Water & Carbon As Natural Systems

Question 1

Component

Answer 1

A system is made up of different parts known as components. These are inputs, outputs, transfers and stores.

Question 2

Energy

Answer 2

Within a system Energy drives change/movement between components.

For example, within the Water Cycle energy from the sun transfers water into water vapor through the process of evaporation.

Question 3

Offset

Answer 3

Counteract (something) by having an opposing force or effect. Carbon offsetting is where companies invest in green solutions to make up for/ offset their Carbon footprint.

Question 4

Process

Answer 4

A series of natural or human actions that take place within a system. Natural processes are affected by energy, forces e.g. gravity, and human intervention.

Question 5

Region

Answer 5

An area or part of a country, often referred to due to its unique physical, geopolitical or demographic characteristics. Larger scale than local and smaller scale that global. For example, the Amazon is a region within Brazil

Question 6

Model

Answer 6

Idealised representation of reality

Question 7

System

Answer 7

A group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements or parts that function together as a whole.

Question 8

Open system

Answer 8

A system with inputs and outputs of both energy and matter

Question 9

Closed system

Answer 9

A system with inputs and outputs of energy

Question 10

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 10

A state of balance where inputs equal outputs in a system that is constantly changing.

The equilibrium may be upset by events such as burning fossil fuels which increases carbon in the atmosphere, global temperature and therefore melting of permafrost resulting in increased atmospheric carbon.

Question 11

Inputs

Answer 11

Additions to a system. These include energy from the sun and precipitation.

Question 12

Outputs

Answer 12

Removal of energy or matter from a system. These include evaporation and river discharge.

Question 13

Stores

Answer 13

Accumulation of sediment e.g a lake

Question 14

Transfer or Flow

Answer 14

Movement of water and carbon between stores. This includes groundwater flow and photosynthesis.

Question 15

Negative feedback

Answer 15

Negative feedback nullifies the knock-on effects and brings the system back to dynamic equilibrium

e.g. increased carbon in the atmosphere increases temperature which increases vegetation growth. Rates of photosynthesis increase and this increases removal of carbon from the atmosphere.

Question 16

Positive feedback

Answer 16

When a change in the system causes other changes that have a similar effect so that the initial change is enhanced, e.g. increased temperature causes ice to melt leaving more ocean exposed, decreasing the planet’s albedo and increasing absorption of solar radiation, further increasing temperature and leading to more ice melt.

Question 17

Atmosphere

Answer 17

The air that surrounds the earth

Question 18

Lithosphere

Answer 18

The outermost solid layer of the Earth, approximately 100km thick, comprising the crust and upper mantle

Question 19

Hydrosphere

Answer 19

All the water on or surrounding the Earth, including oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and the water in the atmosphere

Question 20

Biosphere

Answer 20

All living things on Earth

Question 21

Cryosphere

Answer 21

The frozen parts of the Earth’s surface including ice caps, frozen oceans, glaciers and snow cover