water cycle enquiry Q1 Flashcards
systems approach definition
a way of studying natural processes by looking at the balance of inputs and outputs and how water is being moved between stores by flows
stores definition
reservoirs where water is held, such as oceans
fluxes definition
the rate of flow between the stores
processes definition
the physical mechanisms that drive the fluxes of water between the stores
cryosphere definition
areas of the earth where water is frozen into snow or ice
blue water definition
water is stored in rivers, streams, lake and groundwater in liquid form
green water definition
water stored in soil and vegetation
residence time definition
the average amount of time a water molecule will spend in a reservoir or store
fossil water definition
ancient, deep groundwater from former pluvial (wetter) periods
transpiration definitio
the diffusion of water from vegetation into the atmosphere, involving a change from liquid to gas
groundwater flow definition
the slow transfer of percolated water underground through pervious or porous rocks
throughfall definition
when rainfall persists or is relatively intense, and the water drops from leaves, twigs, needles, etc
percolation definition
the deep transfer of water from the surface or soil into the rocks below
evapotranspiration definition
the combined effect of evaporation and transpiration
river regime definition
the annual variation in discharge or flow of a river at a particular point or gauging station, usually measured in cumecs
how much of the world total water is stored in oceans?
96.5- 97%
what is a closed system?
occurs when there is a transfer of energy but no external inputs or outputs and no matter can enter the system
what is an open system?
receives inputs from and transfers outputs of energy and matter to other systems
how much water is stored in the cryosphere?
around 1.9%
which store has the shortest residence time?
atmospheric moisture, 10 days
which store has the longest residence time?
ice, 15,000 years