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physical geography > Water and carbon cycle > Flashcards

Water and carbon cycle Flashcards

1
Q

input

A

material or energy moving into the system from outside

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2
Q

output

A

material or energy moving from the system to the outside

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3
Q

energy

A

power or driving force

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4
Q

positive feedback

A

a cyclical sequence of events that amplifies or increases change

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5
Q

negative feedback

A

a cyclical sequence of events that nullifies or decreases change

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6
Q

open system

A

energy and matter are transferred over the system boundary

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7
Q

closed system

A

energy, not matter, is transferred over the system boundary

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8
Q

isolated system

A

nothing leaves

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9
Q

oceans cover…% of the earth’s surface

A

72%

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10
Q

pH of the oceans

A

alkaline of 8ish

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11
Q

features of cryospheric water

A

sea ice, ice sheets, ice caps, alpine glaciers, permafrost

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12
Q

sea ice

A

doesn’t raise sea levels when melted as already counts as sea

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13
Q

ice sheets

A

a mass of glacial land ice extending more than 50 000 km^2

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14
Q

ice caps

A

thick layers of ice on land that are smaller than 50 000 km^2

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15
Q

alpine glaciers

A

thick masses of ice found in deep valleys or in upland hollows

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16
Q

oceans contain …% of the earth’s water

A

97%

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17
Q

permafrost

A

when the ground remains frozen for two consecutive years

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18
Q

features of terrestrial water

A

rivers, surface water, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, biological water

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19
Q

lakes

A

greater than 2 hectares in area (anything less is a pond)

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20
Q

wetlands

A

areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water

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21
Q

groundwater

A

water that collects underground in the pore spaces of rock at a depth of 4000m

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22
Q

major stores of water

A

oceanic water, cryospheric water, terrestrial water, atmospheric water

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23
Q

sublimation

A

when a solid becomes a gas without becoming a liquid

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24
Q

deposition

A

when a gas becomes a solid without becoming a liquid

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25
Q

latent heat in condensation

A

released during condensation as the gas molecules slow down and join together so the surroundings are warmed

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26
Q

latent heat in evaportation

A

absorbed during evaporation to give energy to break the molecular bonds, this means that the surroundings are warmed

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27
Q

…% of water is readily availible for human use

A

2.5%

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28
Q

factors affecting the rate of evaporation

A

solar energy, amount of water, humidity, temperature of the air

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29
Q

transpiration

A

where water is transported from the roots of a plant, to its leaves, and then lost through the poreson the leaf surface

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30
Q

evapotranspiration

A

the total output of water from the drainage basin directly into the atmosphere

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31
Q

factors affecting the rate of condension

A

temperature of the air, temperature of the surface

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32
Q

dew point temperature

A

colder air holds less water, the temperature when it’s cooled to saturation is the dew point temperature

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33
Q

condensation nuclei

A

the tiny particles, such as smoke, salt, and dust, that water vapour condenses on

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34
Q

why must the condensation nuclei be below the dew point temperature but above freezing point

A

so that the water vapour doesn’t sublimate

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35
Q

inputs in the water cycle

A

precipitation

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36
Q

outputs in the water cycle

A

transpiration and evapotranspiration (can also include run off)

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37
Q

flows/transfers in the water cycle

A

infiltration, stem flow, overland flow, through flow, groundwater flow, percolation, channel flow

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38
Q

through flow

A

when water flows through the ground

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39
Q

groundwater flow

A

slow movement of goundwater

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40
Q

percolation

A

water moves down through the ground

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41
Q

stores/components in the water cycle

A

groundwater, soil water, surface storage, channel storage

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42
Q

water balance

A

the difference between the inputs and outputs (and the subsequent change in storage) in the drainage basin

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43
Q

equation for water balance

A 
P = Q + E +/- S
P is precipitation
Q is total run off
E is evapotranspiration
S is storage in soil and rock
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44
Q

soil moisture budget

A

the change in the amount of water stored in the soil throughout the year

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45
Q

factors affecting the soil moisture budget

A

climate, variation of temperature during the year, precipitation, time between precipitation

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46
Q

factors causing a variation in run off rates

A

saturated soil, rock type, type of precipitation, vegetation, evapotranspiration rate, intensity of precipitation

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47
Q

river discharge

A

the volume of water in a river in a m^3 at a given time

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48
Q

how do you calculate the discharge?

A

cross sectional area x speed = cumecs (m^3/s)

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49
Q

river regime

A

the variability in the river’s discharge throughout the course of the year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, and drainage basin characteristics

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50
Q

factors affecting river flow patterns throughout the year

A

climatic variation, land use changes, water abstraction, landscapes, geological characteristics

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51
Q

physical factors affecting the water cycle over time

A

extreme weather events, drought, precipitation levels, vegetation, evaporation rates, soil properties, relief, desertification

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52
Q

human factors affecting the water cycle over time

A

deforestation and afforestation, urbanisation, farming, water abstraction, irrigation methods, desertificaion

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53
Q

how does deforestation impact the water cycle?

A

decreases atmospheric feedback and so decreasing rainfall and increasing discharge

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54
Q

agricultural soil drainage

A

this is where excess water is removed from the soil, it’s a costly process but has many advantages

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55
Q

advantages of agricultural soil drainage

A

improved soil structure, improved areastion in the soil

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56
Q

how does agricultural soil drainage affect the water cycle?

A

speeds the through flow in soil artificially which means that more water reaches the rivers quickly so increased risk of flooding

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57
Q

water abstraction

A

when water is pumped out of the ground for use eg London

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58
Q

El Nīno

A

When the temperature rises around the tropical ocean it occurs every 5 years ish

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59
Q

Affects of el nīno in northern Australia and Indonesia

A

They experience dry weather

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60
Q

Affect of El Niño in South America

A

Lots of rain

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61
Q

How does drought affect the water cycle

A

Soil is baked so more surface flow, vegetation cannot survive, shortages in all water supplies (atmospheric, surface, ground)

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62
Q

What are the main stores of carbon

A

Lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere

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63
Q

Carbon sink

A

A store that absorbs more carbon than it release

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64
Q

Carbon source

A

A store that releases more carbon than it absorbs

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65
Q

Carbon transfer

A

These are processes that transfer carbon between the stores

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66
Q

GtC

A

A gigatonne of CO2 is used to measure the amount of carbon in stores (1GtC=10^9 tonnes)

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67
Q

Anthropogenic CO2

A

CO2 generates by human activity

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68
Q

Greenhouse gas

A

Any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation thereby trapping and holding heat

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69
Q

Lithosphere

A

The crust and upper mantle this constitutes the hard and rigid outer layer of the earth

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70
Q

Weathering

A

The breakdown of rocks in situ by a combination of weather, plants, and animals

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71
Q

Biosphere

A

The total sum of all living matter

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72
Q

Carbon sequestration

A

The capture of CO2 and putting it into long term storage

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73
Q

Forms of lithosphere carbon

A

Marine sediment and sedimentary rock, soil organic matter, fossil fuel deposits, and peat

74
Q

Amount of carbon stored in the biosphere

A

About 3170GtC

75
Q

The distribution of carbon in the biosphere depends on…

A

The ecosystem

76
Q

Amount of oceanic carbon

A

About 40,000GtC

77
Q

Amount of carbon stored in the atmosphere

A

800GtC

78
Q

Carbon in the cryosphere

A

Carbon trapped under permafrost and is released when it melts

79
Q

Net carbon sink

A

If more carbon enters a store than leaves it

80
Q

Net carbon source

A

If more carbon leaves a store than enters it

81
Q

Stores/stocks

A

The total amount of material held within the system

82
Q

Fluxes

A

Measurements of the rate of flow between the stores normally given in Pg per year

83
Q

Processes

A

Physical mechanisms which drive the flux of material between stores

84
Q

Respiration

A

O2+CH2O->energy+H2O+CO2

85
Q

Photosynthesis

A

CO2+H2O+sunlight->CH2O+O2

86
Q

Natural variation in the carbon cycle

A

Natural wildfires, volcanic activity, impact of temperature, orbital changes

87
Q

In … and … Indonesia had lots of wildfires which burnt for months and the smoke spread across south east Asia

A

1997 and 2003

88
Q

How much CO2 do volcanos emit per year

A

130 to 180 million tonnes

89
Q

Amount of carbon released by anthropogenic processes

A

30 billion tonnes

90
Q

How does colder temperatures affect the carbon cycle

A

Cold rain holds more CO2 more chemical weathering, decomposers less effective, soil frozen over

91
Q

How does warmer temperatures affect the carbon cycle

A

Melting of permafrost releases carbon

92
Q

Example of positive feedback in the carbon cycle

A

Permafrost melts, releases carbon, enhances greenhouse effect, further destabilisation

93
Q

Eccentricity

A

Is the change of shape of the earths orbit around the sun

94
Q

There is only a …% difference between when the earth is closest and furthest from the sun

A

3%

95
Q

Perihelion

A

Closer to the sun

96
Q

Aphelion

A

Furthest from the sun

97
Q

How do humans affect the carbon cycle

A

Hydrocarbon fuel extraction and burning, farming practices, deforestation, urbanisation, carbon sequestration

98
Q

…% of anthropogenic carbon release is from the combustion of fossil fuels

A

90%

99
Q

Gas and oil are extracted from…

A

Rocks that are millions of years old

100
Q

How much CO2 do US cattle emit per year

A

5.5 million tonnes (20% of the country’s total)

101
Q

In 2012 cities were responsible for …% of global carbon emissions

A

47%

102
Q

For every 1000kg of cement produced, …kg of CO2 is released

A

900kg

103
Q

Types of carbon sequestration

A

Geological sequestration

Terrestrial/biological sequestration

104
Q

Sere

A

A vegetation succession/sequence of changes that relate to a specific environment

105
Q

Example of a sere

A

Lithosere- the vegetation succession that occurs on bare rock

106
Q

Enhanced greenhouse effect

A

The impact on the climate from the additional heat retained due to increased amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere

107
Q

Geo sequestration

A

Technology capturing ghg emissions from power stations and pumping them into underground reservoirs

108
Q

Radiative forcing

A

The difference between the incoming solar energy absorbed by the earth and energy radiated back to space

109
Q

Soil organic carbon

A

The organic constitutes in the soil eg tissues from dead plants and animals,m

110
Q

Impacts of the carbon budget on the atmosphere and global climate

A

Increasing atmospheric CO2
Radiative forcing
Regional climate

111
Q

How does the carbon budget impact the oceans

A

Salinity
Acidification
Melting sea ice
Seal level rise

112
Q

Current atmospheric CO2 level

A

400ppm

113
Q

Climate change mitigation

A

Carbon capture and sequestration
Changing rural land use
Improved transport practices

114
Q

Example of a river catchment

A

Pickering beck

115
Q

Where is Pickering beck?

A

North Yorkshire

116
Q

Population at Pickering

A

7000

117
Q

Length of Pickering beck

A

18 miles

118
Q

Catchment of Pickering beck

A

68km^2

119
Q

When was Pickering beck flooded

A

1999, 2000, 2007

120
Q

In 2007 how many houses were flooded from Pickering beck

A

85

121
Q

Natural causes of flooding at Pickering beck

A

Geology
Soil type absorbs lots of water
Relief steep so flashy

122
Q

Geology at Pickering beck

A

Limestone

Cracks absorbs water etc etc

123
Q

Cost of damage from flooding at Pickering back

A

£2.1 billion

124
Q

Human causes of flooding at Pickering back

A

Agricultural land use

urbanisation

125
Q

Why is the water quality bad at Pickering beck

A

Do use of fertilisers herbicides and pesticides run off into the river and lesson its quality

126
Q

Flood management at Pickering beck

A

Slowing the flow

127
Q

Low-level bunds

A

Low quality land left to allow to flood kinder like a marsh

128
Q

Low-level bund at Pickering beck

A

Built on floodplain at newtondale

Flood storage capacity of 120,000 m^3

129
Q

Creation of floodplain woodland at Pickering beck

A

19 ha of riparian woodland have been planted within the catchment and a further 10 ha within the river Severn catchment

130
Q

Riparian

A

Plant communities along river margins characterised by hydrophilic plants such as alder and willow trees

131
Q

Why have large woody debris dams been restored Pickering beck

A

129 LWD constructed within the pickering beck catchment in order to slow the flow

132
Q

Where is the Amazon rainforest

A

Located in the continent of South America covers nine countries

133
Q

How big is the Amazon rainforest

A

5,500,000 km² (5.5 million)

134
Q

Average rainfall per year in the Amazon rainforest

A

3000 mm

135
Q

How many trees are there in the Amazon

A

3 billion trees

136
Q

How much of the rainfall in the Amazon is intercepted by trees

A

75%

137
Q

Rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest

A

19,368 km² per year

138
Q

…% of deforestation in the Amazon is to make room for cattleranching

A

80%

139
Q

Why was there a drought in São Paulo

A

The deforestation in the Amazon rainforest caused the drought as there was a lack of water supply

140
Q

Why is the Amazon rainforest carbon sink

A

Rainforest absorbs around 35% of the worlds missions and produces 20% of the worlds oxygen

141
Q

By the year 2050 will the temperature is in the Amazon have increased by

A

2 to 3°C

142
Q

In the upper 50 cm of the soil layer how much carbon do Amazonian soils contain

A

4 to 9 kg

143
Q

Climate change mitigation

A

Efforts to reduce or prevent emissions of greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change

144
Q

The TARAPOTO process

A

Began in 1995

Identified 12 criteria to help manage The forest sustainability and manage at a national and global level

145
Q

The Amazon Corporation Treaty organisation

A

Aimed at promoting sustainable development they try to reduce the loss of forest cover world right through sustainable forest management including protection restoration

146
Q

That establishment of the IPcc

A

1988 intergovernmental panel on climate change scientists and expert set up to monitor and analyse climate

147
Q

Paris agreement

A

2015 at the Paris climate conference 195 countries adopted the first legally binding Global climate deal due to be enforced by 2020 the aim is to limit the average global temperature increase to 1.5°C

148
Q

how much of the carbon stores in the planet’s biomass is in the amazon rainforest/

A

20% 300 billion trees

149
Q

how many different species are in the amazon

A

15 000

150
Q

how many countries does the amazon reach into

A

9

151
Q

what is the average rainfall in the amazon

A

3 000mm per year

152
Q

peak rainfall in the amazon

A

maximum 6 000 mm per year

153
Q

what percentage of rainfall in the amazon does not reach the ground and why

A

75% intercepted by the forest canopy so re evaporated into the atmosphere

154
Q

how does rainfall reach the ground in the amazon and what happens to it

A

Stem flow
Some travels by runoff to the rivers
Some infiltrates the ground and is taken up through the roots- stored or leaves through transpiration
Some goes into groundwater

155
Q

the amazon river equates to around … of the freshwater entering the oceans each day

A

15%

156
Q

how much of the amazon has been lost to deforestation in the last 50 years

A

17%

157
Q

what percentage of brazils greehouse gas emissions were a result of deforestation

A

75%

158
Q

how does slash and burn impact on the water cycle

A

Burning increases number of condensation nuclei- very small clouds that are too small to precipitate- reduces rainfall (up to 20%)
Less rainfall = vegetation remaining dies, less water stored in the biosphere
Rainfall no longer intercepted- increases surface runoff and flood risk
Slash and burn reduces the porosity of the soil- increased erosion of the surface- sedimentation of the river- reduces the bankfull capacity

159
Q

when forests are burnt, how much carbon is lost

A

30-60%

160
Q

impacts of deforestation on the carbon cycle

A

Less carbon stored in the biosphere
Rainfall washes away the top soil, less carbon stored in the lithosphere- goes to the hydrosphere instead
Now a source rather than a sink

161
Q

what percentage of wood is carbon

A

50%

162
Q

why are trees in the amazon growing and dying at a faster rate

A

increased global temperature

163
Q

how much carbon does the amazon absorb and emit each year on average

A
  1. 2 billion tonnes absorbed

1. 9 billion emitted

164
Q

what happened to the absorption and emission of carbon in the amazon in 2015

A

in 2015 the amazon emitted more carbon than it absorbed

165
Q

what natural factors impact the amazon’s carbon stores

A

wildfires
droughts
temp change (interglacials and glacials)

166
Q

where is pickering

A

north yorkshire its a market town

167
Q

which river is pickering beck a tributary to

A

river derwent

168
Q

when has pickering been flooded

A

1999
2000
2007

169
Q

how much damage did the 2007 floods cause to pickering

A

£2.1 billion
flooded 85 homes, shops
A170 flooded

170
Q

why were many of the residents not prepared for the 2007 floods in pickering

A

a lot of them had never been flooded before

caused by a day o torrential rain - little preparation time

171
Q

what is the beck’s catchment like

A 
68km2
Gritstone and limestone
Drains the North Yorkshire Moors, mixed land use 
Upper catchment is moorland
Lower catchment is arable
172
Q

why is the gritstone parly accountable for the flashy hydrographs of the beck

A

it slowly absorbs water - increases runoff

173
Q

why is the steep topography partly responsible for the flashy hydrographs of the beck

A

rapid run off from the steep hillsides

174
Q

how is the agricultura use of the area partly responsible for the flooding at pickering

A

overgrazing has compacted the sold - less water can infiltrate

175
Q

how is urbanisation partly responsible for the flooding at pickering

A

More impermeable surfaces i.e. tarmac- increases runoff

Drainage systems mean water from precipitation quickly enters the river channel

176
Q

how is moorland and forest drainage partly responsible for the flooding at pickering

A

Drainage systems increase the speed at which water reaches the river channel- reducing the lag time

177
Q

what status is the beck’s water quality failing to meet

A

‘good water’ from the water framework directive

178
Q

why is the beck’s water quality not meeting the expected standards

A

chemicals farmers use leak into the river

179
Q

what policy has the pickering flood management scheme adopted in 2007

A

‘slowing the flow’

aims to reduce the peak flow of the beck

180
Q

why is a whole catchment approach being adopted to manage flooding at pickering

A

as it is more sustainable than isolated projects

181
Q

how much has the flood management project cost at pickering

A

33.2 million

physical geography (3 decks)

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