Water and Carbon cycle Flashcards
negative feedback definition
(good) a cyclical sequence of events that damps down or neutralise the effects of a system, regulating stability of a state of dynamic equilibrium
positive feedback definition
(bad) a cyclical sequence of events that amplifies or increases change. Positive feedback loops exagerate the output of a system driving it in one direction and promoting environmental instability
dynamic equilibrium definition
represents a state of constantly changing system
flows/transfers definition
the links/relationships between components (eg infiltration/groundflow)
output definiton
material or energy moving from the system to the outside (eg evaporation)
input definition
material or energy moving into the system from the outside (eg precipitation)
stores/components definition
the individual elemenr or parts of a system (eg trees, puddles etc)
isolated system definition
no input or output of energy or matter (eg the universe)
system theory defintion
systems help us to analyse the relationship between components of the unit being considered
system defintion
simple diagram to show different components of a concept and their relationships and links between them
lithosphere definition
the crust and upper most solid part of the mantle (rock)
hydrosphere defintion
all the earths water in the ground and on the surface
cryosphere defintion
frozen water in the earths system
atmosphere defintion
the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet
biosphere defintion
the reguions of the surface and the atmosphere of the earth occupied by the living organisms
sublimation definition
when a material changes directly from a solid to a gas
desublimation defintion
the opposite of sublimation- when a material changes directly froma gas to a solid
fog drip defintion
occurs during fog when water forms on plants and drips back down to the earths surface
seepage definition
water enters soil and retreats down stream
aquifier definition
body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater
precipitation definition
transfer of water from the atmosphere to the ground. It can take the form of rain, snow, hail, dew etc
evaporation definition
transfer of water from liquid state to gaseous state (water vapour). The vast majority occurs from the oceans to the atmosphere
condensation definition
transfer of water from gaseous state to a liquid state (eg formation of clouds)
sublimation definition
transfer from a solid state (ice) to a gaseous ststae (water vapour) and vice versa
