Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

g: wcc > Water And Carbon Cycles > Flashcards

Water And Carbon Cycles Flashcards

1
Q

Are the water and carbon cycles open or closed systems?

A

On a global scale, they are closed systems. However, on a local scale, they are both open systems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the four physical systems that water is stored in?

A

The lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (liquid water), cryosphere (frozen water) and atmosphere (air).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the five main locations of cryospheric water?

A 
Sea ice
Ice caps
Ice sheets
Alpine glaciers 
Permafrost
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is an ice sheet?

A

A mass of glacial ice extending more than 50,000km^2.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is permafrost?

A

Permanently frozen ground that remains at or below 0*C for at least 2 consecutive years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How much of the Earth does permafrost cover?

A

One quarter.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Why use the systems approach?

A

Because physical and human systems interact in very complex ways, so a systems model can be used to simplify reality and to break it down into different parts.
This can help to better appreciate how both natural change and human activities can impact upon an environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What 4 classes does lithospheric water fall in to?

A

Surface water
Ground water
Soil water
Biological water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are lakes?

A

Collects of fresh water found in hollows on the lands surfaces.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How can you tell the difference between a lake and a pond?

A

A lake is greater than 2 hectares in area; if any smaller then it is a pond.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are wetlands?

A

Areas of marsh, fen or peatland where there is a dominance of vegetation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is groundwater?

A

Water that collects underground in the pore spaces of rocks.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Where do aquifers most commonly form?

A

In rocks such as chalk and sandstone, which are porous and permeable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is the amount of available groundwater reducing rapidly?

A

Due to extensive extraction for use in irrigation agricultural land in dry areas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Where is soil water held?

A

In the upper weathered layers of the Earth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where is biological water found?

A

Biological water is stored in all biomass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the three states that atmospheric water exists as?

A

Gas, liquid and solid.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the most common atmospheric water?

A

Gas: water vapour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How does the gas water vapour keep the atmosphere at a temperature that can maintain life?

A

By absorbing, reflecting and scattering incoming solar radiation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The amount of water vapour that can be held in the air depends on…

A

The temperature of the air.

Cold air cannot hold as much water vapour and warm air

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does it result in, that cold air cannot hold as much water vapour as warm air?

A

The poles are quite dry, whereas over the tropics, it is very humid.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What does a small increase in water vapour lead to?

A

An increase in atmospheric temperatures.

This is positive feedback

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is a cloud?

A

A visible mass of water droplets of ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is cloud formation the result of?

A

Air in the lower atmosphere becoming saturated.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

The rate of evaporation depends on…

A
  • the amount of solar energy
  • the availability of water; for example there is more evaporation from a ping than from a grassy field
  • the humidity of the air; the closer air is to saturation, the slower the rate of evaporation
  • the temperature of the air; warmer air can hold more water vapour than colder air.
26
Q

What does an ecosystem show?

A

The interrelationships between living and non-living components within a particular environment.

27
Q

Define percolation

A

Where water is naturally cleaned and purified.

28
Q

Give examples of inputs in the water cycle…

A

Precipitation

29
Q

Give examples of flows in the water cycle…

A 
Photosynthesis
Infiltration
Transpiration
Evaporation 
Groundwater flow
30
Q

Give examples of stores in the water cycle…

A

Water, soil, plants, clouds, ice

31
Q

Give examples of outputs in the water cycle…

A

Evaporation

32
Q

Give examples of inputs in the carbon cycle…

A

Fossil fuel emissions, respiration, combustion

33
Q

Give examples of stores in the carbon cycle…

A

Coal, gas, trees, oceans, rocks, ice

34
Q

Give examples of flows in the carbon cycle.

A

Biomass, trees, burning ice

35
Q

Give outputs of the carbon cycle.

A

Photosynthesis

36
Q

What is positive feedback?

A

A cyclical sequence of events that increases change. These loops exacerbate the inputs of a system.

(For example, climate warms = buy and use more air conditioning = more energy use and CO2 emissions).

37
Q

What is negative feedback?

A

A cyclical sequence of events that dampens down (neutralises) the effects of a system, promoting stability and a state of dynamic equilibrium.

(For example: body temperature rises = body sweats more = body temperature drops)

38
Q

Define dynamic equilibrium.

A

When there is a balance between inputs and outputs in the systems.

39
Q

What happens if one of the inputs increases in a system without any corresponding change in the outputs?

A

The stores change and the equilibrium is upset (called feedback)

40
Q

What is the main store of saline water?

A

The oceans.

41
Q

What is a water table?

A

The upper level of saturated rock.

42
Q

Define precipitation.

A

Transfer of water from the atmosphere to the ground. It can take the form of rain, snow, hail or dew.

43
Q

At the equator, high temperatures result in…

A

High rate of evaporation.

44
Q

What does the water table fall and rise in response to?

A

Groundwater flow.

45
Q

What is recharge?

A

Additional water flowing into the rocks.

46
Q

Where are fossil aquifers found?

A

In the deserts of Africa, the Middle East and Australia.

47
Q

Define precipitation.

A

Transfer of water from the atmosphere to the ground. It can take the for, of rain, snow, hail or dew.

48
Q

At the equator, high temperatures result in…

A

High rate of evaporation.

49
Q

What does the water table fall and rise in response to?

A

Groundwater flow.

50
Q

What is recharge?

A

Additional water flowing into the rocks.

51
Q

Where are fossil aquifers found?

A

In the deserts of Africa, the Middle East and Australia.

52
Q

What is a drainage basin?

A

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

53
Q

What is the water shed?

A

The boundary around the drainage basin and is often marked by a ridge of high land

54
Q

What percentage of the Earth’s water is oceans?

A

96.5%.

55
Q

What percentage of the Earth’s water is glaciers and ice caps?

A

68.7% of the 2.5% of freshwater.

56
Q

What percentage of the Earth’s water is ground water?

A

30.1% of the 2.5% of freshwater.

57
Q

What percentage of the Earth’s water is ground ice and permafrost?

A

69% of the 1.2% of surface water of the 2.5% of freshwater.

58
Q

What is the smallest store of the Earth’s water?

A

Living things (0.26% of the 1.2% of surface water if the 2.5% of freshwater).

59
Q

What is groundwater?

A

Water that collects underground in the pore spaces of rocks.

60
Q

What are wetlands?

A

Areas of marsh, fen or peatland where there is a dominance of vegetation.

61
Q

Where are wetlands found?

A

In every continent apart from Antarctica.

g: wcc (25 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions