Water and carbon cycle Flashcards
input
material or energy moving into the system from outside
output
material or energy moving from the system to the outside
energy
power or driving force
positive feedback
a cyclical sequence of events that amplifies or increases change
negative feedback
a cyclical sequence of events that nullifies or decreases change
open system
energy and matter are transferred over the system boundary
closed system
energy, not matter, is transferred over the system boundary
isolated system
nothing leaves
oceans cover…% of the earth’s surface
72%
pH of the oceans
alkaline of 8ish
features of cryospheric water
sea ice, ice sheets, ice caps, alpine glaciers, permafrost
sea ice
doesn’t raise sea levels when melted as already counts as sea
ice sheets
a mass of glacial land ice extending more than 50 000 km^2
ice caps
thick layers of ice on land that are smaller than 50 000 km^2
alpine glaciers
thick masses of ice found in deep valleys or in upland hollows
oceans contain …% of the earth’s water
97%
permafrost
when the ground remains frozen for two consecutive years
features of terrestrial water
rivers, surface water, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, biological water
lakes
greater than 2 hectares in area (anything less is a pond)
wetlands
areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water
groundwater
water that collects underground in the pore spaces of rock at a depth of 4000m
major stores of water
oceanic water, cryospheric water, terrestrial water, atmospheric water
sublimation
when a solid becomes a gas without becoming a liquid
deposition
when a gas becomes a solid without becoming a liquid
latent heat in condensation
released during condensation as the gas molecules slow down and join together so the surroundings are warmed
latent heat in evaportation
absorbed during evaporation to give energy to break the molecular bonds, this means that the surroundings are warmed
…% of water is readily availible for human use
2.5%
factors affecting the rate of evaporation
solar energy, amount of water, humidity, temperature of the air
transpiration
where water is transported from the roots of a plant, to its leaves, and then lost through the poreson the leaf surface
evapotranspiration
the total output of water from the drainage basin directly into the atmosphere
factors affecting the rate of condension
temperature of the air, temperature of the surface
dew point temperature
colder air holds less water, the temperature when it’s cooled to saturation is the dew point temperature
condensation nuclei
the tiny particles, such as smoke, salt, and dust, that water vapour condenses on
why must the condensation nuclei be below the dew point temperature but above freezing point
so that the water vapour doesn’t sublimate
inputs in the water cycle
precipitation
outputs in the water cycle
transpiration and evapotranspiration (can also include run off)
flows/transfers in the water cycle
infiltration, stem flow, overland flow, through flow, groundwater flow, percolation, channel flow
through flow
when water flows through the ground
groundwater flow
slow movement of goundwater
percolation
water moves down through the ground
stores/components in the water cycle
groundwater, soil water, surface storage, channel storage
water balance
the difference between the inputs and outputs (and the subsequent change in storage) in the drainage basin
equation for water balance
P = Q + E +/- S P is precipitation Q is total run off E is evapotranspiration S is storage in soil and rock
soil moisture budget
the change in the amount of water stored in the soil throughout the year
factors affecting the soil moisture budget
climate, variation of temperature during the year, precipitation, time between precipitation
factors causing a variation in run off rates
saturated soil, rock type, type of precipitation, vegetation, evapotranspiration rate, intensity of precipitation
river discharge
the volume of water in a river in a m^3 at a given time
how do you calculate the discharge?
cross sectional area x speed = cumecs (m^3/s)
river regime
the variability in the river’s discharge throughout the course of the year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, and drainage basin characteristics
factors affecting river flow patterns throughout the year
climatic variation, land use changes, water abstraction, landscapes, geological characteristics
physical factors affecting the water cycle over time
extreme weather events, drought, precipitation levels, vegetation, evaporation rates, soil properties, relief, desertification
human factors affecting the water cycle over time
deforestation and afforestation, urbanisation, farming, water abstraction, irrigation methods, desertificaion
how does deforestation impact the water cycle?
decreases atmospheric feedback and so decreasing rainfall and increasing discharge
agricultural soil drainage
this is where excess water is removed from the soil, it’s a costly process but has many advantages
advantages of agricultural soil drainage
improved soil structure, improved areastion in the soil
how does agricultural soil drainage affect the water cycle?
speeds the through flow in soil artificially which means that more water reaches the rivers quickly so increased risk of flooding
water abstraction
when water is pumped out of the ground for use eg London
El Nīno
When the temperature rises around the tropical ocean it occurs every 5 years ish
Affects of el nīno in northern Australia and Indonesia
They experience dry weather
Affect of El Niño in South America
Lots of rain
How does drought affect the water cycle
Soil is baked so more surface flow, vegetation cannot survive, shortages in all water supplies (atmospheric, surface, ground)
What are the main stores of carbon
Lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere
Carbon sink
A store that absorbs more carbon than it release
Carbon source
A store that releases more carbon than it absorbs
Carbon transfer
These are processes that transfer carbon between the stores
GtC
A gigatonne of CO2 is used to measure the amount of carbon in stores (1GtC=10^9 tonnes)
Anthropogenic CO2
CO2 generates by human activity
Greenhouse gas
Any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation thereby trapping and holding heat
Lithosphere
The crust and upper mantle this constitutes the hard and rigid outer layer of the earth
Weathering
The breakdown of rocks in situ by a combination of weather, plants, and animals
Biosphere
The total sum of all living matter
Carbon sequestration
The capture of CO2 and putting it into long term storage
Forms of lithosphere carbon
Marine sediment and sedimentary rock, soil organic matter, fossil fuel deposits, and peat
Amount of carbon stored in the biosphere
About 3170GtC
The distribution of carbon in the biosphere depends on…
The ecosystem
Amount of oceanic carbon
About 40,000GtC
Amount of carbon stored in the atmosphere
800GtC
Carbon in the cryosphere
Carbon trapped under permafrost and is released when it melts
Net carbon sink
If more carbon enters a store than leaves it
Net carbon source
If more carbon leaves a store than enters it
Stores/stocks
The total amount of material held within the system
Fluxes
Measurements of the rate of flow between the stores normally given in Pg per year
Processes
Physical mechanisms which drive the flux of material between stores
Respiration
O2+CH2O->energy+H2O+CO2
Photosynthesis
CO2+H2O+sunlight->CH2O+O2
Natural variation in the carbon cycle
Natural wildfires, volcanic activity, impact of temperature, orbital changes
In … and … Indonesia had lots of wildfires which burnt for months and the smoke spread across south east Asia
1997 and 2003
How much CO2 do volcanos emit per year
130 to 180 million tonnes
Amount of carbon released by anthropogenic processes
30 billion tonnes
How does colder temperatures affect the carbon cycle
Cold rain holds more CO2 more chemical weathering, decomposers less effective, soil frozen over
How does warmer temperatures affect the carbon cycle
Melting of permafrost releases carbon
Example of positive feedback in the carbon cycle
Permafrost melts, releases carbon, enhances greenhouse effect, further destabilisation
Eccentricity
Is the change of shape of the earths orbit around the sun
There is only a …% difference between when the earth is closest and furthest from the sun
3%
Perihelion
Closer to the sun
Aphelion
Furthest from the sun
How do humans affect the carbon cycle
Hydrocarbon fuel extraction and burning, farming practices, deforestation, urbanisation, carbon sequestration
…% of anthropogenic carbon release is from the combustion of fossil fuels
90%
Gas and oil are extracted from…
Rocks that are millions of years old
How much CO2 do US cattle emit per year
5.5 million tonnes (20% of the country’s total)
In 2012 cities were responsible for …% of global carbon emissions
47%
For every 1000kg of cement produced, …kg of CO2 is released
900kg
Types of carbon sequestration
Geological sequestration
Terrestrial/biological sequestration
Sere
A vegetation succession/sequence of changes that relate to a specific environment
Example of a sere
Lithosere- the vegetation succession that occurs on bare rock
Enhanced greenhouse effect
The impact on the climate from the additional heat retained due to increased amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere
Geo sequestration
Technology capturing ghg emissions from power stations and pumping them into underground reservoirs
Radiative forcing
The difference between the incoming solar energy absorbed by the earth and energy radiated back to space
Soil organic carbon
The organic constitutes in the soil eg tissues from dead plants and animals,m
Impacts of the carbon budget on the atmosphere and global climate
Increasing atmospheric CO2
Radiative forcing
Regional climate
How does the carbon budget impact the oceans
Salinity
Acidification
Melting sea ice
Seal level rise
Current atmospheric CO2 level
400ppm
Climate change mitigation
Carbon capture and sequestration
Changing rural land use
Improved transport practices
Example of a river catchment
Pickering beck
Where is Pickering beck?
North Yorkshire
Population at Pickering
7000
Length of Pickering beck
18 miles
Catchment of Pickering beck
68km^2
When was Pickering beck flooded
1999, 2000, 2007
In 2007 how many houses were flooded from Pickering beck
85
Natural causes of flooding at Pickering beck
Geology
Soil type absorbs lots of water
Relief steep so flashy
Geology at Pickering beck
Limestone
Cracks absorbs water etc etc
Cost of damage from flooding at Pickering back
£2.1 billion
Human causes of flooding at Pickering back
Agricultural land use
urbanisation
Why is the water quality bad at Pickering beck
Do use of fertilisers herbicides and pesticides run off into the river and lesson its quality
Flood management at Pickering beck
Slowing the flow
Low-level bunds
Low quality land left to allow to flood kinder like a marsh
Low-level bund at Pickering beck
Built on floodplain at newtondale
Flood storage capacity of 120,000 m^3
Creation of floodplain woodland at Pickering beck
19 ha of riparian woodland have been planted within the catchment and a further 10 ha within the river Severn catchment
Riparian
Plant communities along river margins characterised by hydrophilic plants such as alder and willow trees
Why have large woody debris dams been restored Pickering beck
129 LWD constructed within the pickering beck catchment in order to slow the flow
Where is the Amazon rainforest
Located in the continent of South America covers nine countries
How big is the Amazon rainforest
5,500,000 km² (5.5 million)
Average rainfall per year in the Amazon rainforest
3000 mm
How many trees are there in the Amazon
3 billion trees
How much of the rainfall in the Amazon is intercepted by trees
75%
Rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest
19,368 km² per year
…% of deforestation in the Amazon is to make room for cattleranching
80%
Why was there a drought in São Paulo
The deforestation in the Amazon rainforest caused the drought as there was a lack of water supply
Why is the Amazon rainforest carbon sink
Rainforest absorbs around 35% of the worlds missions and produces 20% of the worlds oxygen
By the year 2050 will the temperature is in the Amazon have increased by
2 to 3°C
In the upper 50 cm of the soil layer how much carbon do Amazonian soils contain
4 to 9 kg
Climate change mitigation
Efforts to reduce or prevent emissions of greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change
The TARAPOTO process
Began in 1995
Identified 12 criteria to help manage The forest sustainability and manage at a national and global level
The Amazon Corporation Treaty organisation
Aimed at promoting sustainable development they try to reduce the loss of forest cover world right through sustainable forest management including protection restoration
That establishment of the IPcc
1988 intergovernmental panel on climate change scientists and expert set up to monitor and analyse climate
Paris agreement
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
how much of the carbon stores in the planet’s biomass is in the amazon rainforest/
20% 300 billion trees
how many different species are in the amazon
15 000
how many countries does the amazon reach into
9
what is the average rainfall in the amazon
3 000mm per year
peak rainfall in the amazon
maximum 6 000 mm per year
what percentage of rainfall in the amazon does not reach the ground and why
75% intercepted by the forest canopy so re evaporated into the atmosphere
how does rainfall reach the ground in the amazon and what happens to it
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
the amazon river equates to around … of the freshwater entering the oceans each day
15%
how much of the amazon has been lost to deforestation in the last 50 years
17%
what percentage of brazils greehouse gas emissions were a result of deforestation
75%
how does slash and burn impact on the water cycle
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
when forests are burnt, how much carbon is lost
30-60%
impacts of deforestation on the carbon cycle
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
what percentage of wood is carbon
50%
why are trees in the amazon growing and dying at a faster rate
increased global temperature
how much carbon does the amazon absorb and emit each year on average
- 2 billion tonnes absorbed
1. 9 billion emitted
what happened to the absorption and emission of carbon in the amazon in 2015
in 2015 the amazon emitted more carbon than it absorbed
what natural factors impact the amazon’s carbon stores
wildfires
droughts
temp change (interglacials and glacials)
where is pickering
north yorkshire its a market town
which river is pickering beck a tributary to
river derwent
when has pickering been flooded
1999
2000
2007
how much damage did the 2007 floods cause to pickering
£2.1 billion
flooded 85 homes, shops
A170 flooded
why were many of the residents not prepared for the 2007 floods in pickering
a lot of them had never been flooded before
caused by a day o torrential rain - little preparation time
what is the beck’s catchment like
68km2 Gritstone and limestone Drains the North Yorkshire Moors, mixed land use Upper catchment is moorland Lower catchment is arable
why is the gritstone parly accountable for the flashy hydrographs of the beck
it slowly absorbs water - increases runoff
why is the steep topography partly responsible for the flashy hydrographs of the beck
rapid run off from the steep hillsides
how is the agricultura use of the area partly responsible for the flooding at pickering
overgrazing has compacted the sold - less water can infiltrate
how is urbanisation partly responsible for the flooding at pickering
More impermeable surfaces i.e. tarmac- increases runoff
Drainage systems mean water from precipitation quickly enters the river channel
how is moorland and forest drainage partly responsible for the flooding at pickering
Drainage systems increase the speed at which water reaches the river channel- reducing the lag time
what status is the beck’s water quality failing to meet
‘good water’ from the water framework directive
why is the beck’s water quality not meeting the expected standards
chemicals farmers use leak into the river
what policy has the pickering flood management scheme adopted in 2007
‘slowing the flow’
aims to reduce the peak flow of the beck
why is a whole catchment approach being adopted to manage flooding at pickering
as it is more sustainable than isolated projects
how much has the flood management project cost at pickering
33.2 million
