at CERN known as CLOUD has identified the vapours responsible for aerosol formation in the atmosphere

133
Q

What is CLOUD (experiment) trying to do?

A
  • Identify the vapors responsible for Aerosol formation
  • investigating whether cosmic rays are enhancing the formation of aerosols in clouds - known as an unnacounted natural climate forcing agent
  • Trying to find out how cloudy it was before the preindustrial period and how it has changed due to human activities, this allows climate projections to be more precise
134
Q

What are the two ways to respond to climate change?

A

Mitigation and Adaptation

135
Q

What is Mitigation?

A

Preventing CC

136
Q

What is adaptation?

A

Working to live with climate change

137
Q

What are the 5 methods of mitigating climate change?

A
  • Modifying industrial combustion
  • Modifying photosynthesis
  • Modifying land use change
  • Modifying deforestation
  • Political agreements (Paris agreement)
138
Q

Explain how we can modify industrial combustion to mitigate climate change?

A

Carbon Capture and Storage uses technology to capture CO2 from coal fired power stations and industry. The gas is often transported to a site where it can be stored and prevented from reaching the atmosphere -> this could cut global emissions by 19%.
CO2 is compressed and transported by a pipeline until it reaches and injection well, where it is injected into suitable underground geological reservoirs

139
Q

What is an example of modifying industrial combustion (Carbon Capture and Storage)?

A

Boundary Dam, Canada
The Boundary Dam in Saskatchewan became the worlds first commerical CCS scheme at a coal fired plant. It aims to cut down emissions by trapping 90% of CO2 underground, reducing their emmisions by 1 million tonnes a year or 250,000 cars

140
Q

Evaluate CCS (A method of modifying industrial combustion)?

A

The economic viability of CCS is often question and it currently depends on how well the CO2 is used in increasing oil productions.
CCS can only occur in areas where there are suitable geological reservoirs in places like Finland and Sweden, therefore they can’t be used everywhere.

141
Q

Explain how we can modify photosynthesis to mitigate climate change?

A

Different tree types are more effective at sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere. Plantation forests - which take up 7% of global forest area - are particularly effective at absorbing CO2 compared to natural forests. The removal of natural forests into plantation forests is seen as a legitimate method at reducing co2 levels in the atmosphere, as well as bringing commercial benefits.

142
Q

Example of Modifying photosynthesis?

A

Protecting mangroves in Sri Lanka
In 2015, Sri Lanka was thhe first nation to protect all of its mangrove forests after losing 76% of them in the past century. Mangroves absorb more CO2 than any other and store it for hundreds of years in its soil. They also do not burn due to their swampy environment, reducing the threat of Carbon combustion. The Project will cost £2.2 million over 5 years,
26,000,000 million acres will be protected and 9,600 acres will be replanted

143
Q

How can we modify land use changes to mitigate the effects of climate change?

A

Farming practices are the most common type of land use change other than deforestation, Carbon farming is where one type of crop is replaced by another that has greater productivity and can sequester more carbon from the environment.

144
Q

How can we modify deforestation to mitigate CC?

A

The 3 main strategies aimed to reduce deforestation are:
- Consumers being encouraged to only buy wood that is certified by the FSC (Forestry stewardship council) that grow timber sustainably
- Countries, organization and individuals make carbon offset payments to offset their carbon emissions that can be paid to fund sustainable projects.
- In Malaysia, the selective management system (selective logging) involves selecting which trees to fell and which to replant
- Debt relief so poorer countries do not have to rely on dirty, extractive practices to develop.

145
Q

What is the political initiatives to mitigate climate change case study?

A

The paris agreement.

146
Q

What did the Paris agreement agree?

A

195 countries adopted the first legally binding climate deal:
- Limit the average global temp increase to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels
- Meet every 5 years to set more ambitious targets
- Provide adaptation support for developing countries
- Report to each other and the public on the implementation of their plans to reduce emissions
- Developed nations will support initiatives in developing countries aimed at reducing emissions and building resilience to the impact of climate change.

147
Q

What is the Case study of a tropical rainforest setting to illustrate and analyse key themes in water and carbon
cycles and their relationship to environmental change and human activity.

A

The Amazon Rainforest.

148
Q

What is the Case study of a river catchment(s) at a local scale to illustrate and analyse the key themes above,
engage with field data and consider the impact of precipitation upon drainage basin stores and
transfers and implications for sustainable water supply and/or flooding.

A

River Exe drainage basin.

149
Q

Where is Amazonia?

A

In south America either side of the equator, situated in-between the Atlantic ocean and the Andes on the west

150
Q

How big is the Amazon Rainforest?

A

7.3 million KM2

151
Q

What is the temperature of the amazon?

