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Geography Paper 1 > Water Knowledge > Flashcards

Water Knowledge Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the hydrological cycle?

A

A closed system with no inputs or outputs

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2
Q

What are the main stores of water in the hydrological cycle?

A

Ocean, cryosphere, terrestrial

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3
Q

What drives the hydrological cycle?

A

Solar energy and gravitational potential energy

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4
Q

What term describes the length of time water stays at different points in the hydrological cycle?

A

Residence time

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5
Q

How long does water typically stay in the atmosphere?

A

Around 10 days

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6
Q

What role do polar regions play in the hydrological cycle?

A

Contribute to the circulation of water and transfer of heat

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7
Q

What causes high evaporation rates in the tropics?

A

Intense solar radiation due to the ITCZ

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8
Q

What is a drainage basin?

A

An area drained by a river and its tributaries

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9
Q

Is a drainage basin an open or closed system?

A

Open system with external inputs and outputs

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10
Q

What are catchment areas?

A

Another term for drainage basins, as they ‘catch’ precipitation

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11
Q

What are the inputs in a drainage basin?

A

Precipitation, including orographic, frontal, and convective

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12
Q

List the flows in a drainage basin.

A
  • Interception
  • Infiltration
  • Direct runoff
  • Saturated overland flow
  • Through flow
  • Percolation
  • Groundwater flow
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13
Q

What are the outputs in a drainage basin?

A
  • Evaporation
  • Transpiration
  • Channel flow
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14
Q

How does geology impact drainage basins?

A

It affects subsurface processes like percolation

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15
Q

How does soil type influence water infiltration?

A

More soil means better infiltration; less soil leads to more surface runoff

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16
Q

What climate factor affects inputs in a drainage basin?

A

More rain

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17
Q

How does relief impact drainage basins?

A

It can either increase surface runoff or decrease infiltration

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18
Q

What does vegetation mean in the context of water interception?

A

Vegetation affects how water is absorbed and can influence the amount of runoff. More interception or more surface runoff

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19
Q

How do humans accelerate processes in a drainage basin?

A

By cloud seeding, groundwater abstraction, dam construction, and urbanization
These activities can significantly alter natural water cycles.

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20
Q

What is a water budget?

A

Annual balance between inputs and outputs
Water budgets can be analyzed at various scales, such as globally or locally.

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21
Q

What types of water balance can a water budget have?

A

Positive balance or negative balance
This balance impacts soil, water availability, and climate.

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22
Q

What do river regimes indicate?

A

Annual variation of discharge of a river
River regimes are influenced by climate, geology, and soils.

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23
Q

What causes changes in river regimes?

A

Impact of climate, geology, soils
These factors contribute to the seasonal patterns of river discharge.

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24
Q

What are the two types of river regimes?

A

Simple and Complex
Simple regimes show consistent patterns, while complex regimes may vary significantly.

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25
Q

What is a storm hydrograph?

A

A graph showing the discharge of a river at a given point over a period of time
It illustrates how a river responds to a storm event.

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26
Q

What factors influence the shape of a storm hydrograph?

A

Size, shape, rock type, soil, relief, vegetation
These physical features determine the river’s response to rainfall.

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27
Q

Fill in the blank: A water budget can show the impact on _______.

A

soil, water availability, and climate
Understanding the water budget is essential for managing resources.

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28
Q

What is drought?

A

A period of abnormally dry weather that causes water imbalance in a specific region

Droughts can have significant environmental and economic impacts.

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29
Q

How long is the typical onset period of drought?

A

Typically have a long period of onset

This gradual onset can make droughts difficult to predict and manage.

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30
Q

Name the four types of drought.

A
  • Meteorological
  • Hydrological
  • Agricultural
  • Socioeconomic

Each type of drought affects different aspects of the environment and society.

31
Q

What do synoptic charts show?

A

Warm fronts, cold fronts, and how these meet to form occluded fronts

These charts are used in meteorology to analyze weather patterns.

32
Q

What is the equator known for in terms of pressure and rainfall?

A

A band of low pressure meaning there’s lots of rainfall

This is due to the ascending warm air that cools and condenses to form precipitation.

33
Q

What pressure condition is found in the tropics?

A

High pressure meaning it is dry

This high pressure is associated with descending air that inhibits cloud formation.

34
Q

What causes the seasonal shifting of the ITCZ?

A

The tilt of the earth

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) moves with the seasons, affecting rainfall distribution.

35
Q

What are ENSO cycles responsible for?

A

Causing El Niño or La Niña events

These events have significant impacts on global weather patterns.

36
Q

What effect does El Niño have on ocean temperatures?

A

Causes a switch in warm waters from the east coast of South America to the west coast of Australia

This shift can lead to drought conditions in Australia.

37
Q

What is the impact of La Niña on normal weather patterns?

A

Causes a more intense normal, resulting in drought in South America

La Niña often leads to increased rainfall in some regions and droughts in others.

38
Q

What is meant by teleconnections in the context of ENSO cycles?

