Water and Carbon Flashcards

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1
Q

Why is carbon so important

A

it is in all forms of life
The functioning of the planet depends on carbon and how it cycles through the Earth
Plays a key role in regulating climate

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2
Q

Why is water so important

A

significant facotr in the health society
Connects the Earth’s lands, ocean, and atmosphere
water vapour is hte most important greenhouse gas

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3
Q

Definition of a model

A

a simpliefied representation of reality
a way to measure unobservable aspect of life
a way to understand casual relationships

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4
Q

Definition of a system

A

a set of things working together

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5
Q

Definition of ecosystem

A

living and non living componetns within a particular environment and the interrelationshipos between them

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6
Q

Definition of Inputs

A

when matter or energy is added to a system

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7
Q

Definition of Outputs

A

When matter or energy leaves a system

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8
Q

Definition of Stores

A

Where matter or energy builds up

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9
Q

Definition of Flows

A

When matter or energy moves from one store to another

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10
Q

Definition of Boundaries

A

The limits of the system

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11
Q

Definition of an open system

A

Energy can enter and leave a system same with matter

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12
Q

Definition of a close system

A

Energy can enter and level a system but matter can’t

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13
Q

Definition of Islated

A

Nothing can enter or leave the system

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14
Q

Example of a open system

A

drainage basin
on a small scale both are open systems

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15
Q

Example of a closed system

A

the global carbon cycle
on a global scale both water and carbon cycles are closed systems

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16
Q

Definition of Dynamic equilibrium

A

When there is a balance between inputs and outputs

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17
Q

Definition of Positive feedback

A

applifies the orginial change

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18
Q

Definition of Negative feedback

A

nulifies the orginial change

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19
Q

What are the subsystems

A

Biosphere , Atmosphere , Cryosphere , Hydrosphere , Lithosphere

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20
Q

Definition of Atmosphere

A

layer of gas between the Earth’s surface and space

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21
Q

Definition of Biosphere

A

Biological component of the Earth , where all living things are found

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22
Q

Definition of Hydropshere

A

All the water on Earth

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23
Q

Definition of Cryosphere

A

Part of Earth where water is frozen

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24
Q

Definition of Lithosphere

A

The outermost layers of the Earth - crust and uppermost mantle

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25
Q

Definition of cascading system

A

The output of the cycle can becom the input of another

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26
Q

Process invovled in water cycle

A

Inputs - Precipitation
Outputs - Evaporation, transpiration , Evapotranspiration , river discharge
Flows - Infiltration , surface run-off, Percolation, Ground water flow , condensation , throughfall , stem flow , throughflow , base flow , interflow , channel flow
Stores - vegetation storage, ground water storage , channel storage , interception , soil moisture

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27
Q

Water storage % of different stores

A

Oceans - 97%
Cryosphere - 1.9% - sea ice , ice shelves , ice sheets , ice caps , permafrost
Land - 1.1% - rivers , lakes , wetlands , groundwater , soil water , biological water
Air - 0.001% - gas , liquid , solid

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28
Q

Residence times of different stores

A

Oceans - 3600 years
Cryosphere - 15,000 years - sea ice , ice shelves , ice sheets , ice caps , permafrost
Land - 1 to 10,000 years - rivers , lakes , wetlands , groundwater , soil water , biological water
Air - 10 days - gas , liquid , solid

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29
Q

How does water move from Hydro to Atmo

A

evaporation and transpiration

30
Q

How does water move from Bio to Atmo

A

Transpiration

31
Q

How does water move from Litho to Hydro

A

Runoff

32
Q

How does water move from Cryo to Atmo

A

Sublimation

33
Q

How does water move from Cryo to Hydro

A

Melting

34
Q

What is needed for water to change state

A

latent heat

35
Q

How does water change from Solid to Gas

A

Sublimation

36
Q

How does water change from Gas to Solid

A

Deposition

37
Q

Defintion of Evaporation

A

transfer of water from liquid state to gaseous state

38
Q

Defintion of Transpiration

A

water is taken up by root systems and released through the leaves

39
Q

What affects the rate of evapotranspiration

A

amount of solar energy
availability of water
humidty of the air
temperature of the air

