Water and Carbon Flashcards
Why is carbon so important
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
Why is water so important
significant facotr in the health society
Connects the Earth’s lands, ocean, and atmosphere
water vapour is hte most important greenhouse gas
Definition of a model
a simpliefied representation of reality
a way to measure unobservable aspect of life
a way to understand casual relationships
Definition of a system
a set of things working together
Definition of ecosystem
living and non living componetns within a particular environment and the interrelationshipos between them
Definition of Inputs
when matter or energy is added to a system
Definition of Outputs
When matter or energy leaves a system
Definition of Stores
Where matter or energy builds up
Definition of Flows
When matter or energy moves from one store to another
Definition of Boundaries
The limits of the system
Definition of an open system
Energy can enter and leave a system same with matter
Definition of a close system
Energy can enter and level a system but matter can’t
Definition of Islated
Nothing can enter or leave the system
Example of a open system
drainage basin
on a small scale both are open systems
Example of a closed system
the global carbon cycle
on a global scale both water and carbon cycles are closed systems
Definition of Dynamic equilibrium
When there is a balance between inputs and outputs
Definition of Positive feedback
applifies the orginial change
Definition of Negative feedback
nulifies the orginial change
What are the subsystems
Biosphere , Atmosphere , Cryosphere , Hydrosphere , Lithosphere
Definition of Atmosphere
layer of gas between the Earth’s surface and space
Definition of Biosphere
Biological component of the Earth , where all living things are found
Definition of Hydropshere
All the water on Earth
Definition of Cryosphere
Part of Earth where water is frozen
Definition of Lithosphere
The outermost layers of the Earth - crust and uppermost mantle
Definition of cascading system
The output of the cycle can becom the input of another
Process invovled in water cycle
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
Water storage % of different stores
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
Residence times of different stores
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
How does water move from Hydro to Atmo
evaporation and transpiration
How does water move from Bio to Atmo
Transpiration
How does water move from Litho to Hydro
Runoff
How does water move from Cryo to Atmo
Sublimation
How does water move from Cryo to Hydro
Melting
What is needed for water to change state
latent heat
How does water change from Solid to Gas
Sublimation
How does water change from Gas to Solid
Deposition
Defintion of Evaporation
transfer of water from liquid state to gaseous state
Defintion of Transpiration
water is taken up by root systems and released through the leaves
What affects the rate of evapotranspiration
amount of solar energy
availability of water
humidty of the air
temperature of the air
Defintion of Condesation
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 )
Defintion of Cloud formation
Whenevaporated water condesens onta a condensation nuclei
What are the different cells in global atmoshperic circulation called
Hadley cell , Ferral cell , Polar cell
Defintion of Precipitation
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
How many major glacial periods have their been
5
What happened to sea levels in last major glacial period
they where approximately 120m lower
Defintion of Runoff generation
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
What are the processes driving change in the water cycle
Evapotranspiration
Condensation
Cloud formation
Precipitation
Cryospheric processes
Runoff generation
Defintion of Drainage basins
the area in which all water is drained by the same river
Defintion of Watershed
the boundary around the drainage basin
Defintion of Tributary
a smaller river joining a large one
Defintion of Confluence
Where river joins another river
Defintion of Source
Where the river starts
The furthest point from the mouth
Defintion of Mouth
Where a river meets a sea/lake
What affects the rate of transfers/flows
Vegetation density
Soil porosity
Slope gradient
Precipitation intensity
Water table depth
More vegetation leads to what
More leads to more:
Intetception
Vegetation storage
Stem flow
Throughfall
Transpiration
Evaporation
More leads to less:
Surface run off
Increased soil porosity leads to what
Leads to more:
Infiltration
Throughflow
Soil Moisture
Leads to less:
Surface runoff
Surface storage
Increased slope gradient leads to what
Leads to more:
Surface runoff
Channel storage
Channel flow
Leads to less:
Infiltration
Throughflow
Increase precipitation intensity leads to what
Leads to more:
Surface runoff
Channel storage
Channel flow
Leads to less:
Infiltration
Throughflow
Higher water table depth will lead to what
Leads to more:
Surface runoff
Channel storage
Channel flow#
Leads to less:
Infiltration
Throughflow
Defintion of Water balance
the amount of water stored in soil
What is the water balance equation
Precipitation = Dishcarge + Evapotranspiration +/- changes in store
postitve balance flood risk
negative balance drought risk
Defintion of Field capacity
Point where the soil is full of water and cannot hold any more
Defintion of Soil moisture surplus
Precipitation is greater than potential evapotranspiration and the soil water store is full
Defintion of Soil moisture recharge
Potential evapotranspiration decreases so that it is lower than precipitation and the soil starts to fill up again
Defintion of Maximum annual temperatures
high temperatures cause maxiumum evapotranspiration, precipitation is at a minimum so soil moisture storage is used up
Defintion of Soil moisture utilisation
increases in evapotranspiration, precipitation is less so soil moisture storage is used up
Defintion of Soil moisture deficiency
Soil water has been used up by high rates of evapotranspiration and low precipitation
Defintion of River Regime
the changes ina river’s discharge throughout the course of a year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and drainage basin characteristics
Natural factors affecting river discharge
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
Human / Anthropogenic factors affecting river discharge
Deforestation
Urbanisation
Defintion of River discharge
The amount of water in a river passing a given point at a given time
