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A Level Geography > Water And Carbon Cycle > Flashcards

Water And Carbon Cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

System

A

A set of interrelated components working together towards some kind of process

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2
Q

Stores

A

A part of the system where energy/ mass is stored or transformed

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3
Q

Flow/ transfer

A

A form of linkage between one store/ component and another that involves movement of energy or mass

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4
Q

Input

A

The addition of matter and/ or energy into a system

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5
Q

Closed system

A

Energy is transferred into and out of the system. All matter is enclosed

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6
Q

Open system

A

Matter and energy can be transferred from the system into the surrounding environment

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7
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

The balanced state of a system. When opposing forces or inpupts and outputs are equal

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8
Q

Positive feedback

A

Occurs where the effects of an action are amplified by changes to the inputs/ outputs/ processes
(Process are enhance)

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9
Q

Negative feedback

A

Occurs where the effects of an action are nullified by changes to the input/outputs/ transfers
(Decelerates a process)

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10
Q

Drainage basin

A

The area of land surrounding a river, from which the river recieves water and subsequently drains this water

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11
Q

Precipitation

A

Rain, snow, hail and sleet

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12
Q

Infiltration

A

When water enters the ground

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13
Q

Interception

A

When water is caught by trees and plants

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14
Q

Stem flow

A

Water lands on plants and runs down their stems

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15
Q

Overland flow

A

Anywhere water flows over the land surface

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16
Q

Through flow

A

When water flows through the ground

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17
Q

Transpiration

A

When water vapour comes out of leaves

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18
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

Water rises as vapour from the ground or released from leaves

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19
Q

Ground water

A

Water deep in the ground

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20
Q

Soil water

A

Water held between soil particles

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21
Q

Ground water flow

A

The slow movement of groundwater

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22
Q

Percolation

A

Movement of water down through the ground

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23
Q

Surafce storage

A

Lakes, ponds and puddles

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24
Q

Ground water storage

A

Water stored underground in bedrock

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25
Q

Atmospheric water

A

Water found in the atmosphere

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26
Q

Terrestrial water examples

A

Rivers, wetlands, surface water, groundwater, soil water, biological water, biomass

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27
Q

Water balance

A

Within a drainage basin teh balance between inputs, outputs is known as water balance/ budget

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28
Q

River regime

A

How the water levels in a river change over the year

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29
Q

Water suplus

A

Precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration and the soil above field capacity (causes runoff)

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30
Q

Soil moisture utilisation

A

Evapotranspiration exceeds precpiitation. Plants and humans have to utilise water from the soil

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31
Q

Soil moisture recharge

A

When precipitation is greater tahn evapotranspiration agains so soil moisture is replenished until field capacity

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32
Q

Soil moisture deficiency/ water deficit

A

When all soil moisture is used up. Plants will wilt and may die - not enough water in the soil

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33
Q

Field capacity

A

The maximum amount of water that soil can hold

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34
Q

Discharge

A

Teh amount of water passing through the river each second

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35
Q

Discharge equation

A

Discharge = cross sectional area x velocity

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36
Q

Lag time

A

Time between peak rainfall and peak discharge

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37
Q

Rising limb

A

Increase in discharge until peak discharge following rainfall

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38
Q

Falling limb

A

Decrease in discharge following peak discharge

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39
Q

Base flow

A

The normal flow/ rate of discharge without precipitation

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40
Q

Peak rainfall

A

Highest amount of rainfall

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41
Q

Peak discharge

A

Point of highest amount of discharge

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42
Q

Storm runoff

A

Amount of discharge above base flow

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43
Q

Storm hydrographs

A
  • bars = rainfall

- line = discharge

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44
Q

Flashy discharge

A

Discharge increases quickly

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45
Q

Subdued discharge

A

Very long lag time and peak discharge is low as a result

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46
Q

Carbon sequestration

A

The capture of CO2 from the atmosphere or capturing anthropogenic CO2 from large scale stattionary source before it is released into the atmosphere

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47
Q

Lithosphere

A

The crust and uppermost mantle; this constitues the hard and rigid outer layer of the earth

