Water and carbon cycle Flashcards
A system
A useful type of model showing different components and the links between them
Why is a system important?
A systems approach helps us to understand the relationships between the physical and human world
Also helps to understand how change in one part of a system can impact elsewhere
E.g. Water cycle, Carbon cycle, Coastal system
Open system
Open system is a series of inputs, stores, flows and outputs with energy and matter both passing through and entering and leaving the system
Closed system
A closed system is a system that transfers energy but not matter across its bpundary and to the sorrounding enviroment
Sub system
A sub-system is a smaller, distinct part of a larger system that functions as a component within it.
Cascading system
Cascading systems refers to the interrelationships between the earths major sub systems
Dynamic equlibrium
Positive feedback
When the effects of an action are amplified by the changes to inputs/outputs/processess
Examples of positive feedback
Burning more fossil fuels, INCREASE in co2, in
Negative feedback
When the effects of an action are nulified or neutralised by the changes to an input/output/processess promoting stability and state of equlibirium
Examples of negative feedback
Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere includes all water on earth
Liquid, solid, gas form
Saline (96.5% or fresh water (2.5%)
Atmosphere
The enevlope of gases sorrounding the earth of another planet
Biosphere
The part of the planet occupied by all living things
CONTAINS: 0.0012% OF ALL CARBON
Lithosphere
Rigid outerpart of the earths crust and mantle >99.9%
Cascading system
Water cycle
The water cycle refers to the recyling and transferring of all water on earth
Open system on a local scale
Closed system on global scale
Key points about wc
Precipitation
Water released from clouds in the form of rain freezing rain, sleet or snow
Interception
The process by which water held on the surface of leaves branches, and trunks during and after rainfall is directly evaporated back up into the atmosphere
Soil moisture
The amount of water present within the soil
Percolation
The process by which water moves through the soil and rock layers beneath the surface enters permable rocks
Soil storage
All water stored within the soil
Infiltration
Infiltration is the process by which water enters and moves through the soil or porous surface layers from the ground surface.
Ground water
Water stored deep within the ground that infiltrates into the subsurface
Ground water storage
The storage of water in underground permable rock strata e.g. Aquifers
Throughflow
The lateral unsatured flow of water through the soil typically thrpugh highly permable rock and in the sporadic holitical flow of water
Surface run-off
The flow of water over the ground surface anf occurs when soil cannot absorb the water fast enough or the ground is fully saturated
Transpiration
The process at which plants lose water through ecaporaion from their leaves and stem
Evaporation
The process by which liquid water turns into water vapour
Aquifers
A body of rock and or sediment that holds ground water
Fossil aquifers
Saline aquifers
Soil water budget
The soil water budget graph shows the relationship between precipitation and evapotranspiration across the months of the year
Residence time
The amount of water stored within a water store divided by either the rate of addition of water to the store or rate of loss from it
Water table
Reasons water doesnt remain in soil for long?
Role of crysopheric processess in water cycle stores
Permafrost
Latent heat
Evaporation
Condensation
Sublimation
Ablation
Depostion
Freezing
ITCZ zone
Convectional rainfall
Frontall rainfall
Releif rainfall orographic
When does evaporation occur and what does the role depend on
Condensation
Formation of clouds
Impact of climate change on crysophere
Impact of climate change on hydosphere
Impact of climate change on atmosphere
Impact of climate change on lithosphere
Factors affecting the water cycle on a local scale
Drainage basin
Inputs to dbs
Stores of dbs
Flows of dbs
Outputs of dbs
Water balance
Water balance calc
Soil water budget graph
Positive water balance
Negative water balance
Field capacity
Field capacity is the point at which the soil is saturated and water can no longer infiltrate
Soil Moisture surplus
Soil moisture deficit
Soil moisture recharge
Soil moisture utilisation
River discharge
River regime
The river regime refers to the changes in the river discharge over the course of a year in response to a number of factors
UK rainfall
Flood hydrograph
Base flow
Rising limb
Falling limb
Lag time
Peak discharge
Flashy hydrograph
Physical factors affecting flood hydrograph
How does climate affect water cycle
geology and releif on cycle
vegetation?
Landuse
Land use change
Agriculture
Irrigation
Adiabatic cooling
Adibatic cooling is the process of reducing heat through a change in air pressure cuased by volume expansion
