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water and carbon Flashcards

1
Q

Acidification

A

The gradual reduction of pH of the oceans, due to dissolving carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.

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1
Q

Afforestation -

A

Planting trees and vegetation in the aim of increasing forest cover

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2
Q

Anticyclone

A

A system of high pressure, causing high temperatures and
unseasonably high evaporation rates.

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3
Q

Biofuel

A

Burning crops and vegetation for electricity and heat.

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3
Q

Aquifer

A

A permeable or porous rock which stores water.

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4
Q

Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)

A

The capture of carbon dioxide emissions
directly from the factory, pumped into disused mines rather than being released into
the atmosphere.

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5
Q

Carbon Fluxes

A

The movement of carbon between stores.

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6
Q

Carbon Neutral

A
  • A process that has no net addition of carbon dioxide to the
    environment.
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7
Q

Carbon Stores

A

Places where carbon accumulates for a period of time such as
rocks and plant matter.

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8
Q

Channel Flow

A

Water flowing in a rivulet, stream or river

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9
Q

Choke Points

A

Points in the logistics of energy and fuel that are prone to restriction.

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10
Q

Combustion

A

The process of burning a substance, in the presence of oxygen, to
release energy.

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11
Q

Convectional Precipitation

A
  • Solar radiation heats the air above the ground,
    causing it to rise, cool & condense forming precipitation (often as thunderstorms)
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12
Q

Cryosphere

A

The global water volume locked up within a frozen state (i.e. snow and
ice).

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13
Q

Decomposition

A

The break down of matter, often by a decomposer which releases
carbon dioxide through their own respiration.

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14
Q

Depression

A

A system of low pressure, with fronts of precipitation where low and
high pressure air masses meet.

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15
Q

Desalination Plant

A

The conversion of seawater to freshwater, suitable for human
consumption.

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16
Q

Desublimation

A

The change of state of water from gas to solid, without being a
liquid (the opposite process to sublimation).

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17
Q

Drainage Basin

A

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.

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18
Q

Energy Mix

A
  • The composition of a country’s energy sources.
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19
Q

Drought -

A

An extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical average
for the region (UN).

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20
Q

Economic Water Scarcity -

A

When water resources are available but insufficient
economic wealth limits access to it

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21
Q

Energy Security

A

The ownership and full control of a country’s energy source,
production and transportation.

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22
Q

Energy Pathway

A

The movement of energy from its extraction or source, through
pipes, freight logistics or cabling.

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23
Energy Players -
Key companies and individuals who own, distribute and sell energy and energy sources.
24
ENSO Cycles -
- El Niño Southern Oscillations - naturally occurring phenomena that involves the movement of warm water in the Equatorial Pacific.
25
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, reducing the amount of solar radiation reflected into space
26
Evapotranspiration
The combined total moisture transferred from the Earth to the atmosphere, through evaporation and transpiration.
27
Frontal Precipitation -
Where air masses of different temperatures meet at a front, one mass will be forced over another, causing precipitation beneath the front.
28
Global Hydrological Cycle
The continuous transfer of water between land, atmosphere and oceans. The Earth is a closed system.
29
Groundwater Flow
Water moving horizontally through permeable or porous rock due to gravity.
30
Infiltration
The movement of water vertically through the pores in soil.
31
Hydrological Drought -
Insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of vegetation (crops, trees, plants) at a particular time
32
Integrated Drainage Basin Management
Establishing a frame of coordinated efforts between administrations (e.g. local government) and stakeholders (e.g businesses) to achieve balanced management of a basin (World Bank).
33
Inorganic Carbon
Carbon stored in carbonated rocks.
34
Interception
- Raindrops are prevented from falling directly onto the ground, instead hitting the leaves of a tree.
35
Meteorological Drought
When long-term precipitation trends are below average.
36
Monsoon
The drastic variation between wet and dry seasons for sub-tropical areas, caused by a changed prevailing wind. Can lead to annual flooding.
37
Non-Renewable
A source of energy that can only be used once to generate electricity or takes thousands of years to replace e.g. Fossil Fuels.
38
Nuclear Fusion
The process of joining atomic nuclei together, to produce energy.
39
OPEC -
Oil and Petroleum exporting countries. An organisation that supports and coordinates fossil fuel exporting countries.
40
Open System
A system affected by external flows and inputs (such as a drainage basin, or a sediment cell).
41
Organic Carbon
Carbon stored in plant material and living organisms.
42
Outgassing
The release of dissolved carbon dioxide (e.g. at plate boundaries, warming the oceans).
43
Percolation
- Water moving vertically from soil into permeable rock.
44
Photosynthesis -
The process of converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. All plants and some organisms rely on this process to survive.
45
Physical Water Scarcity -
A physical lack of available freshwater which cannot meet demand.
46
Phytoplankton
Small organisms that rely on photosynthesis to survive, so intake carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
47
Primary Energy
The initial source of energy, as it is naturally found. This could be natural ores, water, crops or radioactive material.
48
Relief Precipitation -
Precipitation caused when air masses are forced to rise over high land, determined by the relief/ morphology of the land.
49
Renewable
- Primary energy that can be re-used to produce electricity or has a short lifetime, therefore any used can be replaced quickly e.g. Hydroelectric, biomass, solar.
50
Respiration
The process of converting glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and energy. Some organisms rely on respiration to survive
51
River Regime
The pattern of river discharge over a year.
52
Runoff -
Water flowing over the surface of the ground eg. after precipitation or snowmelt.
53
Salinisation
Where salt water contaminates freshwater stores or soils, creating saline conditions and reducing human use/ consumption.
54
Saltwater Encroachment -
The movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers or soils. This may be caused by sea level rise, storm surges or over-extraction.
55
Secondary Energy
The product of primary energy, mostly electricity.
56
Sequestration
The transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to stores elsewhere - living biosphere, inorganic rocks, etc.
56
Smart Irrigation
- Providing crops with a water supply less than optimal, to make crops resistant to water shortages.
57
Storm Hydrograph
Variation of river discharge over a short period of time (days).
58
Sublimation
The change of state of water from solid to a gas, without being a liquid.
59
Thermohaline Circulation
The movement of volumes of seawater from cold deep water to warm water surface water.
60
Tipping Point
A critical threshold where any changes to a system after the tipping point are irreversible.
60
Throughflow
Water moving horizontally through the soil, due to gravity.
61
Transpiration -
The process through which water evaporates through the stomata in plants' leaves.
62
Water Budget -
The annual balance between inputs and outputs within a system.
62
Urbanisation
- The growth of populations in towns and cities.
63
Water Conservation -
Strategies to reduce water usage and demand.
64
Water Recycling
The treatment and purification of waste water, to increase supply
65
Water Scarcity
There are limited renewable water sources (between 500 and 1000 cubic metres per capita per year).
66
Water Security
The ability to protect and access a sustainable source to adequately meet demand.
67
Water Sharing Treaty
International agreements for transboundary sources
68
Water Transfer
Hard engineering projects, such as pipelines or aqueducts, that divert water between basins to meet demand.
69
Watershed -
The boundary between neighbouring drainage basins.

Geography key words (5 decks)

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