Water Cycle Flashcards
What is transpiration?
The release of water vapour from the leaves of plants into the atmosphere. Contributes to the movement of water from soil to atmosphere.
What is infiltration?
Infiltration is the process where precipitation on the surface penitrates into the soil.
What is percolation?
Th movement of water through soils or porous rock due to gravity eventually reaching underground reservoirs. Vital role in replenishing groundwater supplies.
Explain runoff?
The movement of water over the earth surface flows into rivers/lakes and eventually into oceans carrying sediment and nutrition with it.
Define El Niño?
The climate phenomenon that causes abnormal warming of the sea surface temps in central and eastern pacific leading to significant weather pattern disruption.
What’s causes El Niño?
Caused by weakened trade winds and the relaxation of the walker circulation which allows warm surface waters in the western pacific to go east displacing cold water along South America Coast.
Name some effects of El Niño
- Increased rainfall in eastern pacific
- Droughts in Asia/ Australia
What causes La Niña?
Stronger than average trade winds cause upwelling of cold water along South Americas coast leading to bellow average surface temperatures waters.
What are the effects of La Niña?
- Drier conditions in South America
- Increased rainfall in Australia.
What is the ENSO cycle?
ENSO cycle refers to the periodic variation of sea surface temperature in the equatorial pacific.
