water and carbon Flashcards

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1
Q

what are cycles? : define system

A

simplified model of the real world, where a process occurs. there are inputs,outputs and stores within a system

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2
Q

what are cycles? : define open system

A

a cycle or process where inputs and outputs can add or remove material or energy

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3
Q

what are cycles? : define closed system

A

linked processes where there are no inputs or outputs of matter. energy still moves into and out of the network

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4
Q

what are cycles? : define input

A

addition to a system

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5
Q

what are cycles? : define output

A

losses from a system

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6
Q

what are cycles? : define stores

A

a sink where matter is retained for an amount of time

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7
Q

what are cycles? : define dynamic equilibrium

A

the steady, balanced state of a system

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8
Q

what are cycles? : define positive feedback

A

a runaway system loop where the system moves further from equilibrium

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9
Q

what are cycles? : define negative feedback

A

a cycle that returns the system back towards equilibrium

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10
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define lithosphere

A

rock environments - can act as a store of water

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11
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define hydrosphere

A

the store of water on the earths surface

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12
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define cryosphere

A

the ice which exists upon earth

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13
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define atmosphere

A

water is stored as gas within the air, or is condensed into clouds

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14
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define cascading system

A

several linked systems which all effect eachother

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15
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define soil water

A

liquid located just below the earths surface in loose, unconsolidated material, above the bedrock

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16
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define groundwater

A

water located below the earths surface, stored in the pores of permeable rock

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17
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define surface water

A

eater located above ground

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18
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define permafrost

A

ground which is permanently frozen for at least 2 years in a row

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19
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define evaporation

A

state of change of water form a liquid to gas

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20
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define condensation

A

change in state of water from gas to liquid

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21
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define sublimation

A

a direct change in a state from solid to gas

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22
Q

water cycle-stores and processes: define residence time

A

the average period of time that water molecules stay in a store or flow

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23
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define drainage basin

A

the area of land drained by a river and the rivers tributaries

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24
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define watershed

A

the boundary between two drainage basins

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25
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define transpiration

A

the flow of water from the soil to the atmosphere via plants

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26
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define infiltration

A

the process where water enter the soil from the surface if the ground

27
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define percolation

A

the movement of water from soil into the rock below

28
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define groundwater flow

A

the movement of water through the bedrock, towards a stream

29
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define stemflow

A

surface water movement through streams and rivers

30
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define infiltration excess overland flow

A

rainfall is too intense for the water to infiltrate into the soil quickly enough, therefore a pool will form and the water will run across it

31
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define saturated overland flow

A

water which travels over the lands surface because all the pore spaces within the soil have already been filled

32
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define potential evaporation

A

the maximum evaporation that could occur with an ample supply of water

33
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define river regime

A

the trends in flow throughout the year, based on climate, and the characteristics of its drainage basin

34
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define storm hydrograph

A

graphical representation of a rivers response following a prediction event

35
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define urbanisation

A

development of towns and cities. settlement affect the shape of a hydrograph

36
Q

water cycle- the drainage basin, runoff and human influence: define water abstraction

A

the removal of water from a source to provide us with a water supply

37
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define carbon

A

black non-metallic element with an atomic number of 6, the basis of life on earth, many rocks and fossil fuels

38
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define carbon stores

A

carbon can be removed from flux for lengthy periods of time

39
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define carbon sinks

A

stores of carbon where more carbon is added then lost.

40
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define carbon sources

A

stores of carbon where more carbon is lost then originally gained

41
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define carbon fluxes

A

the movement of carbon between stores

42
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define fast and slow carbon cycles

A

both are flows and stores of carbon between different sources and through mechanisms. some occur quick (exchange of carbon between ocean and atmosphere)n some occur slow (fluxes from geological stores) can take millennials

43
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define decomposers

A

organisms that live in the soil the break down dead matter and release carbon into the atmosphere

44
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define weathering

A

co2 dissolves into rainwater to attack carbonate rock which is transported to the oceans and is buried as sediment

45
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define respiration

A

production of co2 from the breakdown of sugars

46
Q

carbon cycle - stores and flows: define photosynthesis

A

plants use energy and co2 to produce oxygen and sugar

47
Q

carbon cycle - changes and human activity: define carbon budget

A

the overall inputs and outputs of carbon in part of the carbon cycle

48
Q

carbon cycle - changes and human activity: define albedo

A

the reflection of sunlight from a surface. light coloured surfaces reflect more light meaning they have a higher albedo

49
Q

carbon cycle - changes and human activity: define greenhouse gases

A

gases which include carbon dioxide and methane

50
Q

carbon cycle - changes and human activity: define radiative forcing

A

mismatch between incoming and outgoing energy from the earth

51
Q

carbon cycle - changes and human activity: define the natural greenhouse effect

A

gases within the atmosphere absorb heat by retaining outgoing infrared radiation. humans increase this causing enhanced greenhouse effect

52
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define feedback loops

A

positive and negative ways in which a system is brought back to equilibrium, or the equilibrium is changed

53
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define lag time

A

the time it takes between the cause and the effect is seen

54
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define aerosols

A

tiny atmospheric particles which reflect heat back away from earth, cooling the climate

55
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define renewable energy

A

type of energy that cannot be depleted

56
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define non-renewable energy

A

type of energy where the supply is finite

57
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define biomass/biofuels

A

sugar cane, wood and other recently living resources used as a source of energy, often seen as a renewable form of energy

58
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define carbon capture and storage

A

process where co2 is removed from waste gases and detained in underground geological formations

59
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define international agreement

A

legally binding or voluntary set of rules that countries ratify across the glove

60
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define mitigation

A

implementing measures to decrease risk or effect

61
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define emissions trading/cap and trade

A

businesses are allocated rights to produce certain gases, if they produce too much they can buy credits from countries producing less then their quotas. each year the rights are reduced

62
Q

importance of water and carbon and mitigating climate change: define geoengineering

A

often large-scale projects to alter the earths climate to mitigate climate change

63
Q
A