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water and carbon Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the water cycle

A

is a continuous cycle of water between the land and the atmosphere
It is a closed system

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2
Q

what are inputs of water

A

precipitation

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3
Q

what are the stores of water

A

atmosphere- clouds
groundwater
vegetation

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4
Q

what are flows of water

A

surface run off
through flow
groundwater flow

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5
Q

what are outputs of water

A

evaporation

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6
Q

what are stores of water

A

lithosphere - land
hydrosphere- water
cryosphere - frozen water (snow and ice)
atmosphere - air
biosphere - plants

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7
Q

what is the hydrosphere

A

water
largest water store
97% of all of earths water is stored in the ocean, with only 3% being stored as freshwater

out of the 3 % of freshwater, 30% is stored as groundwater,
0.3% is stored as liquid freshwater on the earths surface

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8
Q

what is the cryosphere

A

frozen water- snow and ice
examples:
-sea ice: ice that floats on the surface of the water, and varies with the seasons. It reflects solar energy so has a high albedo

-ice shelves: platforms of ice extending over the oceans
when they break off, it causes sea levels to rise

-ice sheets: glacial land that extends 50,000km over the ocean
-Greenland - if it was to melt, sea levels rise by 6m
-Antarctica-if it melts, sea levels rise by 60m

-ice caps: smaller ice sheets (less than 50,000 km)
mainly found in mountainous areas

-permafrost: soil/rock/sediment which has frozen for over 2 years
when it melts, releases methane

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9
Q

what is the global distribution of water stores?

A

-Unevenly distributed
-those countries with a higher latitude and altitude have more stored in the cryosphere
-some countries have more rivers
-some countries have more permeable geology, so more water stored underground in aquifers
-depends on climate- can affect evaporation rates

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10
Q

What is a positive feedback loop

A

where the changes in a system increase, and is permanently changed from the original system

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11
Q

what is negative feedback loop

A

changes happen, but the system eventually stabilises, and goes back to dynamic equilibrium

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12
Q

what is dynamic equilibrium

A

where the inputs and outputs of water are balanced
can be changed by:
-over abstraction of water
-flooding
-drought

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13
Q

what is a drainage basin

A

an area that gets drained by a river and its tributaries
-it is an open system
-inputs: precipitation
-outputs: evapotranspiration, run off
-stores: interception, soil/surface, groundwater
-flows: infiltration, throughflow, stemflow, overland flow

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14
Q

3 different types of rainfall

A

Frontall
Convectional
Relief/Orographic

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15
Q

What is frontall rainfall

A

where warm air is forced to rise and form clouds

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16
Q

what is convectional rainfall

A

long periods of warm weather which forms cumulonimbus clouds

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17
Q

what is relief/orographic rainfall

A

warm air is forced to rise over mountains which cools and condenses to form clouds

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18
Q

factors affecting change in magnitude of water stores over time and space

A

1- evaporation
2- cloud formation and precipitation
3-condensation
4- processes at hill slope
5-cryospheric processes

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19
Q

evaporation

A

when liquid changes to a gas
-can happen from surface of any water store
-rate varies globally and with seasons
-areas in tropical/subtropical have higher rates due to having more net radiation and being warmer
factors affecting rate:
-availability of water
-humidity of water- closer to saturation point, lower evaporation rate
-temperature of air- warmer air holds more water vapour

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20
Q

causes of precipitation and cloud formation

A
  • warm air rises, forms a band of low air pressure- known as ITCZ- driven by heat, so follows the sun.
    The ITCZ is formed between 2 hadley cells, where there is intense convectional rainfall

-Global atmospheric circulation system identifies areas of rising and falling air.
Converges warm moist air from the tropics with cold air from the Arctic to create frontall rainfall

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21
Q

Condensation

A

water vapour can condense to form liquid or solid, when air containing WV cools to its dew point- point at which it changes from a gas to a liquid.
- needs something to condense on- known as condensation nuclei

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22
Q

processes at hill slope

A

-Deforestation - less water intercepted, less in biosphere and lithosphere, more in hydrosphere
-Seasonal changes- in winter, more in cryosphere
-increased permeable surfaces
-storms- increased rainfall - less in atmosphere

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23
Q

Cryospheric processes

A

There has been 5 major global glacial periods in earths history- most recent starting 2.58 million years ago to present- the quaternary period.