A

mean monthly temps are between 25-27 degrees C

152
Q

What is the average rainfall in the Amazon?

A

2677mm

153
Q

Why is biodiversity so high in the rainforest?

A
  • It has developed over a long period of time
  • constantly warm temperatures mean reproduction can occur all year round so natural selection and evolution occur fairly rapidly
  • there is an abundance of water so growth is not restricted by water supply
154
Q

What percentage of Amazonia is rainforest?

A

around 80%

155
Q

What part of the amazon sees no dry season and therefore higher biodiversity?

A

The western Amazon

156
Q

What part of the amazon sees no dry season and therefore higher biodiversity?

A

The western Amazon

157
Q

What happened that meant deforestation increased after the 1960’s?

A

The Brazillian government encouraged colonisation of the amazon and sponsored large scale projects to exploit resources

158
Q

What are the main causes of deforestation?

A
  • Cattle ranching
  • Agricultural practices
  • settlement and population growth
  • Logging
  • Mineral extraction
  • Road building
159
Q

What are the main causes of deforestation?

A
  • Cattle ranching
  • Agricultural practices
  • settlement and population growth
  • Logging
  • Mineral extraction
  • Road building
160
Q

Why is the amazon rainforest a fragile ecosystem?

A
  • A high proportion of its energy and nutrients are stored above ground making it vulnerable to disturbance
  • Plants are well distributed and have low seed production capabillities therefore unless seeds germinate quickly, they will decompose
  • The rainforest ecosystem is made up of many complex and deeply interconnected relationships containing many ‘keystone’ species
161
Q

Example of an interconnected relationship in the amazon?

A

The brazil nut tree has a tough not to crack -> the Agouti is one of the only animals strong enough to crack it open and then disperse it throughout the rainforest -> the female euglossine orchard bee is then responsible for pollinating the brazil nut tree’s flowers

162
Q

What % of the south American continent does the amazon cover ?

A

40%

163
Q

How many species of insect does the amazon contain?

A

10 million

164
Q

How many species of insect does the amazon contain?

A

10 million

165
Q

How many people are live in the amazon?

A

20 million

166
Q

what % of all species on the earth live in the amazon?

A

20%

167
Q

What % of the global terrestrial vegetation carbon stock does the amazon hold?

A

17%

168
Q

What is happening to the long term carbon accumulation of the rainforest?

A

There is a trend of decreasing levels of carbon accumulation and therefore the amazon is moving from a carbon sink to a carbon source as more trees decompose

169
Q

How much water does the amazon discharge into the Atlantic?

A

175,000 m3 per second or 1/5 or 1/6 of the total discharge into the oceans by all rivers

170
Q

How is agriculture affecting the water and carbon cycles?

A

Crops like soya or palm oil are grown commercially or for pasture land for cattle grazing in the amazon

170
Q

How is agriculture affecting the water and carbon cycles?

A

Crops like soya or palm oil are grown commercially or for pasture land for cattle grazing in the amazon

171
Q

How is logging affecting the water and carbon cycles?

A

Logging is the process of cutting down trees for use as timber to make products that can be sold like furniture. This can either be clear felling or selective logging
Clear felling involves the complete removal of trees from an area
While during selective logging only trees that are dying old or ill are cut down and then replaced with other trees

172
Q

How is road building affecting the water and carbon cycles?

A

Trees are not only cleared for the space for roads, but it also means that it allows for more development as it becomes more easily accessible in the rainforest that will harm the rainforest.

173
Q

How is Settlement and population growth affecting the water and carbon cycles?

A

The population and number of settlements in the amazon are growing, with many migrating looking for work associated with the natural wealth of the environment
The Brazillian amazon population grew by 23% between 2000 and 2010 (11% above the national average)

174
Q

How will deforestation lead to more forest fires?

A

Increased deforestation -> soils and enivronment become drier as less trees create moisture -> this creates more wildifres in SSE Amazonia -> There are increased atmospheric aerosols created -> Droplet size decreases, increased cloud height and cloud lifetime all decreasing levels of rainfalls -> Increased deforestation and climate change

175
Q

What are the changes to the water and carbon cycles in the amazon because of deforestation?

A
  • Many environmental species living in the amazon will migrate away from amazon to find a more suitable home
  • Higher temperatures could damage biodiversity with many temperature dependent animals like fish changing their distribution or it could have potentially lethal affects
  • Reduced rainfall and increased temps could reduce suitable habitats which could lead to new species entering the amazon which could kill the native animal population
  • Less rainfall could massively affect amazon rivers and freshwater ecosystems as it will create less nutrient input into streams
  • Sea level rise associated flooding could harm lowland areas
  • Sea level rise, increased temperature and changes in rainfall and runoff will cause major changes in species habitats.
176
Q

why will levels of rainfall in the amazon decline?

