Water and Carbon Cycles Flashcards
What is an open system
A system where both energy and matter can enter and leave - there are inputs and outputs of both
What is a closed system
Energy can enter and leave a closed system (as an input or output) but matter can’t enter or leave, it can only cycle between stores
What are inputs
When matter or energy is added to a system
What are outputs
When matter or energy leaves a system
What are stores/components
Where matter or energy builds up/is held
What are flows/transfers
When matter or energy moves from one store to another
What are boundaries
The limits of a system
What is dynamic equilibrium
A state of balance in a constantly changing natural system, the operation of which attempts to balance inputs with outputs
What is positive feedback
A cyclical sequence that increases or amplifies an initial change in a natural system
What is negative feedback
A cyclical sequence that decreases/diminishes an initial change in a natural system and tends to return the system to a state of equilibrium or balance
What are the 5 subsystems of the Earth
1 - Cryosphere
2 - Lithosphere
3 - Biosphere
4 - Hydrosphere
5 - Atmosphere
What is the cryosphere
The frozen water component of the Earth’s outer layers, including ice caps, glaciers and snow cover
What is the lithosphere
The lithosphere is the outermost part of the Earth. It includes the crust and the upper parts of the mantle
What is the biosphere
The biosphere is the part of the Earth’s systems where all living things are found. It includes all the living parts of the Earth - plants, animals, birds, fungi, insects, bacteria etc.
What is the hydrosphere
The hydrosphere includes all of the water on Earth, including ice (cryosphere), groundwater, lakes and rivers, oceans and water vapour and droplets in the atmosphere
What is the atmosphere
The atmosphere is the layer of gas between the Earth’s surface and space, held in place by gravity
What percentage of the hydrosphere is freshwater
Less than 3% is freshwater
The rest is saline
What are the stores of the Earth’s freshwater
69% - frozen in the cyrosphere
30% - groundwater (stored underground in the lithosphere)
0.3% - liquid freshwater on the earths surface (e.g. lakes, rivers)
0.04% - water vapour in the atmosphere
What is a rivers drainage basin
The area surrounding the river where the rain falling on the land flows into that river. Also called the river’s catchment
What is the boundary of a drainage basin
The watershed. Any precipitation falling beyond the watershed enters a different drainage basin
What are the inputs into a drainage basin
Precipitation
What are the different flows of a drainage basin
What are the different outputs of a drainage basin
What does the water balance show
The balance between inputs (precipitation) and outputs (channel discharge and evapotranspiration)
What is river discharge
The volume of water in cubic metres that flows in a river per second (shortened to cumecs)
What do cumecs measure
Cubic metres per second
What is bankfull discharge
The point when the water level reaches the top of the river channel
What is peak discharge
When river discharge is at its greatest
What is lag time
The delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge
What factors affect runoff and hydrograph shape
•Size of drainage basin
•Shape of drainage basin
•Ground steepness
•Rock and soul type
