Water and carbon key terms Flashcards
Water cycle
The circulation of water between different global environments.
Carbon cycle
The circulation of carbon between different global environments.
Stores
A part of a system where matter is held or transformed.
Flows
A link between one store that moves energy or matter.
positive feedback loops
Where the effects of an action is amplified.
Negative feedback loop
Where the effects of an action is amplified.
dynamic equilibrium
A balance between inputs and outputs in a system.
inputs
an addition of matter or energy into a system
outputs
The removal of matter or energy from a system.
lithosphere
The crust and the upper mantle making a hard rigid layer on the earth.
Hydrosphere
a discontinous layer of water at or near the earths surface
cryosphere
The places where the water is in a solid form
Residence time
The time energy and matter stay within a store.
Biosphere
the global ecosystem composed of living organisms and non living organisms where they derive energy and nutrients.
Evaporation
The process of which liquid water changes to gas.
Condensation
The process of which a gas changes to a liquid.
Precipitation
Rainfall
Drainage basin
An area of land drained by a river and its tribuatries.
Transpiration
The loss of water in plants
Run off
All the water that enters a river ends up flowing out of a drainage basin.
Interception storage
Precipitation that is caught by leaves or canopys.
groundwater
Water stored in rocks underground.
Percolation
Downward movement of water within a rock under the soil.
stemflow
The portion of water that is caught by plants.
carbon sink
A place where carbon is stored and absorbed
carbon source
A lace where carbon is emmited
water abstraction
The process of taking water out of the ground source
sere
an intermediate stage in ecological succesion
Photosynthesis
When plants take in sunlight and CO2 in order to grow.
Respiration
The opposite of photosynthesis