40
Q

Defintion of Condesation

A

Air cools and can hold less water vapour
if it cools sufficiently then it will get more saturated this is dew point temperatures
The water molecules need something to condense on (condensation nuclei )

41
Q

Defintion of Cloud formation

A

Whenevaporated water condesens onta a condensation nuclei

42
Q

What are the different cells in global atmoshperic circulation called

A

Hadley cell , Ferral cell , Polar cell

43
Q

Defintion of Precipitation

A

Atmopsheric moisture is returned to the land system
is caused when the temperature of air is reduced to dew point but the volume remains constant

44
Q

How many major glacial periods have their been

A

5

45
Q

What happened to sea levels in last major glacial period

A

they where approximately 120m lower

46
Q

Defintion of Runoff generation

A

the atmospheric moisture that is transferred to the oceans on the surface or as ground water flow
overland flow/surface run off - rapid
ground water flow - can be thousands of years
infiltration

47
Q

What are the processes driving change in the water cycle

A

Evapotranspiration
Condensation
Cloud formation
Precipitation
Cryospheric processes
Runoff generation

48
Q

Defintion of Drainage basins

A

the area in which all water is drained by the same river

49
Q

Defintion of Watershed

A

the boundary around the drainage basin

50
Q

Defintion of Tributary

A

a smaller river joining a large one

51
Q

Defintion of Confluence

A

Where river joins another river

52
Q

Defintion of Source

A

Where the river starts
The furthest point from the mouth

53
Q

Defintion of Mouth

A

Where a river meets a sea/lake

54
Q

What affects the rate of transfers/flows

A

Vegetation density
Soil porosity
Slope gradient
Precipitation intensity
Water table depth

55
Q

More vegetation leads to what

A

More leads to more:
Intetception
Vegetation storage
Stem flow
Throughfall
Transpiration
Evaporation
More leads to less:
Surface run off

56
Q

Increased soil porosity leads to what

A

Leads to more:
Infiltration
Throughflow
Soil Moisture
Leads to less:
Surface runoff
Surface storage

57
Q

Increased slope gradient leads to what

A

Leads to more:
Surface runoff
Channel storage
Channel flow
Leads to less:
Infiltration
Throughflow

58
Q

Increase precipitation intensity leads to what

A

Leads to more:
Surface runoff
Channel storage
Channel flow
Leads to less:
Infiltration
Throughflow

59
Q

Higher water table depth will lead to what

A

Leads to more:
Surface runoff
Channel storage
Channel flow#
Leads to less:
Infiltration
Throughflow

60
Q

Defintion of Water balance

A

the amount of water stored in soil

61
Q

What is the water balance equation

A

Precipitation = Dishcarge + Evapotranspiration +/- changes in store
postitve balance flood risk
negative balance drought risk

62
Q

Defintion of Field capacity

A

Point where the soil is full of water and cannot hold any more

63
Q

Defintion of Soil moisture surplus

A

Precipitation is greater than potential evapotranspiration and the soil water store is full

64
Q

Defintion of Soil moisture recharge

A

Potential evapotranspiration decreases so that it is lower than precipitation and the soil starts to fill up again

65
Q

Defintion of Maximum annual temperatures

A

high temperatures cause maxiumum evapotranspiration, precipitation is at a minimum so soil moisture storage is used up

66
Q

Defintion of Soil moisture utilisation

A

increases in evapotranspiration, precipitation is less so soil moisture storage is used up

67
Q

Defintion of Soil moisture deficiency

A

Soil water has been used up by high rates of evapotranspiration and low precipitation

68
Q

Defintion of River Regime

A

the changes ina river’s discharge throughout the course of a year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and drainage basin characteristics

69
Q

Natural factors affecting river discharge

A

Precipitation - intensity and duration
Evapotranspiration
Snow Fall - intensity and duration
Snow Melt
Geology - Permeable or impermeable rock
Vegetation type
Slope angle
Drainage basin shape - rain reaches the river quicker in a more round basin

70
Q

Human / Anthropogenic factors affecting river discharge

A

Deforestation
Urbanisation

71
Q

Defintion of River discharge

A

The amount of water in a river passing a given point at a given time