Water And Carbon Key Terms Flashcards
System
An essemblage of interrelated parts that won together by way of some driving force
Input
A point where something is removed from the system
Output
A point where something is removed from the system
Attributes
The characteristics of the element (eg hot/ cold)
Store/ components
A part of the system where something is held for a period of time
Relationships
Descriptions of how various elements work together various elements work together to carry out some sort of process
Elements
Things that make up the system
Flow/ transfers
A link between one store or components and another, along which something moves
System boundary
The edge of the system; the interface between one system and another
Closed system
A physical system that does not allow certain types of transfers (such as transfer of mass or energy) in or out of the system.
Open system
A system that has an external interaction
Isolated system
Either a physical system far removed from other system that it does not interact with them, or an enclosed by immovable wall through which nothing can go in or out.
Liquid -> gas
Evaporation
>100°c
Gas -> liquid
Condensation
<100°c
Liquid -> solid
Freezing
<0°c
Solid-> liquid
Melting
>0°c
Solid -> gas
Sublimation
Gas -> solid
Deposition
Latent heat
The heat required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapour, without change of temperature
As water molecules become heated by the sun they become agitated and they begin to break the bonds between them, however there’s not enough heat in the su rays to do this so the water molecules absorb energy from their surroundings to give them the final energy to break the bond between them (this energy is known as latent heat)
Condesation
Latent heat is released by the water molecules as they slow down and join together so evaporation oiled be thought as a cooling process, and condensation a warming process
The hydrological cycle (water cycle)
Movement of water through the atmosphere
75% earths surface is covered by water
Drainage basin
The area of land surrounding a river, which the river receives water and subsequently drains this water
Watershed
An area/ ridge of land that separates water flowing to different rivers, basins or seas
Confluence
The junction of two rivers; where a tributary joins the main river
Infiltration
Water entering the ground (into soil layer)
Interception
When water is caught by trees and plants
Stem flow
Water land on plants and run down their stems
Overland flow
Anywhere water flows over the land surface
Through flow
When water flows through the ground (through soil layer)
Transpiration
When water vapour comes out of leaves
Evapotranspiration
When water rises as vapour from the ground or released from leaves
Ground water
Water deep in the ground
Soil water
Water held between soil particles
Ground water flow
The slow movement of ground water
Percolation
Movement of water down through the ground
Ground water storage
Water stored underground in bedrock
Water balance
The difference between the inputs and outputs in the drainage basin
If precipitation exceeds runoff and evapotranspiration there will be a positive water balance- amount of water stored increasing
If runoff and evapotranspiration exceed precipitation, there will be a negative water balance- amount of water stored decreasing
Precipitation= total runoff + evapotranspiration +/- storage
Soil moisture balance
Change in the amount of water stored in the soil throughout the year
Main factors: precipitation and potential evaporation
Potential evaporation
The amount of evapotranspiration that could occur if there was sufficient water available in the system
Linked to temp- higher temp= more
Runoff
The amount of water in the river
This varies widely between different rivers and in on river throughout the course of a year.
Discharge
Cross sectional area of water (m2) x speed of the water (m/s)
The level of runoff at a given time is studied by measuring river discharge
River regime
The variability in river discharge through the course of the year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and drainage basin characteristics
