Water and carbon cycles

Question 1

A system

Answer 1

A system is an assemblage of interrelated parts that work together by a process

Question 2

Elements of a system

Answer 2

Things that make up a system

Question 3

Attributes of a system

Answer 3

The perceived characteristics of the elements

Question 4

Relationships of a system

Answer 4

Descriptions of how the various elements work together to carry out some kind of process

Question 5

System key characteristics

Answer 5

• Have a structure which lies within a boundary
• Functions by having inputs and outputs
• Involve flow of material between components
• Generalisations of reality

Question 6

Isolated systems

Answer 6

Have no interactions with anything outside the system boundary. No inputs or outputs of energy or matter.

Question 7

Closed systems

Answer 7

Transfers of energy across system boundary but not the transfer of matter.

Question 8

Open systems

Answer 8

Transfer of matter and energy across system boundary

Question 9

Stores

Answer 9

The amount of the total material held within parts of the system. A set of interrelated components working together towards a process.

Question 10

Inputs

Answer 10

The transfer of energy or matter into a system

Question 11

Outputs

Answer 11

The movement of energy or matter out of a system, the result of processes within a system.

Question 12

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 12

A balance between inputs and outputs of a system

Question 13

Positive feedback

Answer 13

The amplifications of an action by subsequent knock off effects causing a further, continuation change.

Question 14

Negative feedback

Answer 14

Lessening the effect of an original change and ultimately reversing it. Nullifying the impacts of action.

Question 15

Example of positive feedback

Answer 15

-Temperatures warm due to enhanced greenhouse effect
-Sea ice cover melts and shrinks
-Ocean waters absorb more solar radiation than highly reflective sea ice
-Temperatures warm even more

Question 16

Example of negative feedback

Answer 16

-Surface temperature increases slightly increasing evaporation from the oceans
-More low clouds in the atmosphere which increases the Earth’s albedo
-Surface temperature decreases slightly and so decreased evaporation from the oceans
-Fewer low clouds in the atmosphere which decreases the
Earth’s albedo

Question 17

What is atmospheric water

Answer 17

Water found in the atmosphere (mainly water vapour) but also contain liquid water (cloud and rain droplets) with ice crystals

Question 18

What is cryospheric water

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Greenhouse gas

Answer 19

Any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that allows short wave ultraviolet radiation from the sun to pass through the atmosphere, yet prevents outgoing terrestrial infrared radiation from escaping to space.

Question 20

Hydrosphere

Answer 20

A discontinuous layer of water at or near the Earth’s surface, including liquid and frozen surface waters, groundwater held in soil/rock and atmospheric water vapour

Question 21

What is oceanic water

Answer 21

The water contained in the Earth’s oceans and seas

Question 22

Terrestrial water

Answer 22

Groundwater, soil moisture, lakes, wetlands and rivers

Question 23

Stores of water

Answer 23

Oceanic water
Atmospheric water
Cryospheric water
Terrestrial water

Question 24

General agreement of total amount of water in hydrosphere

Answer 24

1.338 x 10^9 km^3

Question 25

Percent of oceanic water in hydrosphere

Answer 25

Approximately 97% of hydrosphere made up of oceanic water however only 5% has been explored They cover 72% of the Earth's surface

Question 26

Percent of freshwater in hydrosphere

Answer 26

Freshwater makes up remaining 3% of hydrosphere

Question 27

Total number of water vapour found in atmosphere

Answer 27

12,900km^3

Question 28

Why is oceanic water salty?

Answer 28

Contains dissolved salts which allow it to stay as liquid water below 0C They are alkaline with average pH of 8.14

Question 29

Classes of terrestrial water

Answer 29

Surface water, groundwater, soil water, biological water

Question 30

Classes of cryospheric water

Answer 30

Sea ice, ice sheets, ice caps, alpine glaciers, permafrost

Question 31

Land use changes affecting the water cycle - Deforestation

Answer 31

Tropical South America has undergone explosive development and deforestation in the last 50 years due to national and international demand for cattle feed increasing Over 10% of rainforest converted to cattle pasture and agriculture

Question 32

Effects of deforestation / forest degradation

Answer 32

-Removal of forests leave new vegetation to have fewer leaves and shallower roots, using less water than previous forest. -Less water evaporated from land surface and returned to atmosphere, increasing surface run off and so stream flow

Question 33

What is soil drainage?

Answer 33

Installations of network of perforated tubes 60-120cm below soil surface known as 'tiles' (corrugated plastic tubing) -Water table is higher in soil than tile, water flows into tubing (lowers water table to depth of tile over course of days) -Water table lowered to the elevation of tiles, no more water flows through

Question 34

Advantages of soil drainage

Answer 34

- Build up of improve soil structure - Improve aeration - Increased aeration - No danger of compaction - Large numbers of animals able to graze land

Question 35

Disadvantages of soil drainage

Answer 35

- Increased speed of throughflow - Nitrate loss - Wind erosion

Question 36

Water abstraction

Answer 36

The process of pumping water from beneath the ground

Question 37

Result of water abstraction

Answer 37

Sinking water tables Empty wells Higher pumping costs Saline intrusion

Question 38

What is saline intrusion?