A

When forests are cut down, less moisture goes into the atmosphere and rainfall will decline

177
Q

What are the impacts of deforestation on soils?

A
  • The removal of trees deprives the forest floor of shade, which could create more extreme temperature swings that can harm plants and animals
  • without protection from the sun many tropical soils will dry out
  • Soils in the amazon hold lots of carbon in their top layer, clearance and burning ( deforestation ) means that much of this carbon is released, much of this will be washed away into rivers and some will be lost to the atmosphere
178
Q

Impacts of deforestation on rivers?

A
  • Increased soil erosion and weathering of soils so more water and other chemicals is washed into rivers
  • Flash floods are more likely to happen, as there is less interception and absorption by the forest
  • More droughts occur because of less moisture and more forest fires
  • more soil and silt is washed into rivers, resulting in changes to waterways and transport
  • water supplies to the people of Brazil will be disrupted
179
Q

Describe the location of the River Exe?

A

The river Exe flows 83km from the Exmoor hills in Somerset through Tiverton and Exeter in Devon before reaching the English Channel in Exmouth.

180
Q

Describe the physical characterstics of the Exe drainage basin?

A

Area = 601km2
Max elevation = 514m on exmoor where steep relief increases speed water runsoff into the basin
Much flatter in the south, lowest point being 26m

181
Q

Describe the geology of the Exe drainage basin?

A

84.4% of the drainage basin is underlain by impermeable rock - predominantly devonian sandston.
Lots of impermeable rock means 65% of water balance is runoff (much higher than other UK rivers) additionally the drainage ditches in exmoor further increase runoff

182
Q

What is the water balance of the Exe Drainage basin?

A

Precipitation (1295mm) = evaporation + soil water storage (451mm) + runoff (844mm) . 65% of balance = runoff

183
Q

What is the land use of Exe Drainage basin?

A
  • most is agricultural grasslands (67%)
  • 15% is woodland
  • 15% is arable farmland
  • 3% is moors and peat bogs on exmoor
184
Q

How does the land use change from north to south in the river exe drainage basin?

A

in the north in Exmoor, rainfall is high, which can be absorbed by peat bogs -> if saturated or water flows down drainage channels or steep sided valleys water can runoff to river exe rapidly
In the south 82% of land in the lower catchment is either woodland or grass, TMT after flooding discharge recedes slowly as little infiltration occurs

185
Q

What recent developments have affected the hydrological cycle on exmoor?

A

Wimbleball reservoir
Peatland restoration on exmoor
Exmoor mires project

186
Q

How has wimbleball reservoir affected the hydrological cycle on Exmoor ?

A

In 1979, the river Haddeo was dammed to create winbleball reservoir that occupies 150 hectares
The reservoir supplies water to Exeter and parts of East Devon
Regulates water flow in the area to create a steady river regime throughout the year, reducing peaks and troughs which makes flooding and droughts less likely

187
Q

What recent developments have affected the hydrological cycle on exmoor?

A

Wimble ball reservoir
Peatland restoration on Exmoor
Exmoor mires project

188
Q

What recent developments have affected the hydrological cycle on exmoor?

A

Wimble ball reservoir
Peatland restoration on Exmoor
Exmoor mires project

189
Q

How has Petaland restoration in exmoor affected the hydrological cycle of the river Exe?

A
  • For decades drainage ditches have been built on exmoor - particularly after WW2 in order to make Britain more agriculturally productive. These have increased the flow of the water, in turn reducing the water quality as higher velocity carries more sediment and silt downstram.
  • Peat has also been dug up as a fuel source that has scarred the landscape. As the peat dries out it decomposes and lets out lots of Carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as well as methane
190
Q

Explain what the Exmoor mires project does?

A

Aims to restore 2000 hectacres of Peat by blocking the drainage diteches with peat blocks or moorland bales. This increases water levels in the bogs, returning it to the boggy, saturated conditions that would’ve naturally occured, storing carbon in the peat and increasing infiltration.

191
Q

What are the benefits of the Exmoor mires project?

A
  • More water is being stored in the upper catchment and storage is increased, helping to maintain a consistent supply
  • Improved water quality as the slower velocity means less sediment is carried in the river, making the water cleaner and less expensive
  • more carbon is stored and absorbed in peat
  • Improved leisure, education and recreational activities
  • Improved biodiversity of birds, plants, butterflies and insects
  • Improved grazing and water supply for animals.
192
Q

How successful has the Exmoor mires project been?

A

By 2015, nearly 1000 hectares of peat restored, 100km of drainage ditches blocked and the water table had risen by 2.65 inches -> TMT storm flow and flood peaks have been reduced and baseflows increased.

Physical Geography (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions