Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Physical Geo > Water cycle: Oct 24 > Flashcards

Water cycle: Oct 24 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four key components of systems?

A

Inputs, Outputs, stores and flows

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are inputs in a system?

A

when matter or energy is added to the system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what are outputs

A

when matter or energy leaves a system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what are stores in a system

A

where matter or energy builds up in the system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what are flows in a system

A

where matter or energy moves within the system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the function of boundaries in a system?

A

limit the system, such as a watershed in a drainage basin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is an open system?

A

receives inputs and transfers outputs of energy or matter with other systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a closed system?

A

when energy inputs equal outputs, with no exchange of matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is dynamic equilibrium in a system?

A

when inputs and outputs are balanced despite changing conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is positive feedback in a system?

A

when a chain of events amplifies the impacts of the original event

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is negative feedback in a system?

A

chain of events that nullifies the impacts of the original event, leading to dynamic equilibrium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

are the carbon and water cycles open or closed on a local scale?

A

open

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

are the carbon and water cycles open or closed on a global scale?

A

closed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

why is a local drainage basin system an open system?

A

water may be lost through evapotranspiration and runoff but gained through precipitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is precipitation?

A

any water that falls to the earths surface from the atmosphere: rain, snow, hail

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what are the three types of rainfall?

A
  • convectional
  • relief
  • frontal rainfall
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is convectional rainfall

A

rain caused by heating of the earths surface, leading to warm air rising, cooling and condensing at higher altitudes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is relief rainfall?

A

rain formed when warm air is forced upwards by barriers like mountains, condensing at higher altitudes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Example of positive and negative feedback

A

POSITIVE:
-rising global temperatures cause ice and sno to melt
- ice and snow reflect sunlight, when they melt more solar radiation is absorbed
- leads to further warming
NEGATIVE:
- rising co2 levels increase photosynthesis in plants
- more plant growth increases co2 absorbed, mitigating further warming

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is frontal rainfall?

A

rain that occurs when warm air rises over cooler air at a boundary, condensing and falling as rain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is evapotranspiration?

A

the combined process of evaporation and transpiration, where water evaporates into the atmosphere from land and plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is streamflow?

A

water leaving a drainage basin through rivers, flowing into lakes or oceans

20
Q

what is infiltration?

A

water moving from the surface into the soil

21
Q

what is percolation?

A

water moving from the soil into porous rocks

22
Q

what is throughflow?

A

movement of water through the soil into rivers

23
Q

what is surface runoff?

A

water flowing above the ground as sheetflow. occurs when precipitation exceeds the soils infiltration capacity

24
Q

what is groundwater flow?

A

water that moves through rocks, ensuring water in rivers even after dry periods

25
Q

what is stemflow?

A

the flow of water intercepted by plants and trees running down stems

26
Q

what is soil water?

A

water stored in the soil and used by plants

27
Q

what is interception?

A

water intercepted by plants, stored temporarily on leaves before reaching the ground

27
Q

inputs in the water cycle

A

precipitation

27
Q

outputs in the water cycle

A
  • evapotranspiration
  • transpiration
  • streamflow
28
Q

flows in the water cycle

A
  • infiltration
  • percolation
  • throughflow
  • surface runoff
  • groundwater flow
  • streamflow
  • stemflow
29
Q

stores in the water cycle

A
  • soil water
  • ground water
  • interception
30
Q

What is the formula for the water balance?

A

Precipitation = Total Runoff + Evapotranspiration +/- (change in) Storage

31
Q

How does the water balance help explain droughts or floods?

A
  • shows how precipitation, runoff, and evapotranspiration affect water storage, helping to explain changes in water availability that can lead to droughts or floods.
32
Q

How does the water balance change during seasonal variations?

A
  • changes with temperature and precipitation.
  • more precipitation and less evapotranspiration in cooler months increase water storage
  • in warmer months, evapotranspiration may reduce storage.
32
Q

How does deforestation impact the water cycle?

A
  • reduces interception by trees
  • increases surface runoff, decreases soil water storage
33
Q

How do storm events impact water stores?

A
  • Intense storm events quickly saturate the ground, increasing surface runoff and reducing groundwater replenishment compared to prolonged rainfall.
34
Q

How does agriculture impact the water cycle?

A
  • Pastoral farming: Livestock trampling reduces infiltration.
  • Arable farming: Ploughing increases infiltration
35
Q

How does urbanization affect the water cycle?

A
  • Impermeable surfaces like roads reduce infiltration, increase runoff
36
Q

What is the soil water budget?

A
  • shows the balance between water inputs and outputs and their impact on soil water storage and availability throughout the year.
37
Q

What is the largest store in the global water cycle?

A
  • Oceans, which contain 97% of global water.
38
Q

How much of the Earth’s water is freshwater, and where is it stored?

A
  • 2.5% of water is freshwater
  • 69% in glaciers, ice caps, and ice sheets
  • 30% in groundwater
39
Q

What are the four areas where water can be stored?

A

Hydrosphere – Any liquid water
Lithosphere – Water in the crust and upper mantle
Cryosphere – Frozen water
Atmosphere – Water vapor

40
Q

How long can water be stored in shallow and deep aquifers?

A

Shallow aquifers can store water for up to 200 years; deeper fossil aquifers may last up to 10,000 years.

41
Q

What is the impact of droughts on the water cycle?

A

droughts deplete water stores and reduce water cycle flows, potentially causing long-term changes as droughts become more frequent due to climate change.

42
Q

How do cryospheric processes affect the water cycle?

A

Glaciers and ice caps once stored large amounts of freshwater. Most glaciers are shrinking, causing sea levels to rise, and if all glaciers melted, sea levels would rise by around 60 meters.

43
Q

What is water abstraction, and how does it impact water stores?

A
  • Water abstraction reduces the volume in surface stores like lakes.
  • Abstraction increases in dry seasons, especially for irrigation.
  • Human abstraction often exceeds aquifer inputs, causing long-term decline in water stores.
44
Q

What is a flood hydrograph, and what does it represent?

A

A flood hydrograph shows rainfall in a drainage basin and the discharge of the river. Key components include rising limb, falling limb, baseflow, stormflow, and lag time.

45
Q

What are the features of a flashy hydrograph?

A
  • Short lag time
  • Steep rising and falling limb
  • High peak discharge
  • Common during storm events.
46
Q

How do human activities contribute to flashy hydrographs?

A
  • Urbanisation: Increases impermeable surfaces, reducing infiltration and increasing runoff.
  • Pastoral farming: Soil compaction reduces interception and increases runoff.
    -Deforestation: Reduces interception, increasing surface runoff and flood risk.
46
Q

What natural factors contribute to flashy hydrographs?

A
  • High rainfall intensity
  • previous rainfall
  • Impermeable geology

Physical Geo (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions