WATER AND CARBON CYCLE - The Hydrosphere and Water Cycle Flashcards
How much water is contained in the hydrosphere?
1.4 sextillion litres of water.
Where is most water in the world found?
As saline water in the oceans.
How much of the world water is fresh water?
About 2.5% (this is water that most species, including humans, need to survive).
How much of Earth’s freshwater is frozen in the cryosphere?
Around 69%
How much of Earth’s freshwater is ground water (stored underground in the lithosphere)?
About 30%
How much of Earth’s freshwater is liquid freshwater on the Earth’s surface in lakes, rivers etc.?
0.3%
How much of Earth’s freshwater is stored as water vapour in the atmosphere?
0.04%
What must water be for humans to be able to use it? What is the result?
Physically and economically accessible (e.g. groundwater is hard to access, so it may not be cost effective to extract it). Only a small amount of water on planet can be used by humans.
What are the different types of water on Earth?
Atmospheric Water, Oceanic Water, Cryospheric Water, Terrestrial Water.
Atmospheric Water
Water found in the atmosphere; mainly water vapour with some liquid water (cloud and rain droplets) and ice crystals.
Oceanic Water
The water contained in the Earth’s oceans and seas but not including inland seas such as the Caspian Sea.
Cryospheric Water
The water locked up on the Earth’s surface as ice.
Terrestrial Water
COnsists as groundwater, soil, moisture, lakes, wetlands and rivers.
What is the continual cycle of water between different stores called?
The hydrological cycle.
What type of system is the global hydrological cycle?
Closed - no inputs or outputs of water.
OCEANIC WATER
Average depth?
3,682 m
OCEANIC WATER
How much explored?
5%
OCEANIC WATER
Covers how much of Earth’s surface?
72%
OCEANIC WATER
Is it the largest store of water?
Yes
OCEANIC WATER
Amount of water?
Exact unknown, figures vary from 1,320,000,000 to 1,370,000,000 km^3.
That difference is greater than sum of all of the rest of water put together.
OCEANIC WATER
How is it divided?
Into several principal oceans and smaller seas.
OCEANIC WATER
What allows it to stay as liquid water below 0 degrees C?
It contains dissolved salts.
OCEANIC WATER
What is the pH?
Alkaline, average pH 8.14.
OCEANIC WATER
Over the last 250 years what has happened to the pH?
Fallen from about 8.25 and it seems it will continue to fall.
OCEANIC WATER
What is the change in pH caused by and what will it impact?
Linked to increase in atmospheric carbon and may have profound influence on marine biology.
