water and carbon cycle

Question 1

water cycle

Answer 1

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

Question 2

carbon cycle

Answer 2

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

Question 3

stores/ components

Answer 3

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

Question 4

transfers/ fluxes/ flows

Answer 4

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

Question 5

positive feedback loops

Answer 5

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

Question 6

negative feedback loops

Answer 6

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

Question 7

dynamic equilibrium

Answer 7

a balance between inputs and outputs within a system

Question 8

inputs

Answer 8

the addition of matter and/ or energy into a system

Question 9

outputs

Answer 9

the removal of matter and/or energy from a system

Question 10

lithosphere

Answer 10

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

Question 11

hydrosphere

Answer 11

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

Question 12

cryosphere

Answer 12

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

Question 13

biosphere

Answer 13

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

Question 14

residence time

Answer 14

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

Question 15

evaporation

Answer 15

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

Question 16

condensation

Answer 16

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

Question 17

precipitation

Answer 17

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

Question 18

drainage basin

Answer 18

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)

Question 19

transpiration

Answer 19

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

Question 20

runoff

Answer 20

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

Question 21

interception storage

Answer 21

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

Question 22

groundwater

Answer 22

water stored underground in the rock layers

Question 23

percolation

Answer 23

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

Question 24

stemflow

Answer 24

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

Question 25

carbon sink

Answer 25

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

Question 26

carbon source

Answer 26

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

Question 27

water abstraction

Answer 27

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

Question 28

sere

Answer 28

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

Question 29

photosynthesis

Answer 29

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

Question 30

respiration

Answer 30

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

Question 31

decomposition

Answer 31

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

Question 32

carbon sequestration

Answer 32

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

Question 33

weathering

Answer 33

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

Question 34

hydrocarbon extraction

Answer 34

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

Question 35

fossil fuel combustion

Answer 35

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

Question 36

climate

Answer 36

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

Question 37

global warming

Answer 37

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

Question 38

climate change

Answer 38

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

Question 39

enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 39

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

Question 40

terrestrial water

Answer 40

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

Question 41

atmospheric water

Answer 41

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

Question 42

wetlands

Answer 42

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

Question 43

water balance

Answer 43

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

Question 44

lag time

Answer 44

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

Question 45

storm/ flood hydrograph

Answer 45

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

Question 46

discharge

Answer 46

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

Question 47

base flow

Answer 47

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

Question 48

peak discharge

Answer 48

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

Question 49

river regime

Answer 49

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

Question 50

urbanisation

Answer 50

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