Water And Carbon Cycles Flashcards
What is an input in a system
Where matter or energy is added to the system
What is an output in a system
Where matter or energy leaves the system
What is the input in the water cycle
Precipitation (in the form of rain, snow and hail)
What is evapotranspiration
The process by which water moves from the earths surface to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration
What is evaporation
When water is heated by the sun, causing it to become a gas and rise into the atmosphere
What is transpiration
When plants respire through there leaves, releasing water they absorb through there roots, which then evaporates.
What is streamflow
The movement of water flowing through rivers and streams.
What are the four outputs in the water cycle
1)evapotranspiration
2)evaporation
3)transpiration
4)streamflow
What is interception in the water cycle
Water intercepted by plants, branches and leaves before reaching the ground.
What are the 3 stores in the water cycle
1)soil water
2)groundwater
3)interception
What is infliltration
The process of water moving from above ground into the soil
What is percolation
Water moving from the ground into porous rock or rock fractures
What is through flow
Water moving through the soil into streams or rivers
What are the four flows in the water cycle
1)infiltration
2)percolation
3)through flow
4)surface runoff
What is the boundary to a drainage basin called
The watershed
What is the water balance
The equilibrium between the amount of water that enters and leaves a drainage basin
What is the formula used to express water balance
Precipitation = total runoff + evapotranspiration +/- (change in)Storage
What 5 ways is the water cycle impacted on a local scale
1)deforestation
2)storm events
3)seasonal changes
4)agriculture
5)urbanisation
What does the soil water budget show
The annual balance between inputs and outputs in the water cycle
What four areas can water be stored in on a global scale
1)hydrosphere
2)lithosphere
3)cryosphere
4)atmosphere
How is water stored in the hydrosphere
Any liquid water
How is water stored in the lithosphere
Water is stored in the crust and upper mantle
How is water stored in the cryosphere
Any water that is frozen
How is water stored in the atmosphere
As water vapour
What is a flood hydrograph
A flood hydrograph is used to represent rainfall for the drainage basin of a river and the discharge of the same river on a graph
What are the four characteristics of a flashy hydrograph
1)short lag time
2)steep rising and falling limb
3)higher flood risk
4)high peak discharge
What are the four characteristics of a subdued hydrograph
1)long lag time
2)gradually rising and falling limb
3)lower flood risk
4)low peak discharge
Five factors which would increase surface runoff to create a flashy hydrograph
1)pastoral farming
2)deforestation
3)antecedent rainfall
4)impermeable underlying surface
5) high rainfall intensity
What is antecedent rainfall
The amount of precipitation that occurs before a storm event
What is arable farming
Growing crops
What is pastoral farming
Raising animals
What is the carbon cycle on a local scale
The movement of carbon within a specific area, such as a forest, field or lake
What are the 8 transfers in the carbon cycle
1)photosynthesis
2)respiration
3)combustion
4)decomposition
5diffusion
6)weathering and erosion
7)burial and compaction
8)carbon sequestration
How does photosynthesis transfer CO2 from in the carbon cycle
Convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil, into oxygen and glucose using light energy
How does respiration transfer CO2 in the carbon cycle
The process where living organisms release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by breaking down organic molecules like sugars to extract energy
How does combustion transfer CO2 in the carbon cycle
Burning fossil fuels, wildfires which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
How does decomposition transfer CO2 in the carbon cycle
When living organisms die, they are broken down by decomposers which respire, returning CO2 back into the atmosphere
How does diffusion transfer CO2 in the carbon cycle
The oceans can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere causing coral bleaching
What are the main six carbon stores in the carbon cycle
1)lithosphere
2)oceans
3)fossil fuel deposits
4)soil organic matter
5)atmosphere
6)terrestrial plants
How do wildfires effect the carbon cycle
Transfer carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere as CO2 is released through burning. This can encourage the growth of plants in the long term
How does volcanic activity effect the carbon cycle
Carbon stored within the earth is released during volcanic eruptions, mainly as CO2 gas
What are the 3 human impacts on the carbon cycle
1)Fossil fuel use
2)deforestation
3)farming practices
How does deforestation effect the carbon cycle
Deforestation releases the carbon stored in plants using slash and burn techniques, interrupting the forest carbon cycle
How do farming practices affect the carbon cycle
Arable farming releases CO2 as animals respire. Ploughing can release CO2 stored in soil
What is the carbon budget
The balance between carbon inputs and outputs to a store at any scale
What is a carbon source
A store that emits more carbon than it absorbs
What is a carbon sink
A store that absorbs more carbon than it emits
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect
The process of trapping radiation from the sun in the earths atmosphere causing abnormally high levels of greenhouse gases to be produced by humans
How does the carbon cycle effect tropical rainforests
High rates of photosynthesis and respiration lead to greater humidity, cloud cover, and precipitation.
Deforestation reduces these processes, decreasing humidity and precipitation.
What is the effect of warmer oceans on the carbon cycle?
Warmer oceans cause more plankton growth, which can lead to cloud formation through chemical production.
What is positive feedback in the context of climate change?
Positive feedback occurs when wildfires in hotter, drier climates release CO2, increasing warming, which leads to more wildfires.
Ice melting reduces its ability to reflect radiation, amplifying warming.
What is negative feedback in the context of climate change?
Negative feedback occurs when increased photosynthesis allows vegetation to grow in new areas, absorbing CO2 and decreasing the warming effect.
What is dynamic equilibrium?
Inputs and outputs are in balance.
What is positive feedback?
The effects of an action are amplified or multiplied by subsequent knock on effects.
What is negative feedback?
The effects of an action are nullified/counteracted by its subsequent knock on effects.
What is relief rainfall?
Warm air rises up over mountains, it then cools and condenses to form clouds and then rain, once the air has passed over the mountain it descends and warms. Creating drier conditions known as a rain shadow.
What is convectional rainfall?
Warm pockets of air rise rapidly, it starts to cool and condenses to form clouds, the clouds produce heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.(usually occurs during the summer)
What is frontal rainfall?
When a warm front meets a cold front. The heavier cold air sinks and the warm air rises above it, the warm air then cools and condenses to form clouds which bring heavy rainfall.
What is sublimation?
A direct change of state from solid to a gas skipping the liquid stage.
What is desublimation?
A direct change from a gas to a solid skipping the liquid stage.
What is lag time?
Delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge as it takes time for water to flow into river.
