water and carbon cycle Flashcards
water cycle
the circulation of water between different global environments- at the global scale is a closed system
carbon cycle
circulation of carbon between different global environments- at the global scale is a closed system
stores/ components
a part of a system where energy and/ or matter is held for a time or transformed
transfers/ fluxes/ flows
a link between one store and another than involves movement of energy or mass
positive feedback loops
where the effects of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent knock-on or secondary effects
negative feedback loops
where the effects of an action are nullified or re-balanced by subsequent knock-on or secondary effects
dynamic equilibrium
a balance between inputs and outputs within a system
inputs
the addition of matter and/ or energy into a system
outputs
the removal of matter and/or energy from a system
lithosphere
the crust and the uppermost mantle making up the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth
hydrosphere
a discontinuous layer of water at or near the Earths surface including all liquid and frozen surface, groundwater and atmospheric water
cryosphere
the places where water is in its solid form, frozen into ice or snow- freshwater ice, sea ice, glaciers, ice sheets, frozen ground and permafrost
biosphere
the global ecosystem composed of living organisms (biota) and the abiotic (non-living) factors from which they derive energy and nutrients
residence time
the varying amount of time that energy and/or matter stays within a store e.g ow long water is stored as ice in a glacier
evaporation
the process by which liquid water changes to gas- from the land or ocean surfaces
condensation
process by which water vapour changes to liquid water - creates clouds
precipitation
water falling to Earth’s surface as rain, snow, sleet or hail
drainage basin
an area of land drained by a river and its tributaries (river system), including water found in the water table and the surface run-off separated from other drainage basins by a ridge of highland (watershed)
transpiration
loss of water from vegetation through pores (stomata) on their surfaces
runoff
all the water than enters a river channel and eventually flows out of a drainage basin
interception storage
the precipitation that falls onto the vegetation canopy or human made surfaces and is stored temporarily on these- can then be evaporated, absorbed or flows to ground surface
groundwater
water stored underground in the rock layers
percolation
the downward movement of water within the rock under the soil surfaces- rates vary on the type of rock
stemflow
the portion of precipitation intercepted by the vegetation canopy which then reaches the ground by flowing down stems, stalks or tree boles (trunks)
carbon sink
a place or environment where more carbon is absorbed and/or stored that is given out/ emitted e.g wet peatland, tropical rainforest
carbon source
place or environment where more carbon is given out/ emitted than is taken in/ absorbed e.g most cities, melting permafrost
water abstraction
the process of taking water from a ground source or river temporarily or permanently for human use
sere
an intermediate stage found in ecological succession in an ecosystem advancing its climax community e.g yellow dunes within a coastal environment
photosynthesis
plants using energy from sunlight to combine with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water to form carbohydrates (simple sugars) to grow- opposite to respiration
respiration
animals and bacteria use plant carbohydrates combined with oxygen from the atmosphere to get energy and give back out water and carbon dioxide- opposite to photosynthesis
decomposition
the process by which organic substances are broken down/ decay into simpler organic matter as a part of the nutrient cycle
carbon sequestration
slow transfer of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to be put into long-term storage- either naturally or by human intervention through carbon capture technology at power stations
weathering
the disintegration of rocks in situ (in one place- not moving) by a combination of chemical reaction, mechanical processes and/or plants
hydrocarbon extraction
the removal of oil, gas and coal from deep underground or from more surface geological stores
fossil fuel combustion
burning of hydrocarbons suc as oil gas and coal in various forms to produce efficient energy for human use, e.g petrol in car engines, coal in power stations
climate
the patterns of temperature and rainfall in an area over long periods of time
global warming
the observed rise over the last 100 years in the average temperature of the earth’s climate system and its related effects
climate change
a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time- can include a warming climate or a cooling one such as an ice age
enhanced greenhouse effect
the impact of the additional heat retained in the atmosphere due to the increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that human have released since the industrial revolution
terrestrial water
water on or in the land- groundwater, soil moisture, lakes, wetlands and rivers
atmospheric water
water found in the atmosphere- water vapour, cloud, rain droplets, ice crystals
wetlands
a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally and so taking on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem
water balance
the balance between inputs (precipitation) and outputs (run-off, evapotranspiration, soil and groundwater storage) in a drainage basin or larger area
lag time
the time between the peak rainfall in a storm event area and peak discharge in the responding river
storm/ flood hydrograph
a graph of discharge of a river responding over a time period when the normal flow of the river is affected by a storm event
discharge
the amount of water flowing past a particular point on a river channel expressed as cumecs
base flow
the normal day-to-day discharge of the river- slow moving soil throughflow and groundwater seepage into the channel keep this level with precipitation adding to these
peak discharge
the point on a storm/ flood hydrograph when river discharge is at its highest
river regime
the pattern of variation of a rivers’ discharge over the course of a year
urbanisation
the growing proportion of people living in built environments, such as towns and cities, and the spread of these geographically into previously rural environments