Answer 38

Invasion of saltwater from the sea which degrades the saltwater. - Widespread along Mediterranean coastlines of Italy, Spain and Turkey (popular tourist location)

Question 39

Water abstraction in Malta

Answer 39

Most groundwater is now unable for domestic consumption and irrigation due to saline intrusion, with country resorting to expensive desalination plants

Question 40

Water abstraction - Irrigation

Answer 40

Main cause of groundwater overexploitation in agricultural areas -Greek Argolid plain of eastern Peloponnesus Common to find boreholes 400m deep contaminated by saline -Italy, Po River Region of Milan aquifer has led to a 25-40m decrease in groundwater levels over last 80 years.

Question 41

Anthropogenic CO2

Answer 41

Carbon dioxide generated by human activity

Question 42

Stores of carbon

Answer 42

Lithosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere Atmosphere

Question 43

Carbon sequestration

Answer 43

The capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or capturing anthropogenic CO2 from large scale stationary sources before released to atmosphere. Once captured, CO2 is placed in long term storage

Question 44

Impact of changing carbon budget on the land

Answer 44

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration - Permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere holds between 1460 and 1600 GtC. If 10% of this permafrost were to thaw it could release enough extra CO2 to atmosphere to raise temperatures an extra 0.7% by 2100

Question 45

Impact of changing carbon budget on the oceans

Answer 45

Ocean acidification Ocean warming Melting sea ice Ocean salinity Sea level rise

Question 46

Impact of changing carbon budget on the atmosphere

Answer 46

Enhanced greenhouse effect - Radiative forcing

Question 47

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 47

The impact on the climate from the additional heat retained due to the increased amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that humans have released into Earth's atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution

Question 48

Radiative forcing

Answer 48

The imbalance between energy flowing into the atmosphere in the form of sunlight which is reflected back into space or absorbed back by the planet. - Current level is 2.8 watts/m^2 (IPCC)

Question 49

What is a drainage basin?

Answer 49

An area of land that supplys river with water and is drained by a river and its tributaries. It includes water found on the surface, in the soil and in near-surface geology.

Question 50

Groundwater flow

Answer 50

The slow movement of water through underlying rocks.

Question 51

Infiltration

Answer 51

The downward movement of water from the surface into soil.

Question 52

Stemflow

Answer 52

The portion of precipitation intercepted by the canopy that reaches the ground by flowing down stems, stalks or tree boles.

Question 53

Throughfall

Answer 53

The portion of the precipitation that reaches the ground directly through gaps in the vegetation canopy and drips from leaves, twigs and stems. This occurs when the canopy-surface rainwater storage exceeds its storage capacity.

Question 54

Throughflow

Answer 54

The movement of water downslope through the subsoil under the influence of gravity. It is particularly effective when underlying permeable rock prevents further downward movement.

Question 55

Percolation

Answer 55

Following infiltration, water moves vertically down through the soil and unsaturated rock

Question 56

Water balance

Answer 56

The balance between inputs (precipitation) and outputs (run-off, evapotranspiration, soil and groundwater storage) Precipitation (P) = discharge (Q) + evapotranspiration (E) ± changes in storage (S)

Question 57

What is potential evapotranspiration?

Answer 57

Is the amount of water that could be evaporated or transpired (or both) from an area if there was sufficient water available.

Question 58

River regime

Answer 58

‘the variability in its discharge throughout the course of a year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and drainage basin characteristics.’

Question 59

Storm hydrograph

Answer 59

Graph of the discharge of a river leading up to and following a storm or rainfall event (storm flow) - they are important because they can predict how a river might respond to a rainstorm - this can help in managing the river.

Question 60

Urban growth's impact on the carbon cycle

Answer 60

The urban population is expected to reach 60 per cent by 2030. The CO2 emissions resulting from energy consumption for transport, industry and domestic use, the cement manufacture required for all the buildings and infrastructure, have increased. - In 2019, according to the United Nations Community Programme, urban areas were estimated to be responsible for around 75 per cent of global carbon emissions.

Question 61

The Amazon Rainforest - Mitigation

Answer 61

- The creation of national parks and forest reserves. E.g. the Pará Rainforest reserve (15 million hectares) - Forest biofuel production could compete with ethanol production from sugar cane by 2030 - Reforestation: much of Brazil’s industrial (roundwood) timber comes from planted forests which make up only 2 percent of the forest area - Enrichment of degraded forests using native species - Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) to promote harmonious development - The Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on Watershed Management (REDLACH)

Question 62

The Amazon Rainforest - Impacts of warming water temperatures

Answer 62

● kill off temperature-dependent species ● change the biodiversity of the river system by introducing new species and killing others ● reduce water-dissolved oxygen concentrations, which could destroy eggs and larvae, which rely on dissolved oxygen for survival.