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geography > water and carbon cycle > Flashcards

water and carbon cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

water cycle

A

the circulation of water between different global environments- at the global scale is a closed system

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2
Q

carbon cycle

A

circulation of carbon between different global environments- at the global scale is a closed system

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3
Q

stores/ components

A

a part of a system where energy and/ or matter is held for a time or transformed

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4
Q

transfers/ fluxes/ flows

A

a link between one store and another than involves movement of energy or mass

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5
Q

positive feedback loops

A

where the effects of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent knock-on or secondary effects

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6
Q

negative feedback loops

A

where the effects of an action are nullified or re-balanced by subsequent knock-on or secondary effects

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7
Q

dynamic equilibrium

A

a balance between inputs and outputs within a system

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8
Q

inputs

A

the addition of matter and/ or energy into a system

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9
Q

outputs

A

the removal of matter and/or energy from a system

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10
Q

lithosphere

A

the crust and the uppermost mantle making up the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth

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11
Q

hydrosphere

A

a discontinuous layer of water at or near the Earths surface including all liquid and frozen surface, groundwater and atmospheric water

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12
Q

cryosphere

A

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

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13
Q

biosphere

A

the global ecosystem composed of living organisms (biota) and the abiotic (non-living) factors from which they derive energy and nutrients

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14
Q

residence time

A

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

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15
Q

evaporation

A

the process by which liquid water changes to gas- from the land or ocean surfaces

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16
Q

condensation

A

process by which water vapour changes to liquid water - creates clouds

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17
Q

precipitation

A

water falling to Earth’s surface as rain, snow, sleet or hail

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18
Q

drainage basin

A

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)

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19
Q

transpiration

A

loss of water from vegetation through pores (stomata) on their surfaces

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20
Q

runoff

A

all the water than enters a river channel and eventually flows out of a drainage basin

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21
Q

interception storage

A

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

22
Q

groundwater

A

water stored underground in the rock layers

23
Q

percolation

A

the downward movement of water within the rock under the soil surfaces- rates vary on the type of rock

24
Q

stemflow

A

the portion of precipitation intercepted by the vegetation canopy which then reaches the ground by flowing down stems, stalks or tree boles (trunks)

25
Q

carbon sink

A

a place or environment where more carbon is absorbed and/or stored that is given out/ emitted e.g wet peatland, tropical rainforest

26
Q

carbon source

A

place or environment where more carbon is given out/ emitted than is taken in/ absorbed e.g most cities, melting permafrost

27
Q

water abstraction

A

the process of taking water from a ground source or river temporarily or permanently for human use

28
Q

sere

A

an intermediate stage found in ecological succession in an ecosystem advancing its climax community e.g yellow dunes within a coastal environment

29
Q

photosynthesis

A

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

30
Q

respiration

A

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

31
Q

decomposition

A

the process by which organic substances are broken down/ decay into simpler organic matter as a part of the nutrient cycle

32
Q

carbon sequestration

A

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

33
Q

weathering

A

the disintegration of rocks in situ (in one place- not moving) by a combination of chemical reaction, mechanical processes and/or plants

34
Q

hydrocarbon extraction

A

the removal of oil, gas and coal from deep underground or from more surface geological stores

35
Q

fossil fuel combustion

A

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

36
Q

climate

A

the patterns of temperature and rainfall in an area over long periods of time

37
Q

global warming

A

the observed rise over the last 100 years in the average temperature of the earth’s climate system and its related effects

38
Q

climate change

A

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

39
Q

enhanced greenhouse effect

A

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

40
Q

terrestrial water

A

water on or in the land- groundwater, soil moisture, lakes, wetlands and rivers

41
Q

atmospheric water

A

water found in the atmosphere- water vapour, cloud, rain droplets, ice crystals

42
Q

wetlands

A

a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally and so taking on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem

43
Q

water balance

A

the balance between inputs (precipitation) and outputs (run-off, evapotranspiration, soil and groundwater storage) in a drainage basin or larger area

44
Q

lag time

A

the time between the peak rainfall in a storm event area and peak discharge in the responding river

45
Q

storm/ flood hydrograph

A

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

46
Q

discharge

A

the amount of water flowing past a particular point on a river channel expressed as cumecs

47
Q

base flow

A

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

48
Q

peak discharge

A

the point on a storm/ flood hydrograph when river discharge is at its highest

49
Q

river regime

A

the pattern of variation of a rivers’ discharge over the course of a year

50
Q

urbanisation

A

the growing proportion of people living in built environments, such as towns and cities, and the spread of these geographically into previously rural environments

geography (7 decks)

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