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Geography > Water and Carbon cycles > Flashcards

Water and Carbon cycles Flashcards

1
Q

Acidification

A

The gradual reduction of pH of the oceans, due to dissolving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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2
Q

Afforestation

A

Planting trees and vegetation in the aim of increasing forest cover.

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3
Q

Anticyclone

A

A system of high pressure, causing high temperatures and unseasonably high evaporation rates.

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4
Q

Aquifer

A

A permeable or porous rock which stores water.

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5
Q

Biofuel

A

Burning crops and vegetation for electricity and heat.

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6
Q

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

A

The capture of carbon dioxide emissions
directly from the factory, pumped into disused mines rather than being released into the atmosphere.

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7
Q

Carbon fluxes

A

The movement of carbon between stores.

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8
Q

Carbon neutral

A

A process that has no net addition of carbon dioxide to the environment.

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9
Q

Carbon Stores

A

Places where carbon accumulates for a period of time such as rocks and plant matter.

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10
Q

Channel flow

A

Water flowing in a rivulet, stream or river.

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11
Q

Choke points

A

Points in the logistics of energy and fuel that are prone to restriction.

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12
Q

Combustion

A

The process of burning a substance, in the presence of oxygen, to release energy.

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13
Q

Convectional precipitation

A

Solar radiation heats the air above the ground,
causing it to rise, cool & condense forming precipitation (often as thunderstorms).

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14
Q

Cryosphere

A

The global water volume locked up within a frozen state (i.e. snow and ice)

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15
Q

Decomposisiton

A

The break down of matter, often by a decomposer which releases carbon dioxide through their own respiration.

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16
Q

Depression

A

A system of low pressure, with fronts of precipitation where low and high pressure air masses meet.

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17
Q

Desalination plant

A

The conversion of seawater to freshwater, suitable for human consumption

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18
Q

Desublimation

A

The change of state of water from gas to solid, without being a liquid (the opposite process to sublimation).

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19
Q

Drainage basin

A

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.

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20
Q

Drainage density

A

The total length of all rivers & streams divided by the area of the drainage basin.

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21
Q

Drought

A

An extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical average for the region (UN).

22
Q

Economic water scarcity

A

When water resources are available but insufficient economic wealth limits access to it.

23
Q

Energy mix

A

The composition of a country’s energy sources.

24
Q

Energy security

A

The ownership and full control of a country’s energy source, production and transportation.

25
Q

Energy pathway

A

The movement of energy from its extraction or source, through pipes, freight logistics or cabling.

26
Q

Energy players

A

Key companies and individuals who own, distribute and sell energy and energy sources.

27
Q

Enhanced greenhouse effect

A

The build-up of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere, reducing the amount of solar radiation reflected into space.

28
Q

ENSO cycles

A

El Niño Southern Oscillations - naturally occurring phenomena that involves the movement of warm water in the Equatorial Pacific.

29
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

The combined total moisture transferred from the Earth to the atmosphere, through evaporation and transpiration.

30
Q

Frontal precipitation

A

Where air masses of different temperatures meet at a front, one mass will be forced over another, causing precipitation beneath the front.

31
Q

Global hydrological cycle

A

The continuous transfer of water between land, atmosphere and oceans. The Earth is a closed system.

32
Q

Groundwater flow

A

Water moving horizontally through permeable or porous rock due to gravity.

33
Q

Hydrological drought

A

Insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of vegetation (crops, trees, plants) at a particular time

34
Q

Infiltration

A

The movement of water vertically through the pores in soil.

35
Q

Integrated drainage basin management

A

Establishing a frame of coordinated efforts between administrations (e.g. local government) and stakeholders (e.g
businesses) to achieve balanced management of a basin (World Bank).

36
Q

Inorganic carbon

A

Carbon stored in carbonated rocks

37
Q

Interception

A

Raindrops are prevented from falling directly onto the ground, instead hitting the leaves of a tree.

38
Q

Meteorological drought

A

When long-term precipitation trends are below average.

39
Q

Monsoon

A

The drastic variation between wet and dry seasons for sub-tropical areas, caused by a changed prevailing wind. Can lead to annual flooding.

40
Q

Non-renewable

A

A source of energy that can only be used once to generate electricity or takes thousands of years to replace e.g. Fossil Fuels.

41
Q

Nuclear fusion

A

The process of joining atomic nuclei together, to produce energy.

42
Q

OPEC

A

Oil and Petroleum exporting countries. An organisation that supports and coordinates fossil fuel exporting countries.

43
Q

Open system

A

A system affected by external flows and inputs (such as a drainage basin, or a sediment cell).

44
Q

Organic carbon

A

Carbon stored in plant material and living organisms.

45
Q

Outgassing

A

The release of dissolved carbon dioxide (e.g. at plate boundaries, warming the oceans).

46
Q

Percolation

A

Water moving vertically from soil into permeable rock.

47
Q

Physical water scarcity

A

A physical lack of available freshwater which cannot meet demand.

48
Q

Phytoplankton

A

Small organisms that rely on photosynthesis to survive, so intake carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

49
Q

Primary energy

A

The initial source of energy, as it is naturally found. This could be natural ores, water, crops or radioactive material.

50
Q
A

Geography (2 decks)

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