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48
Q

Carbon transfer

A

These are processes that transfer carbon between the stores - photosynthesis converts it into glucose

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49
Q

Carbon stores

A

The main stores of carbon are the lithosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere and biosphere

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50
Q

Greenhouse gas

A

Any gaseous compund in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, thereby trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere

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51
Q

Carbon sink

A

A store that absorbs more carbon than it releases

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52
Q

Weathering

A

The breakdown of rocks in situ by a combination of weather, plants and animals

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53
Q

Biosphere

A

The total sum of living matter

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54
Q

GtC

A

Gigatonne of CO2 is used to measure the amount of carbon in stores

55
Q

Anthropogenic CO2

A

Carbon dioxide generated by human activity

56
Q

Carbon source

A

A store that releases more carbon that it absorbs

57
Q

6 primary stores

A
  • fossil fuels
  • rocks
  • oceans
  • plant life
  • soil
  • atmosphere
58
Q

Lithosphere

A

Rigid outer part of earths crust

59
Q

Hydrosphere

A

All the water on the earths surface

60
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of the planet occupied by living things

61
Q

Atmosphere

A

All the gases that are around the planet

62
Q

Cryosphere

A

Frozen water part of earths system

63
Q

Pedosphere

A

The outermost layer of the earth that is composed of soil and subject to soil formation processes

64
Q

Net carbon sink

A

When more carbon entres a store than leaves it

65
Q

Net carbon source

A

When more carbon leaves a source than enters is

66
Q

Carbon transfer

A

Movement of carbon between stores

67
Q

Stores or stocks

A

The total amount of the material of interest held within a part of the system

68
Q

Fluxes

A

Measurements of the rate of low of material between the stores

69
Q

Processes

A

The physical mechanisms which drive the flux of material between stores

70
Q

Sere

A

An ecological community formed by vegetatio sucession that relates to a specific environment

71
Q

The global budget

A

The amount of carbon gained and lost in teh natural and manmade workings of the world

72
Q

Enhanced greenhouse effect

A

The impact on teh climate from the additional heat retained due to increased amount of carbon dioxide and other gases that humans have released into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution

73
Q

Geo-sequestration

A

Technology capturing ghg emissions from power stations and pumping them into underground reservoirs

74
Q

Rediative forcing

A

The difference between the incoming solar energy absorbed by the earth and energy radiated back to space

75
Q

Soil organic carbon

A

The organic constituted in the soil; tissue from dead plants and animals, products produces as these decompose and the soil microbial biomass

76
Q

Climate change mitigation

A

Efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases

77
Q

Atmosphere inputs

A
  • water
  • CO2, SO4
  • volcanic ash
  • solar radiation
  • O2
78
Q

Atmosphere outputs

A
  • weather
  • erosion
  • winds
  • evaporation
  • precipitation
  • solar radiation
79
Q

Cryosphere inputs

A

Soild precipitation, water, cold temperatures

80
Q

Cryosphere outputs

A

Snow fall, iceburg, ice sheets

81
Q

Hyrdosphere inputs

A
  • precipetation
  • condensation
  • infiltration
  • surface runoff
82
Q

Hydrosphere outputs

A
  • cryosphere water
  • evapotrasnspiration
  • evaporation
  • plant-up take
83
Q

Biosphere inputs

A
  • carbon
  • nitrogen
  • hydrosphere
  • crysophere
  • seeds
  • sediment
84
Q

Biosphere outputs

A
  • gas loss
  • migration and harvesting
  • transportation
85
Q

Factors changing flow rate

A
  • impermeable surfaces
  • agriculture
  • snow melt and precipetation
  • throughflow and groundwater flow
  • percolation and inflitration
  • vegetation
  • rock type and bed rock (clay, limestone, sandstone)
86
Q

Water balance equation

A

P=Q+E+-change in storage

  • P=precipitation
  • Q=total runoff
  • E=evapotranspiration
87
Q

Positive water balance

A

precipitation exceeds runoff and evapotranspiration

88
Q

Negative water balance

A

Runoff and evapotranspiration exceeds precipitations

89
Q

Changes to discharge

A
  • tributaries
  • precipitation
  • runoff
  • glacial periods
  • human activity
  • gradient
  • human land use
90
Q

