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A2 Geography > Water and Carbon Cycles Key Terms > Flashcards

Water and Carbon Cycles Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Open system

A

A system with inputs, outputs and flows (energy/mass)

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2
Q

Closed system

A

A system without inputs or outputs which cycles energy/mass in a closed loop

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3
Q

Drainage basin/catchment area

A

The area of land that provides water to a river system

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4
Q

Hydrology

A

The study of water on Earth’s surface

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5
Q

Condensation

A

The change in state from water vapour to liquid due to cooling

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6
Q

Evaporation

A

The change in state from liquid to water vapour due to heating

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7
Q

Watershed

A

The edge of a drainage basin

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8
Q

Water budget

A

The overall balance of inputs and outputs over time in a drainage basin

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9
Q

Saturated

A

When soil pore spaces are filled with water

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10
Q

Water table

A

The maximum extent of the saturated soil zone

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11
Q

Precipitation

A

The movement of water from the atmosphere to the ground surface (rain, snow, hail, sleet)

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12
Q

Response

A

How a river responds following the input of precipitation (‘flashy’ rivers rise quickly and others rise and fall more slowly)

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13
Q

Transpiration

A

The loss of water from plants through stomata in their leaves to the atmosphere

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14
Q

Infiltration capacity

A

The rate at which water is able to pass through a soil in mm/hr (high for sandy soils, low for clay soils)

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15
Q

Impermeable

A

A surface through which water cannot pass

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16
Q

Groundwater flow

A

The movement of water through the soil

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17
Q

Throughflow/interflow

A

The slow movement of water through the rocks beneath the soil

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18
Q

Permeable

A

A surface through which water can pass

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19
Q

Overland flow/surface runoff

A

The movement of water over the ground surface (impermeable surfaces or infiltration excess)

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20
Q

Channel flow

A

Movement of water in surface water channels

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21
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

The loss of water from both transpiration and evaporation combined

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22
Q

Runoff

A

Water and sediment moved down the channel and out of the catchment area

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23
Q

Hydrograph

A

A graph of water level or base flow in a river over time (shows response to a precipitation event)

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24
Q

Base flow

A

The regular daily flow of a river

25
Q

Discharge

A

Water flowing through a channel at any given point (measured in cubic metres per second or cumecs)

26
Q

Rising limb

A

The section of a hydrograph where the river’s flow increases

27
Q

Lag time

A

The time difference between peak rainfall and the peak discharge it causes

28
Q

Falling limb

A

The section of a hydrograph where the river’s flow decreases

29
Q

Organic

A

Matter derived from living things (e.g. plants and animals)

30
Q

Non-organic

A

Compounds deriving from non-living matter

31
Q

Sedimentary rocks

A

Rocks created by pressure and the lithification of deposited material on the sea floor

32
Q

Lithification

A

The compression of sediments into solid rock due to pressure

33
Q

Carbon source

A

A store in which carbon is released faster than it is absorbed

34
Q

Carbon sink

A

A store in which carbon is absorbed faster than it is released

35
Q

Fast carbon cycle

A

Transfers of carbon compounds over years, decades or centuries

36
Q

Slow carbon cycle

A

Transfers of carbon compounds over extensive timescales (millions of years)

37
Q

Ocean-atmosphere exchange

A

The ability of the ocean to both absorb and release CO2 depending on conditions

38
Q

Terrestrial

A

Applying to the land

39
Q

Marine

A

Applying to the oceans

40
Q

Carbon sequestration

A

The removal of carbon from active cycles because of artificial or natural transfers as well as burial in long-term stores

41
Q

Methane hydrate

A

A crystalline structure of methane within a cage of ice molecules (found in polar or permafrost regions)

42
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

The relative stability in a cycle when there is an overall state of balance

43
Q

Feedback loop

A

A positive or negative chain of events which can either amplify or nullify the original change

44
Q

Anthropogenic

A

Caused by human activity

45
Q

Carbon offsetting

A

A deliberate scheme to reduce atmospheric CO2 through absorption or reduced emissions

46
Q

Greenhouse gas

A

A gas that absorbs IR and contributes to global warming

47
Q

Albedo

A

The reflectivity of a surface which reflects solar radiation away from Earth’s surface and absorb a limited amount of heat energy

48
Q

Marine calcification

A

The uptake of soluble carbon compounds by marine organisms and subsequent conversion to solid carbonate compounds

49
Q

Carbon budget

A

The surplus or deficit of carbon (inputs - outputs)

50
Q

Flux

A

A flow of gas, liquid or solid (transfer between two locations)

51
Q

Phytoplankton

A

The ‘plant’ form of plankton which uses sunlight in surface waters to photosynthesise

52
Q

Zooplankton

A

The ‘animal’ form of plankton which is found at a range of depths and feeds on phytoplankton remains

53
Q

Carbon pump

A

A natural energy force resulting in a carbon flux (e.g. descending cold currents transfer plankton remains from surface waters to seabeds)

54
Q

Biogeochemical systems

A

Systems in which chemicals are transferred between living organisms and the environment

55
Q

Carbonation

A

The chemical conversion of solid carbon compounds to soluble carbon compounds

56
Q

Hydrocarbon

A

A range of chemical compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen

57
Q

Regime

A

A river’s pattern of flow (influenced by catchment characteristics and climate)

58
Q

Riparian

A

Habitats associated with land alongside flowing water

A2 Geography (7 decks)

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