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Geography Paper 1 > Water Knowledge > Flashcards

Water Knowledge Flashcards

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
What is a storm hydrograph?
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.
26
What factors influence the shape of a storm hydrograph?
Size, shape, rock type, soil, relief, vegetation These physical features determine the river's response to rainfall.
27
Fill in the blank: A water budget can show the impact on _______.
soil, water availability, and climate Understanding the water budget is essential for managing resources.
28
What is drought?
A period of abnormally dry weather that causes water imbalance in a specific region ## Footnote Droughts can have significant environmental and economic impacts.
29
How long is the typical onset period of drought?
Typically have a long period of onset ## Footnote This gradual onset can make droughts difficult to predict and manage.
30
Name the four types of drought.
* Meteorological * Hydrological * Agricultural * Socioeconomic ## Footnote Each type of drought affects different aspects of the environment and society.
31
What do synoptic charts show?
Warm fronts, cold fronts, and how these meet to form occluded fronts ## Footnote These charts are used in meteorology to analyze weather patterns.
32
What is the equator known for in terms of pressure and rainfall?
A band of low pressure meaning there's lots of rainfall ## Footnote This is due to the ascending warm air that cools and condenses to form precipitation.
33
What pressure condition is found in the tropics?
High pressure meaning it is dry ## Footnote This high pressure is associated with descending air that inhibits cloud formation.
34
What causes the seasonal shifting of the ITCZ?
The tilt of the earth ## Footnote The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) moves with the seasons, affecting rainfall distribution.
35
What are ENSO cycles responsible for?
Causing El Niño or La Niña events ## Footnote These events have significant impacts on global weather patterns.
36
What effect does El Niño have on ocean temperatures?
Causes a switch in warm waters from the east coast of South America to the west coast of Australia ## Footnote This shift can lead to drought conditions in Australia.
37
What is the impact of La Niña on normal weather patterns?
Causes a more intense normal, resulting in drought in South America ## Footnote La Niña often leads to increased rainfall in some regions and droughts in others.
38
What is meant by teleconnections in the context of ENSO cycles?
The knock-on effect of the rest of the world ## Footnote Changes in weather patterns in one region can influence conditions in distant areas.
39
How do humans contribute to increased drought conditions?
* Agriculture * Economic development * Climate change * Deforestation ## Footnote These activities can exacerbate the natural conditions leading to drought.
40
What major effect does drought have on ecosystems?
It majorly affects ecosystem functioning ## Footnote Drought can disrupt food webs and reduce biodiversity.
41
How does limited precipitation impact vegetation during drought?
Causes less interception, meaning vegetation deteriorates ## Footnote Interception is the process where precipitation is captured by vegetation.
42
What happens to wetlands during drought?
They dry and shrink as the supply of water is reduced ## Footnote This loss of wetlands can lead to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.
43
What effects does drought have on forests?
* Foliage loss * Growth impairment * Increased pests and diseases ## Footnote Drought stress can weaken trees, making them more susceptible to infestations.
44
What are the physical factors that lead to flooding in a drainage basin?
High flows of water ## Footnote Various factors include heavy rainfall, prolonged rainfall, and snowmelt.
45
Which areas are at risk of flooding?
Low lying parts of floodplains and estuaries ## Footnote Urban areas are also at risk due to reduced infiltration.
46
What type of flooding is small basins at risk for?
Flash flooding
47
What are the main causes of flooding?
Heavy/prolonged rainfall, intense storms, monsoon rainfall, snowmelt ## Footnote Human activities such as land use changes and mismanagement can also cause flooding.
48
What are some socio-economic impacts of flooding?
Deaths, injuries, diseases, trauma, infrastructure damage, disturbance to work ## Footnote These impacts can severely affect communities and economies.
49
What are some environmental impacts of flooding?
Recharge of groundwater stores, soil replenishment, eutrophication ## Footnote Eutrophication can occur due to nutrient runoff into water bodies.
50
How does climate change contribute to flooding?
Increased anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions lead to increased heat in the atmosphere ## Footnote This results in higher average air temperatures and more evaporation.
51
What effect does increased air moisture have on flooding risk?
Increases ground saturation ## Footnote More saturated ground raises the likelihood of flooding.
52
What additional effects of climate change can increase flooding risk?
Increased snow melt, more surface runoff, glacial retreat
53
What is water insecurity?
The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water that sustains livelihoods. ## Footnote Water insecurity can affect health, economic development, and social stability.
54
What are the three stages of water insecurity?
Water stress, water scarcity, absolute water scarcity. ## Footnote These stages represent increasing levels of water availability and access challenges.
55
What are the physical causes of water insecurity?
Climate variability, saltwater encroachment. ## Footnote These factors can significantly impact freshwater resources.
56
What are the human causes of water insecurity?
Agricultural contamination, industrial water pollution, over-extraction. ## Footnote Human activities can degrade water quality and reduce available freshwater.
57
What are the three dimensions of water scarcity?
Availability, access, utilization. ## Footnote Each dimension addresses different aspects of how water is managed and used.
58
What factors can cause the price of water to increase?
* Increased demand * Limited access * Drought * Privatization ## Footnote These factors contribute to variations in water pricing in different regions.
59
What happens when demand for water exceeds supply?
Key stakeholders become desperate for water, leading to potential conflict. ## Footnote This situation is more likely to occur in areas where water sources are shared between countries.
60
In what context does water-related conflict typically occur?
When countries share the same river or drainage basin (transboundary). ## Footnote Vulnerable or marginalized groups are often the most affected in these conflicts.
61
What are the key players involved in water conflicts?
Global, national, and local stakeholders. ## Footnote Different levels of governance and community interests can complicate water management.
62
What are the main causes of water conflict?
* Demands * Supply * Users ## Footnote These causes create a 'hotspot' for conflict over water resources.
63
What are some benefits of managing water supply effectively?
* Improved education * Improved sanitation * Reduced conflict * Industrial development ## Footnote Effective water management can lead to broader social and economic improvements.
64
What do top down approaches involve?
Government led large scale management schemes
65
What do bottom up approaches utilize?
Small scale schemes that work with locals to manage water
66
What is hard management in water resource management?
A technological solution to a problem
67
Give examples of hard management solutions.
* Mega dams * Water transfer schemes * Desalination projects
68
What is a technofix?
An example of a Top down approach
69
What strategies are used in soft management?
* Water conservation * Smart irrigation * Recycling * Rainwater harvesting
70
What is an example of a bottom up approach?
Water conservation strategies
71
Who are the players involved in water management?
* Social * Political * Economic * Environmental
72
What does integrated drainage basin management aim to establish?
A framework for coordination among stakeholders
73
What is the goal of integrated drainage basin management?
To achieve a balance and mutually acceptable approach to land, water, and natural resource management

Geography Paper 1 (9 decks)

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