Flows in the water cycle

A
  • infiltration
  • stem flow
  • evaporation
  • overland flow
  • through flow
91
Q

Factors altering flows

A
  • vegetation
  • soil/rock type
  • temperature
92
Q

Oceanic water

A
  • largest store of water

- 72% of the earths surface

93
Q

Cryospheric water types

A
  • sea ice
  • ice sheet = more than 50,000km2
  • ice shelf
  • ice cap = less than 50,000km2
  • glaciers
  • permafrost
94
Q

Atmospheric water

A
  • 0.04% of world’s freshwater
  • 0.001% of total water
  • exists in all three states in the atmosphere
95
Q

Physical factors affecting drainage basin

A
  • drainage basin shape
  • slope angles
  • drainge density
  • antecendent rainfall
  • rock type
  • vegetation cover
  • anount and intensity of precipitation
  • basin size
96
Q

Human factors affecting drainage basin

A
  • deforestation
  • afforestation
  • agriculture
  • growth of urban areas (SUDS)
  • soft engineering flood management
  • water abstractions
97
Q

Phsyical factors changing the water cycle

A
  • droughts
  • precipitation levels
  • floods
  • temperature
  • topography
  • vegetation
  • evaporation rates
  • soil properties
  • extreme weather events
  • desertification
  • glacial periods
98
Q

Human factors affecting water cycle

A
  • urbanisation
  • antropogenic climate change
  • deforestation
  • farming
  • water abstraction
  • irrigation methods
99
Q

Biotic pump theory

A

Forests helping inland areas to get water by drawing in from the ocean

100
Q

Aquifer

A

Water in the ground

  • unconfined aquifer = top layer
  • confined aquifer = lower levels
101
Q

Where is carbon found

A
  • all life forms
  • sedimentary rocks
  • diamonds
  • graphite
  • coal
  • oil
  • gas
102
Q

Carbon stores

A
  • marine sedimentary rock = 100,000 metric tonnes
  • ocean = 38000 metric tonnes
  • fossil fuel deposits = 4000 metric tonnes (2.8%)
  • soil organic matter = 1500 metric tonnes
  • atmosphere = 750 metric tonnes
  • terrestiral plants = 560 metric tonnes
103
Q

Lithspheric carbon store

A
  • crust and upper mantle
  • marine sediment
  • over 99% of earths carbon
  • biggest store
  • 100,000 billion tonnes
104
Q

Cryospheric carbon store

A
  • less than 0.01% of earths carbon

- most in soil

105
Q

Atmospheric carbon store

A
  • around 0.04%
  • CO2 is highest in 800,000 years
  • change due to anthropogenic change
  • 750 billion tonnes
106
Q

Biospheric carbon store

A
  • 0.04% earth’s carbon
  • main store - living vegetation = 19%
  • 560 billion tonnes
107
Q

Hydrospheric carbon store

A
  • 3 = surafce layer, intermediate, living organic matter
  • ocean is the second largest store of carbon
  • death of organisms
  • 38,000 billion tonnes
108
Q

Processes involved within the transfers of carbon

A
  • photosynthesis
  • respiration
  • decomposition
  • combustion
  • burial and compation
  • carbon sequestration
  • geologicaal sequestration
  • carbon pumps
  • deforestation
  • weathering
109
Q

Local scale carbon cycle

A
  • plant
  • photosynthesis
  • decomposition
110
Q

Contenental scale carbon cycle

A
  • slow process
  • leaves atmosphere as carbonic acid
  • transported in minerals and rocks
  • weathering and subduction
111
Q

Global scale carbon

A
  • all the carbon working in the system
112
Q

El nino

A

Normal year = trade winds east to west, push warm surface water from south america to aus
El nino year = trade winds weaken, warm water washes back across western pacific causing drought in aus

113
Q

Water cycle feedback loop - ice

A
  • ice reflects radiation
  • ice melts = warm waters = ice melts
  • changes transfers of water
114
Q

