Water and Carbon Cycle Flashcards
Systems
On a local scale, the water and carbon cycles are both open systems however, on a global scale they are closed systems
The Water Cycle outputs
Run-Off
Evapotranspiration
Streamflow
The Water Cycle Inputs
Precipitation
The Water Cycle flows
Infiltration
Percolation
Throughflow
Surface runoff
groundwater flow
stemflow
The water cycle stores
Groundwater
Soil Water
River Channel
Interception
Surface Storage
The Water Balance
Used to express the rates of water storage and transfers in a drainage basin system
Precipitation = total runoff + Evapotranspiration +/- (Change in) Storage
Changes to the water system
Deforestation
Storm Events
Seasonal Changes
Agriculture
Urbanisation
Soil Water Budget
Annual balance between inputs and outputs in the water system and their impact on store water availability. Dependent on soil type and depth
Seasonal variation in the Soil Water Budget
Autumn; Greater input from precipitation than their is output from evapotranspiration as deciduous trees lose their leaves. Cooler temps mean plants photosynthesise less
Winter; Evapotranspiration from plants reaches minimum due to colder temps
Spring; Plants start to grow again and evapotranspiration increases, still a water surplus
Summer; Evapotranspiration peaks and rainfall is at a minimum, soil water stores are depleating
Water Cycle at a Global Scale
Oceans contain 97% of Earth’s water stores, Only 2.5% of stores is freshwater of which around 70% is stored in glaciers and 30% is stored as groundwater
How can water be stored?
Hydrosphere
Cryosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere
Inter Tropics Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
Determines precipitation and cloud formation, ITZM is a low pressure zone
Water Cycle Changes Over Time, natural
Seasonal changes
Storm Events
Droughts
El nino - Occures every 2-7 years and causes warmer temperatures
La Nina - Occurs every 2 - 7 years and causes cooler temperatures
Water Cycle Changes Over Time, Human
Farming
Land Use Changes
Over Abstraction
Flood Hydrographs
Discharge
Falling Limb
Rising Limb
Lag Time
Base flow
Flashy vs Subdued
Transfers in the Carbon Cycle
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Combustion
Decomposition
Diffusion
Weathering
Carbon Sequestration- transfer of carbon from stores usually from atmosphere - links to CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage)
Carbon Sink
Takes in more Carbon than it releases
Main Carbon Stores
Sedimentary Rock
Oceans
Fossil Fuel deposits
Atmosphere
Plants
Lithosphere
Carbon Cycle Changes over time
Wildfires
Volcanic Activity
Fossil Fuel use
Deforestation
Farming Practices
What is the Carbon Budget
Balance between carbon inputs and outputs
Enhanced Greenhouse gas Effect
Abnormally high levels of greenhouse gases are created by human activity, CO2 contributes arounf 65% to radiative forcing
Causes of Greenhouse gas effect
Land Use Change
Fertilisers
Deforestation
Urbanisation
Impact on the carbon cycle on regional climates
Tropical Rainforests;
- High rates of Photosynthesis
Oceans;
- Warmer Oceans which store less CO2
Land Drainage in Moorland Areas
A Moorland area also known as a peatland is an area of waterlogged acidic soil and peat, waterlogged soil prevents oxygen from entering.
Major stores of Carbon Dioxide
As they are drained CO2 is released
