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Edexcel A-level Geography > Water Cycle > Flashcards

Water Cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

Which county receives the most rain in England?

A

Cumbria

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2
Q

What is the global hydrological cycle?

A

A system that describes how water moves between different stores on Earth

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3
Q

What type of system is the global hydrological cycle? Open or closed?

A

Closed

Inputs = Outputs

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4
Q

Which two energies drive the global hydrological cycle?

A

Solar energy - Heats water and causes evaporation

Gravitational potential energy - Water moves by gravity. Rain falls down to the ground and then runoff and groundwater flow move it down hill

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5
Q

Where is most freshwater on earth found?

A

In the cryosphere

Glaciers and polar ice

66% of freshwater in the cryosphere
Only 04% of freshwater in in streams, lakes etc

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6
Q

What are fluxes?

A

Processes by which water moves between stores

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7
Q

What is the global water budget?

A

The balance between inputs and outputs in the global hydrological cycle

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8
Q

What is residence time?

A

How long water stays in one store

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9
Q

What is the ITCZ?

A

Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone

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10
Q

What happens in the ITCZ and why is it important in the global hydrological cycle?

A

Due to high solar radiation levels in the tropics, evaporation is high

This water vapour is transported towards the ITCZ where it cools and forms clouds

The rain then causes the water to be transferred again

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11
Q

What kind of system is found in drainage basins? Open or Closed?

A

Open

Water can move between basins

Inputs are not determined by outputs

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12
Q

What are the 3 ways that water can flow when it falls as precipitation?

A

Infiltration - flows into the ground and causes ground water recharge and throughflow

Surface Runoff - Water runs over the surface, faster than throughflow

Evaporation - Water is evaporated back into the atmosphere

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13
Q

What is interception?

A

Where plants or buildings catch the water before it reaches the ground and has a chance to infiltrate

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14
Q

What is percolation?

A

Where water flows through rocks as groundwater and becomes stored in aquifers

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15
Q

What factors of a drainage basin affect flow rates?

A

Relief - Steeper relief will increase runoff rates

Climate - more frequent rain increases the change of saturation and therefore runoff

Vegetation - increases interception and reduces runoff rate

Geology - impermeable rock will increase chance of saturation and therefore runoff

Land use - more impermeable surfaces (urban areas) will increase runoff rate

Drainage density - more tributaries reduces runoff rate

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16
Q

What are antecedent conditions?

A

The weather conditions prior to an event

17
Q

What are the 4 human activities that impact a drainage basin

A

Over Abstraction - causes ground to dry up

Deforestation - reduces interception and absorption so causes flooding

Urbanisation - more impermeable surfaces mean increased runoff and increased flood risk

Reservoirs - Disrupts the natural water cycle by changing residence times in each store

18
Q

What is the Water budget?

A

The balance between inputs and outputs in an area

19
Q

What is field capacity?

A

The maximum amount of water soil can hold

20
Q

What does a water deficit do to the field capacity?

A

Reduces it

as the ground becomes dried out out it becomes less able to quickly absorb water

21
Q

In terms of the field capacity of an area, what is a water surplus?

A

When the soil is saturated above the field capacity

Leads to Hortonian overland flow

22
Q

How does a flash flood occur?

A

Very dry antecedent conditions (drought)

A very quick and heavy rainfall

The dry soil is unable to absorb the water

23
Q

What are the factors affecting river discharge?

A

Characteristics of the Basin (shape, geology, soil type)

Inputs and Outputs

Climate

Human Intervention

24
Q

What is a river regime?

A

The annual pattern of a rivers flow

25
Q

What are the two types of river regime?

A

Simple - a river experiences consistent seasonal variations, its predictable

Complex - A river crosses several relief and climatic zones and can be affected by human activity (e.g damming)

26
Q

What two activities can increases the complexity of a river regime?

A

Damming

Irrigation

27
Q

What is a storm hydrograph?

A

A graph showing the events of a single storm

Shows: Discharge, Precipitation, Lag time

28
Q

What are planners’ roles as a player in the hydrological cycle?

A

They decide if the proposed development will affect flood risk

They weigh up the importance of environmental factors against the importance of economic development in an area

29
Q

What are SuDS?

A

Sustainable Drainage Systems

30
Q

Give some examples of SuDS used in the UK

A 
Green Roofs
Infiltration Basins
Permeable Pavements
Rainwater Harvesting
Soak-away
Filter Drains
Detention Basins
Wetlands
31
Q

What are the 4 types of Drought? explain what they mean

A

Meteorological Drought - Reduced precipitation compared to ‘normal’

Agricultural Drought - Insufficient water for irrigation of crops

Hydrological Drought - Permanent stores (e.g lakes) dry up

Socio-economic Drought - Impacts the health of the population and the quality of life (e.g famine)

32
Q

Name a case study of a natural drought and describe the impacts of it

A

Brazil 2014-15

Caused by high-pressure systems diverting rain north

Impacts:
water rationing
HEP stopped
Reservoirs dried up
Increase in global coffee price by 50%
33
Q

Why is the Amazon essential for regulating global weather?

A

It recycles rainfall and generates flows of moisture

This allows the weather to remain consistent

More deforestation will lead to an increase in extreme weather

34
Q

What is the case study for an area that is experiencing drought due to deforestation?

A

The Amazon

Edexcel A-level Geography (8 decks)

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