Carbon cycle feedback loop

A
  • high temps increased growing season

- melt permafrost

115
Q

Phytoplankton cycle

A
  • use energy from sun to photosynthesis
  • cold temps = increase phytoplankton = increase clouds = global cooling = less sunshine = less phytoplankton = reduced cooling effect
116
Q

Human causes - carbon cycle

A
  • 90% anthropogenic from combustion of fossil fuels
  • farming practices - cow = 20% of methane emissions, rice fields = 40% increase in methane emissions
  • carbon sequestration
  • deforestation = 13 million hectares of forest cut down, 3% forest lost between 1990 and 2005
  • urbanisation= = cities responsible for 47% co2 emissions
  • cement producaiton
117
Q

Natural changes to the carbon cycle

A
  • wild fires - amount depends of fuel type
  • volcanic activity - emit 130 - 180 million tonnes of CO2 a year (30 billion from buring fossil fuels)
  • orbital changes (Milankovitch cycles) - delay between co2 and temp changes, due to eccentricity (100,000 year cycle), sun further away means less radiation
118
Q

Impacts of carbon budges - atmosphere and global climate

A
  • increasing atmospheric co2 = highest change in 800,000 years, enhanced greenhouse effect causes radiation
  • radiative forces = 30% sunlight refelected back into space
  • relgional clime = vegetation , volcanic activity etc
119
Q

Impacts of carbon budget - land

A
  • affects soil
  • more CO2 = more photosynthesis
  • increased growing season
120
Q

Impacts of carbon budget - ocean

A
  • ocean salinity = more freshwater (esspecially in deep north atlantic), decreasng large scalse oceanic circulation
  • ocean acidification = ocean pH dropped bu 0.1 scince 1750, coral reef is food and job security
  • melting sea ice = habitat, releases stored carbon
  • sea level rise = 3.5mm/year since 1990s, thermal expansion
121
Q

Political initiatives for climate change

A
  • IPCC
  • Kyoto
  • Paris agreement - legally binding, 195 countries, limit of 1.5C
  • regional commitments - 27 EU countries, trading greenhouse gas allocations
  • bilateral commitments - USA (reduce 27% by 2025) and China (cap 2030) limit emmitions
122
Q

Climate change key facts

A
  • ocean surface temp warming by 0.85C between 1880 to 2012
  • upper 75m ocean warmed by 0.11C
  • ph of ocean decrease by 0.1
  • high rates of permafrost melting
  • sea levels rose by 0.19m
  • arctic sea lice extent decreased at a rate 0f 3.5 - 4.1% per decade
123
Q

Human factors affecting water cycle

A
  • deforestation
  • agricultural soil drainage
  • water abstratction
124
Q

Physical factors affecting water cycle

A
  • el nino
  • tropical storms
  • droughts
125
Q

Quaternary period

A

The last 2.5 million years

- seen glacial and interglacial periods

126
Q

Ocean acidification

A

Carbon acidifies the ocean water

127
Q

Sea ice melt

A

Ice melts = exposed sea = warming of sea (low albedo) = melting of ice ….. (causes an increase in the temperatures

128
Q

What is the IPCC

A

International panel for climate change
- an a political, global approach that focuses on scientific and other approaches to climate change (helps find strategies for lower income countries)

129
Q

Examples of positive feedback

A
  • water - sea ice melt

- carbon - dieback deforestation and wildfires

130
Q

Examples of negative feedback

A
  • carbon - carbon sequestration (removal of carbon from the atmosphere)
  • water and carbon - phytoplankton
131
Q

What is dieback deforestation

A

We deforest trees = reduced carbon stores = increase wildfires = more natural deforestation = less carbon etc

132
Q

Water store numbers

A
  • 96.5% of water is stored in the ocean

- of freshwater stores 68.7% are in glaciers and ice caps

133
Q

Carbon stores in fossil fuels

A
  • 4,000 billion tonnes

- 90% of carbon released is from fossil fuels

134
Q

Pedosphere carbon stores

A

1,500 billion tonnes

A Level Geography (51 decks)

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