A

The knock-on effect of the rest of the world

Changes in weather patterns in one region can influence conditions in distant areas.

39
Q

How do humans contribute to increased drought conditions?

A
  • Agriculture
  • Economic development
  • Climate change
  • Deforestation

These activities can exacerbate the natural conditions leading to drought.

40
Q

What major effect does drought have on ecosystems?

A

It majorly affects ecosystem functioning

Drought can disrupt food webs and reduce biodiversity.

41
Q

How does limited precipitation impact vegetation during drought?

A

Causes less interception, meaning vegetation deteriorates

Interception is the process where precipitation is captured by vegetation.

42
Q

What happens to wetlands during drought?

A

They dry and shrink as the supply of water is reduced

This loss of wetlands can lead to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.

43
Q

What effects does drought have on forests?

A
  • Foliage loss
  • Growth impairment
  • Increased pests and diseases

Drought stress can weaken trees, making them more susceptible to infestations.

44
Q

What are the physical factors that lead to flooding in a drainage basin?

A

High flows of water

Various factors include heavy rainfall, prolonged rainfall, and snowmelt.

45
Q

Which areas are at risk of flooding?

A

Low lying parts of floodplains and estuaries

Urban areas are also at risk due to reduced infiltration.

46
Q

What type of flooding is small basins at risk for?

A

Flash flooding

47
Q

What are the main causes of flooding?

A

Heavy/prolonged rainfall, intense storms, monsoon rainfall, snowmelt

Human activities such as land use changes and mismanagement can also cause flooding.

48
Q

What are some socio-economic impacts of flooding?

A

Deaths, injuries, diseases, trauma, infrastructure damage, disturbance to work

These impacts can severely affect communities and economies.

49
Q

What are some environmental impacts of flooding?

A

Recharge of groundwater stores, soil replenishment, eutrophication

Eutrophication can occur due to nutrient runoff into water bodies.

50
Q

How does climate change contribute to flooding?

A

Increased anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions lead to increased heat in the atmosphere

This results in higher average air temperatures and more evaporation.

51
Q

What effect does increased air moisture have on flooding risk?

A

Increases ground saturation

More saturated ground raises the likelihood of flooding.

52
Q

What additional effects of climate change can increase flooding risk?

A

Increased snow melt, more surface runoff, glacial retreat

53
Q

What is water insecurity?

A

The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water that sustains livelihoods.

Water insecurity can affect health, economic development, and social stability.

54
Q

What are the three stages of water insecurity?

A

Water stress, water scarcity, absolute water scarcity.

These stages represent increasing levels of water availability and access challenges.

55
Q

What are the physical causes of water insecurity?

A

Climate variability, saltwater encroachment.

These factors can significantly impact freshwater resources.

56
Q

What are the human causes of water insecurity?

A

Agricultural contamination, industrial water pollution, over-extraction.

Human activities can degrade water quality and reduce available freshwater.

57
Q

What are the three dimensions of water scarcity?

A

Availability, access, utilization.

Each dimension addresses different aspects of how water is managed and used.

58
Q

What factors can cause the price of water to increase?

A
  • Increased demand
  • Limited access
  • Drought
  • Privatization

These factors contribute to variations in water pricing in different regions.

59
Q

What happens when demand for water exceeds supply?

A

Key stakeholders become desperate for water, leading to potential conflict.

This situation is more likely to occur in areas where water sources are shared between countries.

60
Q

In what context does water-related conflict typically occur?

A

When countries share the same river or drainage basin (transboundary).

Vulnerable or marginalized groups are often the most affected in these conflicts.

61
Q

What are the key players involved in water conflicts?

A

Global, national, and local stakeholders.

Different levels of governance and community interests can complicate water management.

62
Q

What are the main causes of water conflict?

A
  • Demands
  • Supply
  • Users

These causes create a ‘hotspot’ for conflict over water resources.

63
Q

What are some benefits of managing water supply effectively?

A
  • Improved education
  • Improved sanitation
  • Reduced conflict
  • Industrial development

Effective water management can lead to broader social and economic improvements.

64
Q

What do top down approaches involve?

A

Government led large scale management schemes

65
Q

What do bottom up approaches utilize?

A

Small scale schemes that work with locals to manage water

66
Q

What is hard management in water resource management?

A

A technological solution to a problem

67
Q

Give examples of hard management solutions.

A
  • Mega dams
  • Water transfer schemes
  • Desalination projects
68
Q

What is a technofix?

A

An example of a Top down approach

69
Q

What strategies are used in soft management?

A
  • Water conservation
  • Smart irrigation
  • Recycling
  • Rainwater harvesting
70
Q

What is an example of a bottom up approach?

A

Water conservation strategies

71
Q

Who are the players involved in water management?

A
  • Social
  • Political
  • Economic
  • Environmental
72
Q

What does integrated drainage basin management aim to establish?

A

A framework for coordination among stakeholders

73
Q

What is the goal of integrated drainage basin management?

A

To achieve a balance and mutually acceptable approach to land, water, and natural resource management

Geography Paper 1 (8 decks)

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