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Geography West > Water cycle > Flashcards

Water cycle Flashcards

1
Q

What is a cycle?

A

an example of a continuous system e.g water cycle and carbon cycle

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2
Q

What is a system?

A

A model which helps to explain relationships within a unit. It consists of a number of components which are linked together.

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3
Q

What is a model?

A

A way of simplifying or representing a complex reality

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4
Q

What are elements?

A

The parts or substances that make up a system

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5
Q

What is an attribute?

A

characteristics of an element that maybe perceived and measured

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6
Q

Describe relationships?

A

associations that occur between elements and attributed

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7
Q

What is a boundary?

A

The edge of a system

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8
Q

What are inputs?

A

Elements entering a system

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9
Q

What are stores/components?

A

Elements being stored in a system

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10
Q

What are flows/transfers?

A

Elements moving around a system

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11
Q

What are outputs?

A

Elements leaving a system

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12
Q

What is dynamic equilibrium?

A

There is a balance between both inputs and outputs

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13
Q

What is an open system?

A

Where there are both inputs and outputs transfers energy and matters (or mass) across its boundary.

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14
Q

What is a closed system?

A

When there are no inputs and outputs matter (or mass) is confined to the system but energy may enter and exit.

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15
Q

What is positive feedback?

A

When the effects of an action are amplified by its knock-on effects.

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16
Q

What is negative feedback?

A

When the effects of an action are nullified by its knock-on effects

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17
Q

What is an isolated system?

A

No interactions beyond its boundary

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18
Q

What is a cascading system?

A

Made up of a chain of open system where the outputs from one system forms the inputs for another.

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19
Q

What is atmosphere?

A

The air around us

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20
Q

In a nutshell what is the lithosphere?

A

The ground below us

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21
Q

In a nutshell what is the biosphere?

A

The water stored in vegetation

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22
Q

In a nutshell what is the hydrosphere?

A

The water stored on the surface

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23
Q

In a nutshell what is the cryosphere?

A

The water stored in ice

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24
Q

Define magnitude?

A

The strength or amount of something

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25
Q

What is precipitation?

A

Water falling in its many forms (rain, hail, sleep or snow)

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26
Q

What is evaporation?

A

When water is heated up and turns liquids into gas (water vapour)

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27
Q

What is condensation?

A

Where water vapour is cooled turning gas into a liquid.

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28
Q

What is the troposphere?

A

The lower part of the atmosphere where all our weather occurs.

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29
Q

What is the ITCZ?

A

Intertropical Convergence Zone - Where warm air from the tropics meets at the Equator creating an area of low pressure.

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30
Q

Describe dew point?

A

The temperature at which water vapour turns into liquid creating a cloud.

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31
Q

What is high pressure?

A

When the air is descending and and warming therefore no condensation.

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32
Q

What is low pressure?

A

When the air is rising creating clouds and precipitation

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33
Q

What is orographic?

A

The movement of water vapour over a mountain.

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34
Q

What is prevailing wind?

A

The most common wind.

35
Q

What is rain shadow?

A

The side of a mountain that is dry to the windward side receiving precipitation.

36
Q

What is ablation?

A

When ice melts to water.

37
Q

What is accumulation?

A

When liquid water freezes into ice.

38
Q

What is sublimation?

A

When solid turn immediately into turns into gas without melting.

39
Q

What is deposition?

A

When water vapour turns immediately freezes turning into ice without turning into liquid first.

40
Q

What is calving?

A

When part of an ice sheet breaks off, creating an iceberg.

41
Q

What is an ice sheet?

A

A mass of glacial ice extending over 50,000km2

42
Q

What is an ice cap?

A

Thick layers of ice on land that are smaller than 50,000km2

43
Q

What is a glacier?

A

Thick masses of ice found in deep valleys or upland hollows.

44
Q

What is permafrost?

A

Ground that remains at or below 0c for at least 2 years

45
Q

What is sea ice?

