Water and Carbon Cycles Flashcards by Rosie Prosser

What is a System ?

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

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What is a system approach

Allows us to consider links between components and how feedback effects operate.

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Give three examples of a subsystem of ocean systems?

Coastal subsystem
Deep sea subsystem
Cold water and warm water subsystem

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What makes up a system?

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

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What is the atmosphere ?

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

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What is the lithosphere ?

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

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What is the hydrosphere ?

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

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What is the biosphere?

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

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What is the cryosphere ?

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

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What is an open system?
Give an example

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

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What is a closed system?
Give an example

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

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What is an isolated system?

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

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What is Dynamic Equilibrium?

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

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When does feedback on a system occur?

When one element changes because of an outside influence.

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What is positive feedback?

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 ).

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What is negative feedback?

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

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What is a cascading system?

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

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What is atmospheric water ?

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

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What is cryospheric water?

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

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What is oceanic water?

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

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What is Terrestrial water?

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

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What is the hydrological cycle?

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

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How much water is on earth?

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

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How can water be stored globally (states) ?

Liquid: oceans
solid: land
Gas: atmosphere

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Where is earth’s water?

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

What is the hazard risk?

The likelihood of a natural hazard causing harm.

What is the largest transfer of water?

Precipitation

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

The transfer processes that act as inputs and outputs.

How much water is transferred on earth?

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

What is evaporation?

The process of water changing from liquid yo water vapour.

What is transpiration?

Water is transpired through the leaves of plants.

Whet is evapotraspiration ?

Evaporation + transpiration

What is condensation?

When water Vapour becomes a liquid.

What is precipitation?

Any form of water the falls from the atmosphere.

What is ablation?

Water loss from snow or ice.

What is sublimation?

Water changing from a solid to vapour.

What is a glacier?

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

Where are glaciers found?

At high latitude and at high altitudes.

How is a glacier formed?

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

Glacial inputs and outputs?

Inputs (accumulation): Snow, avalanches, desibimation Outputs (ablation) Melting, calving, evaporation, sublimation

What is a budget?

An allowance or available amount.

What is a glacial budget?

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

Where is a glacial balanced ?

At the line of equilibrium.

How does a glacier balanced?

I=O steady state I>O expansion I

What is the net glacial budget ?

Difference between total acculation and total ablation during one year.

Is a drainage system an open or closed system ?

Open system

Define dynamic equilibrium.

A state in which a system in balance despite continuous change

Name the four major stores in the water cycle.

Hydrosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere

Which store holds 97.5% of the Earth's water ?

Hydrosphere

What is residence time ?

The amount of time that water molecules stay in a store before moving to another part of the cycle

Which store has the longest residence time on average, of up to 10,000 years ?

Deep groundwater (in the lithosphere)

Which store has the shortest residence time on average, of 9 days ?

Atmosphere

What is the dew point ?

The point at which cooling air can no longer hold all the moisture it is carrying

Name three factors concerning soils that affect infiltration capacities.

Soil texture / composition, soil moisture content, soil compaction

Positive mass balance for glaciers occur when accumulation exceeds ablation. What is ablation?

Loss of ice and snow

The water balance is expressed in a simple terms as P = O + E +/-S. What do P,O,E,S stand for?

P = precipitation O = total runoff E = evapotranspiration S = change in total water storage

Name three flows that transfer precipitation into a drainage basin channel store.

Overland flow throughflow groundwater flow precipitation onto the channel itself

Define total runoff.

The proportion of the total precipitation that reaches streams and rivers

What does the lag time on a flood hydrograph show?

The proportion of the total precipitation that reaches streams and rivers

Which of the following drainage basin characteristics would be likely to produce a 'flashy' hydrograph - dry soil, large drainage basin or high drainage density?

High drainage density

In a drought, vegetation may die, reducing EVT. Is this an example of negative or positive feedback?

Negative By reducing EVT it reduces change in the water balance

Name three human impacts which can affect the water balance of a drainage basin.

Urbanisation Deforestation Drainage Irrigation Abstraction

What are the three transfers in the carbon cycle at the scale of an individual plant?Pj

Photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition

What is meant by the term 'carbon sequestration'?

Capture and storage of carbon

How does weathering contribute to the carbon cycle?

Release carbon through the breakdown of rocks

What two greenhouse gases are associated with the carbon cycle?

carbon dioxide and methane

What is the primary driver of human-induced carbon emissions?

combustion of fossil fuels

How does deforestation impact on the carbon cycle?

decrease carbon storage, increase carbon emissions

Define the term 'sere'.

A vegetation succession that relates to a specific environment

Name two causes of natural variation in the carbon cycle.

Wildfires, volcanic eruptions

What impact does ploughing land have on the carbon cycle?

It speeds up the breakdown of organic matter in the soil, increasing transfer of carbon from the soil to the atmosphere

Which greenhouse gas is produced by the digestive system of livestock animals?

Methane

State two ways in which the water cycle and its stores are important for supporting life on earth

Water's high specific heat cap helps reg the earths temp. water cycle refills the stores of fresh water used by terrestrial ecosystems

Give one example of how the water cycle and carbon cycle are linked.

Photosynthesis requires both water + CO2

'Increased atmospheric CO2 into the atmosphere, which contribute to global warming.' Is this an example of positive or negative feedback?

Positive feedback It amplifies change within a system

'Increased atmospheric CO2 levels stimulate plant growth, leading to grater carbon absorption through photosynthesis.' Is this an example of positive or negative feedback?

Negative feedback It counteracts change - maintaining stability

What is albedo a measure of?

The reflectivity of a surface, particularly in relation to solar radiation

Why does permafrost lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions?

Permanently frozen soil contains organic matter that had not decomposed, so when the soil thaws, decomposition releases CO2 and methane from the soil store

Name three examples of human inventions in the carbon cycle that are designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Afforestation and reforestation carbon farming blue carbon protection and restoration direct air capture bioenergy with carbon capture and storage

Suggest two reasons why EVT is high in tropical rain forests.

High annual precip warm temp dense veg cover all year leaves typically have larger surface area

With reference to the water cycle, account for the low nutrient levels in tropical rainforests soils.

Leaf litter is washed away by the heavy rainfall and nutrients leach out of the soil due to increased water in the soil.

How have human activities increased the risk of flooding in Pickering Beck?

Adding drainage basin to upland moorland and forestry areas in catchment Overstocking grazing land