Water Cycle Physical Changes Over Time Flashcards
Outline changes in precipitation occurring due to seasonality
Less precipitation, more evapotranspiration in summer because of higher temperatures
Outline changes in the flows of water in the water cycle occurring due to seasonal changes
reduced flows in the water cycle in winter as water is stored as ice
Outline changes to the interception and evapotranspiration due to seasonality
Reduced interception in winter, when deciduous trees lose their leaves
Increased evapotranspiration in summer, deciduous trees have their leaves/ higher temperatures
Outline changes caused by storm events
Cause sudden increases in rainfall, leading to flooding and replenishment of some water stores. It is unlikely to cause long-term change
How much of rainfall does south - East Asian monsoon intense seasonal rain bring and what is its affects (India)?
It produces regular flooding, although extent varies from year to year. For example, in India the long-term average has been 899 millimeters of precipitation. However, the monsoon varies over the Indian Subcontinent within a +- 20% range.
Outline the impacts of Bangladesh (1998 monsoon season storm event)
- 80% of the country under the water
- 30 million made homeless
- 1000 people dead
Outline natural conditions of db in Bangladesh that lead to severe flooding
- low-lying floodplain country (60% of territory is less than 3m above the sea level)
- Himalayas to the north, what increased the speed of the surface run-off and river flow, as water was descending from the height to the valley
-tropical monsoon conditions
Outline weather conditions which lead to prolonged monsoon rains (2)
- high tides
-high glacier melt in Himalayas (10 meters per year)
Outline human actions which lead to increased rates of flooding in Bangladesh
- deforestation in Nepal
- River damping in India on Brahmaputra river
Outline changes caused by droughts
Cause major stores of water to be depleted and the activity of flows acting within the water cycle to decrease
May cause long-term change as they become more common as a result of climate change
What are the effects of rising temperatures on the Nile river and why is it important?
- The 6,500 km long river is drying up. Since the 1970s, the Hile’s flow has decreased from 3000 cubic meters to 2830 cubic meters per second.
- With multiple droughts in east Africa, Nile’s flow could fall by 70%
- While for example in Egypt, the country depends on the Nile for about 97% of its irrigation and drinking water
Outline how cryospheric process impact the water cycle (2)
In the past glaciers and icecaps have stores significant proportions of freshwater through the processes of accumulation
Currently almost all of the world’s glaciers are shrinking, causing sea levels to rise
By how much would sea level rise due to glaciers and icecaps melting
By 60%
What is the most recent glacial period and when it started?
The most recent glacial period is Quaternary glaciation and it started 2.58 million years ago
By how much was sea level lower during glacial periods due to volume of ice on land
Approximately 120 m lower than present
