Water And Carbon As Natural Systems Flashcards
Model
Idealised representation of reality
System
Group of parts that function together as a whole
Open system
System with inputs and outputs of both energy and matter
Closed system
A system with inputs and outputs of energy
Dynamic equilibrium
State of balance where inputs equal outputs in a system that is constantly changing
Inputs
Addition to a system
Outputs
Removal of energy or matter to a system
Stores
An accumulation of sediment
Transfers/ flows
Movement of water of carbon between stores
Negative feedback (2)
When a change in the system causes other changes that have the opposite effect.
This nullifies the initial change and restores balance in a system
Positive feedback
When a change in the system causes other changes that have a similar effect so that the initial change is enhanced
Atmosphere
The air that surrounds the earth
Lithosphere
The outermost solid layer of the Earth, comprising the crust and upper mantle
Hydrosphere
All the water on or surrounding the earth
Biosphere
All living things on earth
Cryosphere
The frozen parts of the earths surface
Earths water specific storage (5)
3% = freshwater
69% = Cryosphere
30% = groundwater
0.04% = water vapour
Subsystems (3)
Interlinked by cycles + processes
Matter + energy move between one subsystem to another = earths = cascading
Cascading = one system effects another
What does water balance show - seasonal patterns (3)
Wet = more precipitation than evapotranspiration
Water surplus + ground stores fill
Drier = opposite
