water cycle

Question 1

Yukon river regime?

Answer 1

• Snow melt in May, melting permafrost in July = more river discharge
• Summer ends in July, refreezing occurs
• By winter, soil and river is frozen solid in some places, so reduced flow

Question 2

Amazon river regime?

Answer 2

• Feb/March, sun overhead so lots of convectional rainfall
• June-Oct, southern hemisphere away from sun so less of this rainfall
• Basin so big with so many tributaries, there is a delay between mean precipitation and river discharge

Question 3

Indus river regime?

Answer 3

-An initial peak river discharge reached in April due to Himalayan snow melt
- 4 month long monsoon season from June
- Peak rainfall in July, dry season starts
- Rapid drop as dry season starts and winter is reached in mountains (water = snow and ice)

Question 4

ITCZ…

Answer 4

Inter Tropical Convergence Zone

Question 5

Impacts of droughts on forests?

Answer 5

• Fires more likely + more severe
• Loss of foliage as leaves cannot be supplied with water
• Impaired growth
• Increased susceptibility to pests and disease
• trees turn from carbon sinks to carbon sources (reduces carbon absorption)
• decline in pollinating insects

Question 6

Value of wetlands?

Answer 6

• act as sponges by temporary storing flood water
• filter and clean water
• vital habitat for fish and insects
• protect coastlines from erosion and storms
• tourism and leisure

Question 7

Impact of droughts on wetlands?

Answer 7

• cracking and compaction
• acidification of soil
• enhanced ghg emissions
• loss of organic matter

Question 8

Virtual water?

Answer 8

Importing water through food products