-Glacial period- more water is stored as ice, sea levels are 120 m lower. process of accumulation
-Interglacial period- temperatures rise- ice melts- ablation
less water stored in the cryosphere

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24
Q

The water balance

A

-Balance between inputs and outputs
affects how much water is shored in the basin
worked out by:
precipitation=runoff + evapotranspiration
-within the Uk it varies with seasons:
-in winter, more precipitation than evapotranspiration- water surplus
-in summer- more evapotranspiration than precipitation - water defecit

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25
Q

Runn off

A

water that arrives to the river as surface run off or throughflow
Factors influencing:
-precipitation
-climate eg. drier climate- precipitation onto baked ground leads to run off
-rock type- if its impermeable, wont be able to infiltrate and get to river as overland flow
-human activity- deforestation- less interception

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26
Q

Human changes in the water cycle

A

1- farming
-growing demand due to consumerism
-more deforestation, less interception, more overland flow
-overgrazing cattle- compact the ground and make it impermeable, no infiltration and increased overland flow.

2- land use changes
-increase in population and consumerism- leads to rapid urbanisation, increases deforestation, increases impermeable surfaces

3-water abstraction
water is abstracted from stores when there is a high demand
-as population grows, growing demand for food and irrigation, water is abstracted from lakes, rivers, undergrounds- lead to the depletion of stores

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27
Q

Natural changes in the water cycle

A

1- storm events- this is due to high evaporation rates eg. temperature being 27 degrees for several weeks
-leads to intense low air pressure systems, falls as convectional rainfall
-natural process but disrupts the dynamic equilibrium and water stores
-uk-winter, us- summer

2: seasonal changes
-in summer, higher evaporation, more in the atmosphere and less in lithosphere
-itcz creates distinct wet and dry seasons
-in winter, less vegetation so less interception
-Uk faces atlantic depressions due to a change in air mass

3-Climate change
-influences storm events and seasons
climate has always changed, in a quaternary period
-periods of glacial and interglacial
-humans can induce climate change, through burning of fossil fuels
-cryosphere store melting at a quicker rate, sea levels rise rapidly- a positive feedback loop

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28
Q

The Eden Basin

A

The river Eden is located in north west of England between lake district and pennies
-some areas are 700 m above sea level

Uks prevailing wind comes in from the south west.
Warm air is forced to rise over mountains, and form orographic rainfall
-Eden receives average 2800mm of rain, where rest of uk is 920
-steep slopes with impermeable surfaces
-Highest ground is impermeable with thin soils- saturate faster

-only 1% is urban
-upper catchment is made of mountains-
-Hellvelyn-3rd highest in england-950m above sea
-Skiddaw-6th-930m
-impermeable surfaces
-24,000 people live there

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29
Q

Human impacts on the Eden basin

A

Farming:
-cattle has grown by 30%
-compact the soil, make it impermeable
-eat the vegetation

Construction:
-new homes being built in the floodplain of Carlisle
-10,000 new homes in the Garden Village project

30
Q

Natural impacts on the eden basin

A

Storms
storm Desmond in 2015- a village received 260mm of rain in 48h, 50 more than average for the whole month
Carlisle is a floodplain where 3 rivers meet, population of 72,000, 2000 homes got flooded

31
Q

What is the carbon cycle

A

Carbon is the most important element to make up all living matter
-Continuous cycle of carbon through inputs, outputs, stores and flows
-operates as a closed system
-cycles from earth to atmosphere and back again

32
Q

Lithosphere

A

largest carbon store
-99.9% is stored in sedimentary rock
-0.004% is stored in fossil duels
-has a residence time of 150 million years

33
Q

hydrosphere

A

seconds largest
-0.04% of earths carbon
-mainly stored in oceans, rivers, lakes
-mainly stored in deep oceans as the surface gets exchanged with the atmosphere
-deep ocean has a residence time of 1250 years

34
Q

cryosphere

A

-less than 0.01% of earths carbon
-stored mainly as permafrost

35
Q

biosphere

A

carbon is stored in
-vegetation
-plants
-animals
-peat
makes up 0.04% of earths carbon