A

The part of the Arctic and Antarctic that freezes in the winter.

46
Q

What is latent heat?

A

The amount of heat given out or taken in by its surroundings.

47
Q

What is water scarcity?

A

When the annual supply of water per person is below 1,000m3.

48
Q

what is water stress?

A

When the water supply per person is below 1,700m3

49
Q

What is economic scarcity?

A

Human and financial factors limit water use less than 25% of river flows.

50
Q

What is political scarcity?

A

More than 75% of river flows being used.

51
Q

What is throughfall?

A

Rainwater dripping off the tips of trees

52
Q

What is stemflow?

A

Water flowing down the branches or tree trunks.

53
Q

What is infiltration?

A

Water absorbing into the ground.

54
Q

What is Evapotranspiration?

A

Water being evaporated and transpired.

55
Q

What is overland flow/sheet flow?

A

Water running off the surface of the ground.

56
Q

what is throughflow?

A

Water flowing through the ground.

57
Q

What is percolation?

A

Water soaking its way down through the underlying rock.

58
Q

What is groundwater store and flow?

A

Water stored under the ground.

59
Q

What is channel flow?

A

The water that is flowing in a river.

60
Q

What is runoff?

A

Water flowing in channels across the ground.

61
Q

What is a water table?

A

This marks the top of the groundwater.

62
Q

What is the term used to describe when warm and cold air meet?

A

The front.

63
Q

Where does the air meet in the world?

A

60 degrees north.

64
Q

What happens when cold and warm air meet?

A

Cold air forces the warm air to rise, cool, condense and rain.

65
Q

Where is there low pressure in the world?

A

Equator and 60 degrees north

66
Q

What part of britain is wetter?

A

West

67
Q

Why is the west the wettest part of Britain?

A

Mountains and prevailing winds from across the Atlantic.

68
Q

What are the 2 types of rainfall known as?

A

Orographic (relief) and frontal.

69
Q

What is the dry side of the mountain known as?

A

Rain shadow.

70
Q

What type of pressure is found at the equator?

A

low

71
Q

What is the difference between evaporation and condensation?

A

Evaporation is water turning into water vapour due to heat, condensation is vapour turning into water due to cool temperatures.

72
Q

What is the point where vapour turns into water?

A

Dew point.

73
Q

Why does it rain over the equator?

A

The sun is directly overhead as it is the hottest part of the earth causing evaporation.

74
Q

Why is it dry over the tropics?

A

Air is sinking and warming up therefore condensation cannot take place.

75
Q

What is the name of the cell closest to the Equator?

A

Hadley

76
Q

Where does air sink and why?

A

Over the tropics because it becomes cooler and heavier.

77
Q

What is the name of the area where the warm area from the tropics meets at the Equator?

A

ITCZ.

78
Q

why does the amount of rain over the Equator?

A

Because of the overhead position of the sun.

79
Q

when does the equator receive the most amount of rainfall?

A

21st March, 21st September

80
Q

What is the cryosphere made up of?

A

Ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, snow, permafrost etc…

81
Q

What is important about snow?

A

It reflects sunlight and affects our earth’s climate.
provides a habitat for some animals.
Supplies water for people, and animals around the world.
Is an important part of the earth’s climate.

82
Q

What is important about ice?

A

Exists all over the world, but mostly forms of high latitudes, at high elevations, or at night when temperatures cool.
In oceans, lakes, and rivers may not be common if climate continuous to change and temperatures warm.
Provides water for people, animals and plants
Can tell scientists about the past climate of ice through ice cores.

83
Q

What is important about sea ice?

A

Does not raise sea levels when it changes, because it forms from ocean water.
Is closely linked with our planet’s climate.
Provides a place for polar bears, seals and other animals to live.

84
Q

What is important about glaciers?

A

Covers 10% of world’s land.

Geography West (5 decks)

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