Water EQ 1 Flashcards
What happens in a closed system?
There is a transfer of energy into and out of the system, but no matter leaves the system
Why is there such a small percentage of accessible drinking water
It is mostly stored in glaciers. Extracting this supply would contribute to the rising sea levels.
What is a store in relation to a system?
An accumulation/quantity of matter
What is a flow in relation to a system?
The transfer of energy/matter between stores.
What are the 3 largest water stores?
- Ocean
- Ice caps/glaciers (cryosphere)
- Groundwater
What are the 3 types of rain?
- Orographic rain
- Convectional rain
- Frontal rain
How is Frontal rain formed?
- A warm front of air collides with a cold front
- The warm front rises above the cold with it being less dense
- The warm air cools as it rises to form clouds and rain
How is Orographic rain formed?
- Warm air travels over elevated landmasses and rises
- Temperatures decrease with height
- Condensation -> Precipitation
How is Convectional rainfall formed?
- Sea/body of water evaporating
- Sudden burst of rain
What are the physical factors impacting a drainage basin?
- Precipitation
- Vegetation
- Geology
- Relief/morphology
- Temperature
- Soils
What are some examples of water insecurity?
Texas, USA
The Sahel region
How can precipitation be calculated?
P = Q + E (+/-)
P = Precipitation
Q = run-off
E = evaporation
(+/-) = change in storage