36
Q

Flows of carbon

A

-photosynthesis
-respiration
-combustion
-weathering
-carbon sequestration

37
Q

Photosynthesis

A

carbon dioxide is taken in by plants, during photosynthesis where they react with chlorophyll to create glucose and oxygen-stimulates plant growth
-oxygen is given off as a biproduct-maintains the balance of carbon and oxygen in environment
-plant growth reduces the amount of carbon in the atmosphere

38
Q

respiration

A

glucose and oxygen is combined to form energy
-carbon is given off as a bi product, and transferred to the atmosphere
-maintains the balance between carbon and oxygen

39
Q

Combustion

A

organic material such as vegetation and fossil fuels get burned in the presence of oxygen, and release carbon dioxide
-volcanoes and wildfires are natural drivers of combustion

40
Q

weathering

A

the breakdown of rock which releases carbon

41
Q

Carbon sequestration

A

carbon is captured and stored to remove it out of the atmosphere-specifically human induced carbon
-Human method:
capture carbon released from coal fired power plants and store it in rocks able to hold enough co2
-Natural:
-create natural carbon sinks
peat bog:
stops vegetation from decaying and allows carbon sequestration to happen naturally
-takes in co2 from the atmosphere and transfers it to the ocean through diffusion
-phytoplankton in the ocean also hold co2 through photosynthesis- at the bottom of the food chain so carbon moves up the food chain

42
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

balance between i puts and outputs of carbon although there may be short term fluctuations
factors disrupting the dynamic equilibrium;
-natural-wildfires, volcanoes
-human-farming, deforestation

43
Q

co2 levels in the atmosphere

A

1800- 280 parts per million
2015-400 parts per million

44
Q

Positive feedback loops

A

-Permafrost melting- soil/rock/material that has been frozen for 2 consecutive years
-acts as a carbon store as it contains animal matter
-when it melts, it releases the stored co2
-if its water logged, there is no oxygen present so uses anaerobic decomposition which releases methane
-aerobic decomposition releases carbon dioxide
-this releases greenhouse gasses which further amplifies the issue of global warming

45
Q

Negative feedback loops

A

vegetation uses carbon dioxide to photosynthesise- locks up co2 in its biomass which is transferred from the atmosphere
-higher levels of co2 in the atmosphere stimulate plant growth, leads to more photosynthesis
-this takes in more co2

46
Q

Physical changes in the carbon cycle

A

During quaternary period, the climate has fluctuated between glacial and interglacial periods.
Glacial period:
-Chemical weathering is more active as colder water holds more co2
-Decomposers are less active in cold weather
-Less water in atmosphere, more in cryosphere due to accumulation- water being stored as snow and ice
-frozen soil on land

47
Q

Natural variations:

A

-Volcanoes:
Return carbon that has been stored in rocks in the earths crust for millions of years back to the atmosphere
-Present- then release upto 400million tonnes of carbon a year
-Lava-containes silicate which weathers

-Wildfires:
-Can be started by lightning or people
-turns forests from a carbon sink to a carbon source
-combustion- releases huge amounts of carbon back to the atmosphere

Burns over land- re fertilises it- leads to more photosynthesis- more regrowth= negative feedback cycle

48
Q

Human causes of change

A

Hydrocarbon fuel extraction:
-takes place for power generation and transport
Increased rapidly since the Industrial Revolution, and used in NEES for economic growth
-releases carbon dioxide

Farming practices;
-accounts for 10% of global emissions
-ploughing and harvesting uses machinery fuelled by fossil fuels
-artificial fertilises are the main source of carbon

Urbanisation:
-significant impact on local carbon cycles as stores are being covered by impermeable surfaces
-accounts for 975 of human emmissions
-for transport, industry and cement production
-cement production releases carbon as a biproduct, and is 2.4% of emissions

Deforestation:
-Trees get cut down, mainly in tropical regions for farming and monoculture plantations
-in a natural system, when trees die they decompose naturally, so carbon is released over many years
-new vegetation grows which compensates for the carbon released, and is a carbon neutral process
-when deforestation occurs, co2 is released immediately, and becomes a carbon source not a carbon store

49
Q

What is the carbon budget

A

balance between inputs and outputs of carbon
Inputs:
-volcanoes
-wildfires
-combustion
-burning fossil fuels
-respiration

Outputs:
-sequestration
-photosynthesis
-decomposition

50
Q

How carbon cycle impacts land

A

Plant growth as it allows plants to photosynthesise
Warmer temperatures cause permafrost to melt, and increase wildfires

51
Q

How does carbon cycle affect the climate

A

co2 and methane trap suns long wave radiation- keeps the heat in
without the natural GHE, temperature would be -17 degrees

52
Q

how does the carbon cycle affect the oceans

A

co2 is dissolved in the oceans through diffusion
-more co2 in oceans means that its more acidic-which can affect marine life
-global warming can affect oceans- as organisms are sensitive to temperature change

53
Q

Carbon

A

essential for all life on earth
makes up 50% of trees biomass
present in humans as glucose, and is 18% of our body

54
Q

water

A

present in the atmosphere as water vapour which is a greenhouse gas
-without it, earth would be frozen and uninhabitable

55
Q

net zero 2030

A

countries have set the aim to reduce emissions to 0 by 2030
in UK, only 1% of electricity comes from coal as we swap to more renewable energy sources

56
Q

Wind

A

increasingly cheap cost of production
example:
North Sea dogger bank
largest wind farm in the world
powers 6 million homes in UK
by 2030, government want all homes powered by wind

57
Q

solar

A

reduces costs by around £5000
grown from 3% to 30%

58
Q

Heat source pumps

A

get government subsidies to reduce cost
attractive investment to homes-add value

59
Q

Koyoto Protocol

A

1997
-first attempt to try reduce carbon emissions
41 countries signed
EU reduced emissions by 8%

60
Q

paris accord 2015/ cop 21

A

first legally binding agreement
196 countries
goal was to limit global temperatures to no more than 1.5degrees above pre industrial times

61
Q

Glasgow climate pact 2021- cop 26

A

aim was to provide 1 billion in finance to developing countries-known as the loss and damage fund
-phase out burning fossil fuels
-100 leaders who have 85% of worlds forests promised to end deforestation by 2030-including Brazil

62
Q

Cop 28- 2023- Dubai

A

contriversial as Dubai is one of biggest oil producers
transition away from fossil fuels

63
Q

What are the UK government doing

A

-introducing congestion charge
banning petrol and diesel cars by 2035
introducing greener transport-hydrogen buses
more cycle lanes
more renewable energy
provide subsidies for heat source pumps

64
Q

individual responses

A

-eat less meat
reduce waste
reduce energy consumption
use public transport
individuals feel too insignificant to make a difference
those who arent affected by it wont want to make a difference
few leaders are willing to pay high economic price when benefits wont be felt for another 50-100 years
some countries think that fossil fuels keep their economy going

65
Q

Amazon rainforest

A

worlds largest rainforest
makes up 40% of Americas landmass
spreads through 9 countries
63% in Brazil 13% in Peru
it has a hot and wet climate

66
Q

water cycle

A

higher temperatures means higher evapotranspiration so more rainfall
half the rain that falls doesnt reach the ground, gets intercepted by trees
average rain is 2300 but some areas reach 6000

67
Q

carbon cycle

A

estimate to store 80-120 billion tonnes of carbon a year through photosynthesis and vegetation acting as a carbon sink
-if theres more co2- trees have a growth spurt so they live faster an die younger- reduces the effectiveness
Amazon wont be an effective carbon sink in the future

68
Q

Deforestation in the amazon

A

Cattle farming:
Brazil has the largest cattle heard and has been the top beef exporter since 2003
between 1996-2006, the size of portugal was cut out
40% of Brazil cattle is in the amazon region
2009- agreement called the Beef Morotorium protocol where you cant buy beef from previously deforested areas

Soy production (monoculture plantation):
main source of animal feed
growth is linked to cattle farming
increased infrastructure in area called Rondonia west of Amazon to expand production

Political:
president Jair Bolesonaro elected on 2019-23 stated that the amazon should be exploited for economic gain, and weakened environmental laws
then got replaced

69
Q

impacts on water cycle

A

less interception and more runoff
less evapotranspiration so less clouds, higher risk of drought

70
Q

impacts on the carbon cycle

A

trees get cut down- less co2 stored and more in the atmosphere- enhances the greenhouse effect

71
Q

Responses

A

-Selective logging: only cut trees down in certain areas
-land use zoning: see what areas to deforest
-replant new trees- peru plan to plant 3.2 million hectares of land by 2020
-protect- many countries set up national parks to protect biodiversity-Amazon conservation complex

geography a level (4 decks)

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