Water and Carbon Cycles

Question 1

What is a System ?

Answer 1

An approach that usually takes the form of a diagram representing the different components and their interrelationship or link between them.

Question 2

What is a system approach

Question 3

Give three examples of a subsystem of ocean systems?

Answer 3

Coastal subsystem
Deep sea subsystem
Cold water and warm water subsystem

Question 4

What makes up a system?

Answer 4

Inputs and outputs
Stores(temporary or permanent): where matter or energy builds up
Flows between stores: when matter or energy moves
Boundaries: the limits of the system

Question 5

What is the atmosphere ?

Answer 5

The inputs, flows and outputs all associated with the layer of gasses surrounding our planet

Question 6

What is the lithosphere ?

Answer 6

The inputs, flows and outputs all associated with the cold, hard solid land of the planet’s crust( surface) also has subsystems- soul and rock systems

Question 7

What is the hydrosphere ?

Answer 7

The inputs, flows and outputs all associated with the water on our planet

Question 8

What is the biosphere?

Answer 8

The inputs, flows and outputs all associated with the biology and ecosystems of our planet

Question 9

What is the cryosphere ?

Answer 9

The inputs, flows and outputs all associated with the ice on our planet

Question 10

What is an open system?

Answer 10

Both energy and matter CAN enter and leave E.g. drainage basins

Question 11

What is a closed system?

Answer 11

Matter CAN’T enter or leave.
Energy CAN enter and leave.
E.g. the carbon cycle

Question 12

What is an isolated system?

Answer 12

Neither matter nor energy can enter or leave ( not found in nature).

Question 13

What is Dynamic Equilibrium?

Answer 13

When inputs equal outputs over time( despite constantly changing conditions)

Question 14

When does feedback on a system occur?

Answer 14

When one element changes because of an outside influence.

Question 15

What is positive feedback?

Answer 15

When a change causes a further, or snowball, effect, continuing or even accelerating the original change.
( It amplifies a change, with the potential for this change to get out of control ).

Question 16

What is negative feedback?

Answer 16

Acts by lessening the effect of the original change and ultimately reversing it. ( Bringing it back to its normal level of equilibrium ).

Question 17

What is a cascading system?

Answer 17

This is made up of a chain of open systems where the output from one forms the input into another

Question 18

What is atmospheric water ?

Answer 18

Water found in the atmosphere (mainly water vapour with some liquid water and ice crystals.

Question 19

What is cryospheric water?

Answer 19

The water locked up on Earth’s surface as ice.

Question 20

What is oceanic water?

Answer 20

The water contained in the Earth’s oceans and seas but not including such inland seas as the Caspian Sea.

Question 21

What is Terrestrial water?

Answer 21

This consists of groundwater, soil moisture, lakes, wetlands and rivers.

Question 22

What is the hydrological cycle?

Answer 22

The movement of moisture and energy between air, land and sea. It varies from place to place and over time.

Question 23

How much water is on earth?

Answer 23

1.4 sextillion litres of water( this never changes unless water is taken to space)

Question 24

How can water be stored globally (states) ?

Answer 24

Liquid: oceans
solid: land
Gas: atmosphere

Question 25

Where is earth’s water?

Answer 25

71% of our earth is water
97.5% is saline stored in oceans
>3% is fresh water
69% is frozen in the cryosphere
30% is groundwater in the lithosphere

Question 26

What is the hazard risk?

Answer 26

The likelihood of a natural hazard causing harm.

Question 27

What is the largest transfer of water?

Answer 27

Precipitation

Question 28

In a drainage basin what determines the amount of water held at each store?

Answer 28

The transfer processes that act as inputs and outputs.

Question 29

How much water is transferred on earth?

Answer 29

Over 500,00 km3, between water stores due to a number of key processes.

Question 30

What is evaporation?

Answer 30

The process of water changing from liquid yo water vapour.

Question 31

What is transpiration?

Answer 31

Water is transpired through the leaves of plants.

Question 32

Whet is evapotraspiration ?

Answer 32

Evaporation + transpiration

Question 33

What is condensation?

Answer 33

When water Vapour becomes a liquid.

Question 34

What is precipitation?

Answer 34

Any form of water the falls from the atmosphere.

Question 35

What is ablation?

Answer 35

Water loss from snow or ice.

Question 36

What is sublimation?

Answer 36

Water changing from a solid to vapour.

Question 37

What is a glacier?

Answer 37

A large mass of Ice on land moving downhill due to the force of gravity.
( valley or continental)

Question 38

Where are glaciers found?

Answer 38

At high latitude and at high altitudes.

Question 39

How is a glacier formed?

Answer 39

When snow falls, freezer and gets compressed.
-Fresh snow
-Compact snow(névé)
-Firn ice
-Blue ice( air is squashed out)

Question 40

Glacial inputs and outputs?

Answer 40

Inputs (accumulation):
Snow, avalanches, desibimation

Outputs (ablation)
Melting, calving, evaporation, sublimation

Question 41

What is a budget?

Answer 41

An allowance or available amount.

Question 42

What is a glacial budget?

Answer 42

The balance between the amount of inputs vs outputs affecting the glacial system.

Question 43

Where is s glacial balanced ?

Answer 43

At the line of equilibrium.

Question 44

How does a glacier balanced?

Answer 44

I=O steady state
I>O expansion
I<O recession

Question 45

What is the net glacial budget ?

Answer 45

Difference between total acculation and total ablation during one year.