WATER MOVEMENT AND CYCLING IN TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS Flashcards
1
Q
The Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle)
A
- Is the continuous movement of water within the Earth’s atmosphere and surface.
2
Q
Evaporation
A
- Water from oceans, rivers, lakes, and plants turns into vapor and rises into the atmosphere due to the heat from the sun
3
Q
Condensation
A
- Water vapor cools and forms clouds as tiny droplets in the atmosphere.
4
Q
Precipitation
A
- When the clouds get heavy, water falls back to Earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
5
Q
Evaporation (liquid to gas)
A
- Water absorbs energy from the surroundings (heat), which helps it change into vapor.
6
Q
Condensation (gas to liquid)
A
- Water releases energy (heat) as it turns from vapor back into liquid.
6
Q
Melting (solid to liquid)
A
- Water absorbs energy as it turns from ice into liquid.
6
Q
Freezing (liquid to solid)
A
- Water releases energy as it turns from liquid into ice.
6
Q
Energy Absorption
A
- The Earth absorbs solar energy from the Sun, warming its surface.
6
Q
Energy Emission
A
- The Earth releases energy as heat (infrared radiation) back into space.
7
Q
Albedo
A
- Is the fraction of light that a surface reflects
8
Q
Rnet: Net radiation
A
- The difference between the amount of radiation incident at the surface of the Earth and the amount of radiation leaving the Earth by way of reflection or emission
9
Q
H: Sensible heat flux
A
- Heat transferred between the surface and air via conduction
- Describes the exchange of heat between Earth’s surface and atmosphere
10
Q
LE: Latent heat flux
A
- Heat absorbed or released due to phase changes of water
Example: Evaporation of water requires/consumes energy
11
Q
G: Ground heat flux
A
- Heat transferred through the soil via conduction
- As the surface of the ground warms, some of that heat is transferred downwards via conduction towards the centre of the Earth
12
Q
ΔS: Change in heat storage
A
- Reflected in the change in temp of the soil or other ecosystem components
- As objects gain energy, they increase in temperature
- As objects lose energy, they decrease in temperature
13
Q
Ecosystem Water Budgets
A
- The amount of water available to support ecosystem productivity depends on the balance between water inputs and outputs
14
Q
Blue Water & Green Water
A
Blue Water - Runoff, groundwater recharge
Green Water - Evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration)
15
Q
Canopy Interception
A
- When some precipitation (rain or snow) lands in the canopy
16
Q
Canopy Interception Loss
A
- The sum of water stored in tree canopies that is subsequently evaporated/sublimated from tree surfaces. (Rain (evaporation) or snow (sublimation))
17
Q
Throughfall
A
- The amount of rainfall that reaches the ground after passing through a canopy or dripping from leaves
18
Q
Stemflow
A
- The flow of water down a plant’s stem after it has been intercepted by the plant’s canopy
19
Q
Infiltration
A
- The process of water entering the soil
20
Q
Soil Water Storage
A
- Water is stored in thin films on the surfaces of soil particles. Within the ‘soil pores’
21
Percolation
- The process of water movement within the soil
