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Water and Carbon Flashcards

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
Definition of cascading system
The output of the cycle can becom the input of another
26
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
27
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
28
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
29
How does water move from Hydro to Atmo
evaporation and transpiration
30
How does water move from Bio to Atmo
Transpiration
31
How does water move from Litho to Hydro
Runoff
32
How does water move from Cryo to Atmo
Sublimation
33
How does water move from Cryo to Hydro
Melting
34
What is needed for water to change state
latent heat
35
How does water change from Solid to Gas
Sublimation
36
How does water change from Gas to Solid
Deposition
37
Defintion of Evaporation
transfer of water from liquid state to gaseous state
38
Defintion of Transpiration
water is taken up by root systems and released through the leaves
39
What affects the rate of evapotranspiration
amount of solar energy availability of water humidty of the air temperature of the air
40
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 )
41
Defintion of Cloud formation
Whenevaporated water condesens onta a condensation nuclei
42
What are the different cells in global atmoshperic circulation called
Hadley cell , Ferral cell , Polar cell
43
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
44
How many major glacial periods have their been
5
45
What happened to sea levels in last major glacial period
they where approximately 120m lower
46
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
47
What are the processes driving change in the water cycle
Evapotranspiration Condensation Cloud formation Precipitation Cryospheric processes Runoff generation
48
Defintion of Drainage basins
the area in which all water is drained by the same river
49
Defintion of Watershed
the boundary around the drainage basin
50
Defintion of Tributary
a smaller river joining a large one
51
Defintion of Confluence
Where river joins another river
52
Defintion of Source
Where the river starts The furthest point from the mouth
53
Defintion of Mouth
Where a river meets a sea/lake
54
What affects the rate of transfers/flows
Vegetation density Soil porosity Slope gradient Precipitation intensity Water table depth
55
More vegetation leads to what
More leads to more: Intetception Vegetation storage Stem flow Throughfall Transpiration Evaporation More leads to less: Surface run off
56
Increased soil porosity leads to what
Leads to more: Infiltration Throughflow Soil Moisture Leads to less: Surface runoff Surface storage
57
Increased slope gradient leads to what
Leads to more: Surface runoff Channel storage Channel flow Leads to less: Infiltration Throughflow
58
Increase precipitation intensity leads to what
Leads to more: Surface runoff Channel storage Channel flow Leads to less: Infiltration Throughflow
59
Higher water table depth will lead to what
Leads to more: Surface runoff Channel storage Channel flow# Leads to less: Infiltration Throughflow
60
Defintion of Water balance
the amount of water stored in soil
61
What is the water balance equation
Precipitation = Dishcarge + Evapotranspiration +/- changes in store postitve balance flood risk negative balance drought risk
62
Defintion of Field capacity
Point where the soil is full of water and cannot hold any more
63
Defintion of Soil moisture surplus
Precipitation is greater than potential evapotranspiration and the soil water store is full
64
Defintion of Soil moisture recharge
Potential evapotranspiration decreases so that it is lower than precipitation and the soil starts to fill up again
65
Defintion of Maximum annual temperatures
high temperatures cause maxiumum evapotranspiration, precipitation is at a minimum so soil moisture storage is used up
66
Defintion of Soil moisture utilisation
increases in evapotranspiration, precipitation is less so soil moisture storage is used up
67
Defintion of Soil moisture deficiency
Soil water has been used up by high rates of evapotranspiration and low precipitation
68
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
69
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
70
Human / Anthropogenic factors affecting river discharge
Deforestation Urbanisation
71
Defintion of River discharge
The amount of water in a river passing a given point at a given time

Geography Flash Cards (11 decks)

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