Water and Carbon cycles

Question 1

Acidification

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Afforestation

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Anticyclone

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Aquifer

Answer 4

A permeable or porous rock which stores water.

Question 5

Biofuel

Answer 5

Burning crops and vegetation for electricity and heat.

Question 6

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Carbon fluxes

Answer 7

The movement of carbon between stores.

Question 8

Carbon neutral

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Carbon Stores

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Channel flow

Answer 10

Water flowing in a rivulet, stream or river.

Question 11

Choke points

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Combustion

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Convectional precipitation

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Cryosphere

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Decomposisiton

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Depression

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Desalination plant

Answer 17

The conversion of seawater to freshwater, suitable for human consumption

Question 18

Desublimation

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Drainage basin

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Drainage density

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Drought

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Economic water scarcity

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Energy mix

Answer 23

The composition of a country’s energy sources.

Question 24

Energy security

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Energy pathway

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Energy players

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 27

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

Question 28

ENSO cycles

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Evapotranspiration

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Frontal precipitation

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Global hydrological cycle

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Groundwater flow

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Hydrological drought

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Infiltration

Answer 34

The movement of water vertically through the pores in soil.

Question 35

Integrated drainage basin management

Answer 35

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).

Question 36

Inorganic carbon

Answer 36

Carbon stored in carbonated rocks

Question 37

Interception

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Meteorological drought

Answer 38

When long-term precipitation trends are below average.

Question 39

Monsoon

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Non-renewable

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Nuclear fusion

Answer 41

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

Question 42

OPEC

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Open system

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Organic carbon

Answer 44

Carbon stored in plant material and living organisms.

Question 45

Outgassing

Answer 45

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

Question 46

Percolation

Answer 46

Water moving vertically from soil into permeable rock.

Question 47

Physical water scarcity

Answer 47

A physical lack of available freshwater which cannot meet demand.

Question 48

Phytoplankton

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Primary energy

Answer 49

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